what is indie rock?

indie rock is not a style or a genre. bands who say they play "indie rock," aren't really doing it. indie rock is more like a status. you're an unsigned band, or you're signed to an independent label that makes you pay for everything yourself. but as far as a style goes, bands don't play "indie" rock. what does that sound like? does it sound like metal? then it's called metal. is it punk, is it instrumental? atmospheric? blues? blues-rock? bands play all these genres and more, but it's not right to call it "indie." —Mat