NYC Beat #3: The Stationary Set
By: Chris Vinyard
Arlene's Grocery on the Lower East Side is a strange venue in that the name is cool, the sound is decent, and the room is a good size for an up and coming band to play, yet it remains cursed as a place not to play if a band can help it. I'm not sure how it got that rep. Perhaps there's some sordid history involving a mass slaying on the stage? That would be interesting, and probably attract a lot of metal bands, but it's most likely a result of them booking anybody and everybody to play gigs there. Quantity is certainly trumping quality - which is a shame, as I have fond memories of the joint. It was actually where I saw my first rock show in NYC, back on my second trip to the city in the spring of 2005. That is to say if Live Band Rock 'n' Roll Karaoke counts. I did Cheap Trick's 'Want You To Want Me' and got made fun of for my dance moves on stage.
It was a great time, and yet in the last 5 years I can say I've only been back maybe once or twice - this despite it being only a drunken skip and a jump from other popular spots like Cake Shop and Pianos. But I found myself there for the first time in a long time-the-less last Thursday. I was there to support my friend's band Hunters & Runners, whom put forth a good effort considering it was their first show ever.
Strangely enough another acquaintance happened to be playing on the bill too in his band The Stationary Set. I hadn't yet gotten around to checking out their music despite being invited out to another show a few weeks before. Tired and facing a mountain of work, I struggled with the desire to head home and tackle my email rather than wait through another band before they even took the stage. Very Rock 'n' Roll of me right? But OK I told myself, do this now and then you don't have to do it again later right? You're already out, just stay for a couple of songs and you've done your part right?
They took the stage and started into their set, and it wasn't but a few bars into the first song that I realized my plans of taking off early were being supplanted by a desire to stick around for the entire show. The bearded lead singer looks a bit like an urban mountain man in his flannel, so I wasn't expecting him to bowl me over with the powerful crystal clear vocals he began belting out. With bright guitars, vocal harmonies, and electronic accents they've written a bunch of incredibly catchy yet deep pop songs that remind me of what I used to like about Ben Gibbard before he ran out of new ideas. Perhaps paired with some of the explosive energy of Jimmy Eat World. They might hate me for saying that, and maybe it will turn a few jaded hipsters away from the get go, but I'm sure they'll find 2 or 3 fans for every schmuck who can't get along with a great hook.
But judge for yourself! The Stationary Set are generously giving away their brilliant 4 song EP for Free on their MySpace page.