The indie rock era of the 2010s has passed, and there are quite a few bands from that era that definitely deserve a solid comeback in the 2020s. Let’s look at a few examples, shall we?
1. Joyce Manor
Ah, Joyce Manor. Nobody was pulling punk rock and power pop into the 2010s quite like this outfit. Joyce Manor released several killer emo and indie rock records in the 2010s, including their self-titled 2011 debut and the critically acclaimed Never Hungover Again a few years later. They’re still making music and touring today, but they deserve way more attention than they get.
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2. Car Seat Headrest
What originally started as Will Toledo’s solo project evolved into a fully functioning band in the 2010s. Car Seat Headrest is best known for the 2011 record Twin Fantasy, as well as their work and touring efforts after getting signed to Matador Records in 2015. A standout indie rock and lo-fi act, Car Seat Headrest has released several records as a full band, including the recent 2025 effort The Scholars.
3. Fontaines D.C.
Out of all the 2010s bands on this list that deserve a major comeback, it looks like it might actually happen for Fontaines D.C. This Irish post-punk outfit got together in the mid-2010s, and they started making waves in the scene with the release of their 2019 debut Dogrel. Fontaines D.C. might just be remembered more for their 2020s work at this point, considering how much of a huge hit the 2020 indie rock record A Hero’s Death was. Their last two records have done phenomenally well, including the 2024 release Romance, which finally charted in the US.
4. Great Grandpa
Great Grandpa is best known for their last two albums of the 2010s, and either of them could be considered among the best indie rock records of the decade. This writer is a fan of Plastic Cough from 2017, in particular. Great Grandpa has finally announced the release of their latest studio album, Patience, Moonbeam, at the end of March 2025. We could see a comeback for this Seattle outfit soon enough!
5. Chvrches
Chvrches should be at the top of this list of 2010s bands that deserve a comeback. This Scottish synth-pop outfit defined the 2010s with their glittering soundscapes and indie-pop leanings. Their debut 2013 album, The Bones Of What You Believe, is essential listening.
Photo courtesy of Fontaines D.C.’s official Facebook page
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More The List
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1972: (L-R) Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Denny Dias, Donald Fagen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Walter Becker of the rock band "Steely Dan" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
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Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images)
