Music Metrics Vault

Philly indie

Most popular artists in Philly indie

This chart is based on the monthly listeners metric for all artists tagged with the genre philly indie by Spotify. It may contain some errors or some data may not be up to date. You can check the artist profile to update data if necessary.

# Artist Monthly Listeners Followers
1
9,376,304
2,812,067
2
5,082,496
584,033
3
1,980,118
746,343
4
Kurt Vile
885,841
525,864
5
The Hooters
688,778
98,227
6
The Starting Line
430,346
194,495
7
Nothing
416,578
147,442
8
Mo Lowda & the Humble
336,429
61,476
9
Marietta
313,635
68,061
10
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
217,323
184,218
11
Matt Pond PA
190,765
29,572
12
The Dead Milkmen
181,793
151,889
13
Radiator Hospital
153,116
63,924
14
mewithoutYou
134,164
145,320
15
CRUISR
129,241
97,839
16
Hop Along
101,162
113,272
17
Man Man
79,523
77,729
18
Mischief Brew
75,159
67,079
19
Low Cut Connie
67,491
36,298
20
Ryan Leahan
64,643
13,713
21
Vacationer
58,706
72,661
22
The Disco Biscuits
50,419
89,284
23
The Teeth
47,226
12,578
24
Kississippi
46,081
33,432
25
Cayetana
41,557
41,564
26
Silvertide
36,044
27,438
27
Hello Shark
32,497
7,502
28
Little Big League
23,919
14,178
29
Besphrenz
21,136
6,186
30
Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer
21,098
9,175
31
Webbed Wing
18,343
13,992
32
Swearin'
17,398
21,836
33
Beach Slang
16,904
37,320
34
Cheers Elephant
14,822
12,430
35
Marah
13,721
6,382
36
God Lives Underwater
12,952
21,104
37
Restorations
12,354
10,767
38
Queen of Jeans
10,613
9,225
39
Tangier
9,184
16,354
40
Free Energy
9,036
8,418
41
Nightlands
9,005
7,506
42
Purling Hiss
7,194
7,756
43
Cheerleader
6,314
25,804
44
The Interpreters
6,181
432
45
Eric Slick
5,029
2,727
46
Thin Lips
4,642
8,284
47
Espers
4,316
9,935
48
Dandelion
4,131
3,147
49
Slingshot Dakota
4,042
8,299
50
Katie Ellen
2,906
4,472
51
Dogs On Acid
2,712
4,482
52
American Babies
2,680
3,012
53
Hot Cross
2,389
8,428
54
Eastern Conference Champions
2,018
2,073
55
Young Statues
2,002
4,113
56
Huffamoose
1,935
1,022
57
Shannen Moser
1,931
3,490
58
Hurry
1,651
3,565
59
Stinking Lizaveta
1,647
2,112
60
Yankee Bluff
1,515
568
61
Empath
1,480
10,028
62
The Young Werewolves
1,455
938
63
Flowchart
1,380
1,012
64
Tall Friend
1,236
2,238
65
Toy Soldiers
1,100
1,136
66
Witch Hunt
1,061
5,016
67
The Lawsuits
1,037
1,582
68
The Extraordinaires
1,034
1,172
69
Ink + Dagger
1,033
2,203
70
Count To Four
1,017
1,002
71
The A-Sides
848
5,138
72
Bleeding Rainbow
727
2,742
73
Strapping Fieldhands
612
892
74
Clockcleaner
446
2,382
75
Wanderlust
424
304
76
Grey Eye Glances
419
754
77
Hail Social
386
651
78
Birds of Maya
369
1,724
79
Armsbendback
368
565
80
Pattern Is Movement
304
1,372
81
East Hundred
300
261
82
Liam and Me
298
422
83
Small Circle
289
646
84
Photon Band
245
412
85
Beru Revue
231
334
86
The Low Budgets
230
492
87
Hash Jar Tempo
202
1,944
88
Ex Reverie
195
202
89
Pepper's Ghost
189
181
90
Sorry and the Sinatras
188
1,053
91
Laser Background
177
952
92
Mondo Topless
156
232
93
Cordalene
155
83
94
Kill Verona
131
368
95
Amanda X
123
803
96
Blood Feathers
97
183
97
The Trouble With Sweeney
94
145
98
The Capitol Years
88
184
99
Aspera
70
319
100
Arc In Round
52
164
101
Trophy Wife
50
238
102
The Trolleyvox
49
74
103
Jena Berlin
49
214
104
Simon Apple
45
76
105
Transitshop
40
10
106
Swanning
36
184
107
Echo Orbiter
30
99
108
The Defog
29
63
109
National Eye
28
105
110
Hair Rocket
17
23
111
The Red Masque
6
125
112
Southwork
3
48
113
Zonic Shockum
3
25

Some info about philly indie

Philly indie, a vibrant and distinctive subset of the broader independent music scene, encapsulates a unique sound and ethos that have emerged from the diverse musical landscape of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This genre, which broadly encompasses various styles including indie rock, folk, punk, and electronic, is characterized by its DIY spirit, authenticity, and a closely-knit community of artists and fans.

The roots of Philly indie can be traced back to the late 1980s and early 1990s when Philadelphia began to form its musical identity separate from the overshadowing scenes of New York City and Washington D.C. This was a time when local bands started to gain recognition for their originality and fierce independence, playing in makeshift venues and thriving through word-of-mouth and college radio stations. The genre truly started to flourish in the early 2000s, benefitting from the global surge in indie music popularity.

A key element of Philly indie is its deeply collaborative nature, with artists often participating in multiple projects and bands, contributing to an interconnected community rather than a competitive market. This camaraderie has fostered a diverse and innovative musical output that resists being pigeonholed into one singular style.

Among the notable acts that have shaped and propelled the Philly indie scene is The War on Drugs, whose lush, heartland rock-infused sound has earned them widespread acclaim and several international awards. Another significant contributor is Kurt Vile, a singer-songwriter known for his laid-back vocal style and introspective lyrics, which have made him a quintessential figure in the genre. His work, both as a solo artist and as a founding member of The War on Drugs, encapsulates the spirit of Philly indie.

Additionally, bands like Dr. Dog, with their blend of psychedelic rock, folk, and 1960s pop influences, and Modern Baseball, who brought punk energy and emo sensitivity into their music, have played pivotal roles in defining the sound and aesthetic of Philly indie. These artists not only reflect the genre’s musical diversity but also its capacity to evolve and resonate with a broader audience.

Philly indie is not just popular in the United States but has also garnered a following in parts of Europe and Australia, where listeners appreciate its authenticity and innovative approaches to traditional music genres. The international appeal can largely be credited to how the artists maintain genuine narratives and analog aesthetics in their production, celebrating imperfection as part of their music’s charm.

Philadelphia’s indie scene remains vibrant, continually fueled by new bands and venues that keep the spirit alive. It is supported by an array of independent record stores, local labels like Don Giovanni Records, and dedicated spaces like Johnny Brenda’s and Union Transfer that offer platforms for both upcoming and established indie acts.

For music enthusiasts exploring the depths of Philly indie, the genre offers a rich tapestry of sounds and stories. It stands out for its blend of musical innovation, traditional influences, and a supportive community ethos, making it a compelling chapter in the panorama of American independent music.