Well, what I was driving at, is just because a band/artist is classified or labels themselves indie ie to maybe describe a sound/image they have, does not make them indie.  To me, indie was intended to describe unknowns with no label or small label (independent label=indie), that were trying to get exposure outside the corporate major label structure. 

And as for John Mayer, he was never, NEVER Indie!!   He was hand-picked by the majors for his talent, catchy hooks, youth and clean cut image (pssst...he has a tattoo...don't tell anyone, and probably inhales on occasion, no.. wait, he holds it in his mouth and takes some time to smile a little before he lets it go..).   And it wasn't 2 years ago, more like 5 or 6 years ago that his first CD was released....uh by a MAJOR 'indie" label.

Pat, if you want a glimmering of some genuine,what I would call "indie" artists  (quality varies.  Many of 'em sound like they need more time to develop, but some are amazing).  Yes, go to CD baby.  First dial in the category/genre you are interested in hearing.  Then they will list artists in that category.   Click on a few, and you will see a blurb about them, maybe some pix, with information about the artist/band,  and certainly some free downloads for your perusal.  Many of them have a completed CD from home-made quality all the way to some degree of production and good studio sound.  If you like what you hear, you can then buy the CD straight from CD Baby and it's usually cheap....5-10 $ on average.  They ship to you at very nominal cost (unlike the greed on Amazon and related where they friggin' double the mail charges), and in excellent package...FAST.  Try it...you like it.   Real Indie.  Serious.