The whole concept of Indie is ridiculous. I like hearing stuff that's new and different. I like to hear original stuff.
Provided it's GOOD. And frankly, most of it ISN'T.
Joe Satriani: not on the radio, but not Indie.
Steve Vai: not often on the radio, but not Indie.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Eels, Dandy Warhols: rarely on the radio, but not Indie.
The point of Indie is NOT "sticking it to the man" whatever they say it is. Actually indie, as a whole, is pretty much summed up by Indie Rock Pete: anything anyone likes is no good. That's NOT sticking it to the man. That's letting your tastes be dictated by the man.
Let me also comment about the "point" of rock. There *is* no point to rock, insofar as any social theory is concerned. The idea of rock was loving the music, having fun. Elvis. 3 Dog Night. Chuck Berry. The Beach Boys. These guys were NOT about sticking it to the man. Neither were the Beatles at first. If you think rock was about sticking it to the man until MTV, I'm going to point you at the Rolling Stones. Now THEY thought/think rock was purely about teen rebellion. Yet, when MTV came along, they were in their 40s. Still singing about being teen rebels. And they embraced MTV wholeheartedly. So much for sticking to their ideals. THAT'S the reality of rock.