Where INDIE is King

Route1's Indie Week continues with a look across the pond.
Indie bands fare much differently (and almost assuredly better) in the United Kingdom than in the United States.
Britain is a smaller country that boasts a frenetic music scene. Those two elements mean an indie band such as The Smiths (pictured above in all of their glory) can build a fanatically loyal following that stretches far beyond their home confines (in their case, Manchester). Oh yeah... having the once-in-a-lifetime partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr helps, too.
By contrast, an indie band in San Francisco would require days upon days of driving just to gig around half of the country. The Internet and mp3s are opening more nationwide doors for local American indie bands, but Yanks still face obstacles unknown to their Brit counterparts.
Today is a cloudy/rainy/gloomy type day in Dubuque... perfect for listening to The Smiths!