Artists like Jawbox

No Knife was a band from San Diego, California. They played an innovative form of rock that combined aspects of post-punk, post-hardcore, indie rock, and many other genres, influenced by a wide variety of acts, including Pixies, the Cure, Erik Satie, Steel Pulse, and Édith Piaf. No Knife once won the San Diego Music Award for "Best Punk Rock Band," and are cited as an influence by Thrice.

Champaign, IL space-rockers — heavy chords, huge distances.

Braid is an American emo band from Champaign, Illinois, formed in 1993.

Superchunk is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Formed in 1989, they were one of the bands that helped define the Chapel Hill music scene of the 1990s and were at the forefront of the indie rock scene at the time. The band's lineup consists of singer-guitarist Mac McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance, and drummer Laura King. They are known for their energetic, high-velocity style and strong DIY ethic.