For years, I’ve heard rock music is dead. People have proclaimed that rock is dead and (insert whatever band, artist or trend you want) killed it. But I’m here to argue on the contrary; rock is not dead. It’s just been in hibernation. It’s been quietly working on itself, it’s become more inclusive, and it’s being made for and by our generation.
It’s not totally untrue from a music charts standpoint that rock is dead. After bands like Nickelback and Avenged Sevenfold had their moment right before the recession, it seemed like rock was gone from the mainstream, replaced by recession pop, bedroom pop, country, R&B, and rap.
Of course, bands and artists like Tame Impala, Mac DeMarco, The Drums, Alvvays, The Black Keys, and Arctic Monkeys had their moment, but they didn’t receive even a fraction of the same mainstream appeal that rock music once did. Because these artists and bands were looking to the past to emulate previous rock sounds of the 20th century, they were further amplifying the thought that rock was something of the past.
What made rock music fascinating to the public was the “rock” lifestyle and the way bands like Joy Division, Nirvana, or Black Sabbath pushed the envelope, so much so that they were labeled as Satanic and a public menace. I think the modern equivalent to these rockstars now are artists like Playboi Carti and Future. Their lyrics about sex and drugs aren’t far off from the rockstars of the past. Playboi Carti even has a song called “Rockstar Made.”
What is rock and roll now?
This April, Charli XCX declared that it would be a “Turnstile Summer.” The following release of Turnstile’s NEVER ENOUGH was a smashing hit, and brought rock, hardcore, and punk music into the spotlight and psyche of many younger people who may have not been familiar with the genre.
NEVER ENOUGH itself is a great rock record from the Baltimore hardcore band. It’s more melodic and orchestral than previous records, but retains the punky roots of the band. Additionally, the band had a free performance in Baltimore upon release to raise money for Healthcare for the Homeless.
One rock band soaking up the spotlight right now is Geese, with their third full length record, Getting Killed. They have become indie rock royalty seemingly overnight, although in reality they’ve been building up a fanbase for years. Their free concert in NYC looked incredibly lively.
Getting Killed was not my favorite listen at first. It felt uncoordinated, and frontman Cameron Winter’s voice seemed a bit awkward over the backdrop of chaotic instrumentation. But upon further listening, it’s become one of my favorite records released this year. If rock music is a wheel, Geese has reinvented it.
There are other bands that are reinventing what rock means for a Gen Z audience. Wednesday’s Bleeds takes Sonic Youth edge and mixes it with Hank Williams melancholic pedal steel licks. Momma’s Welcome To My Blue Sky is an expanse of simple, layered rock guitar sounds but beautiful chord voicings and evocative lyrics and melodies.
It’s become interesting to watch female-led bands take some of the charge to lead rock into the future; in the past, rock has been a very male-dominated genre. I think it’s important that women are seen, feel represented, and are participating in making rock music. It’s part of what is bringing rock into the 21st century.
Additionally, Deftones private music is an amazing return to form for the alternative metal band, which has been around for almost 40 years. It’s very possible that Deftones is the most popular it’s ever been, largely due to a new generation of young fans. Bands like Bass Drum of Death and White Reaper (morbid names, I know) have come out with albums this year that have straightforward, punk rock and garage rock roots, but have sounds that are evolved in a way that mirrors the way the genre has as a whole.
To tie it all together on a local level, The All-American Rejects came to Columbia and gave us hell. It was awesome, it was free, and was a throwback to times before Ticketmaster. Posts showcasing the event online racked up millions of views, even making it on CNN.
Maybe you’ve noticed a theme here: free events. Ticketmaster, scalping, and 800 dollar concert tickets really suck. Seeing live music shouldn’t be a luxury; it should be for everyone. That’s part of the appeal of listening to music.
The cherry on top, then, is that rock bands are leading the charge for accessible, even free, live music.
Final thoughts
I think what’s important to note is that among younger people, rock generally has a perception of being for old people. When I say, “I like rock music,” to the average person my age, they might think that I like Led Zeppelin or maybe Alice In Chains, bands that are hugely influential, but their music isn’t of our time. They’re snapshots into the past; we can only be nostalgic for them for so long before rock musicians look forward instead of backward.
Rock being under the surface of the mainstream for years could actually supercharge a renaissance and/or resurgence. It seems like popular rap, pop, and country has almost reached a breaking point of repetition. While there are still innovators in each respective genre, they’re not evolving at the same level that rock is being forced to in order to shake the perception that it’s not for our generation. To me, it seems like rock music is now getting in-touch with Gen Z’s collective experiences, and is redefining itself to find its place in the 21st century.
To survive and thrive, rock needs to be able to reach out and inspire young kids to pick up an instrument or start a band, like it did for me when I was younger. (I was really inspired by Mac DeMarco and Tame Impala, their music felt like it was for me.) Kids aren’t going to love the genre if they feel like it’s not for them.
