Posted by Charlie on March 12, 2010
Ever heard of SXSW?
It’s another one of the giant music festivals that happens across the country each year. (Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, 10,000 Lakes, Burning Man…you get the idea.) SXSW or South By Southwest begins today in Austin, Texas.
Its grown from just music to incorporate film and other interactive elements. Those interactive elements are often heavily attended by tech-savvy people…or nerds. The music also often reflects nerd music culture too; nerd rock, geek rock, nerd cord.
I honor of SXSW here’s my list of the top ten Nerd Rock songs.
10. Elvis Costello – He writes the book, angels wanna wear his red shoes and he watches the detectives. Sounds nerdy to me.
9. Talking Heads – Also known as intellectual rockers, but “Burning Down The House” was used in the movie “Revenge Of the Nerds.”
8. The Proclaimers – Not a bad tune, but can you get thicker eyeglass frames?
7. Thomas Dolby – Hopefully science will fix his blindness problems.
6. They Mights Be Giants – Birdhouse in Your Soul & Particle Man. Way to throw the physics at us.
5. Barenaked Ladies – What? Nerdy Canadians. Oh wait, that’s no surprise.
4. Weird Al Yankovich – Funny, nerdy and topical. I’m sure the ladies are knocking down his door.
3. Devo – Possibly the first known sightings of nerds actually making it. Oooh, yeah. Whip it good.
2. Buddy Holly – You are the godfather of nerd rock.
1. Weezer - You win the nerd award of the century guys. They are modern nerd rock gods.
