The Offspring, Paramore, Dropkick Murphys, Dropping Daylight, The Spill Canvas

The Offspring
The Offspring's metal-inflected punk became a popular sensation in 1994, selling over four million albums on an independent record label. While the group's credentials and approach follow the indie rock tradition of the '80s, sonically the Offspring sound more like an edgy, hard-driving...

Dropkick Murphys
The hardcore punk/celtic folk outfit Dropkick Murphys formed in south Boston in 1995; vocalist Mike McColgan, guitarist Rick Barton, and bassist Ken Casey comprised the original nucleus of the group, with a series of drummers passing through the lineup before the addition of Matt Kelly in 1997.

The Spill Canvas
Like Bright Eyes or Five for Fighting, the Spill Canvas began as the pseudonym for a solo singer and songwriter, but has since transformed into a traditional band. Sioux Falls, SD, native Nick Thomas played in a variety of local punk bands in his early teens before transforming himself...

Paramore
The spunky pop/rock outfit Paramore began humbly enough in Franklin, TN, when lead singer Hayley Williams met brothers Josh and Zac Farro (guitar and drums, respectively) after moving into town from Mississippi.

Dropping Daylight
Dropping Daylight are very much part of the post-emo era of American indie rock, with songs that favor anthemic choruses and jagged, distorted guitar parts. However, at the same time, the young Minneapolis quartet are in some ways a throwback to a time about decade prior to their...