by J. Leeder

rlene’s Grocery on Stanton St, in the heart of the now uber-trendy Lower East Side, has been offering live music since 1996. The former Puerto Rican bodega has hipster kids lining up nightly to see the latest struggling bands of the indie, punk, alt-country and hard rock varieties. This is where up-and-coming bands come to leave their sweat on the stage and prove themselves. Monday night even features live karaoke with a house band playing along. You might happen upon a celebrity or two, and even music industry execs checking out major label up-and-comers. The Strokes and The Bravery, two of the music industry’s heaviest hitting rock acts, played some of their first gigs here when nobody else would give them a chance.

A $7 cover gets you downstairs into the venue, with a well-worn stage, another bar, and a notoriously rude bar staff. But for me it’s all about the music. The sound engineers go the extra mile to make sure the music coming out of the speakers is exactly how the bands and audiences want it: Clear and loud. The small room promises some very intimate moments, if only you stick around long enough…

On Friday night I got my wish when I saw The Canon Logic. Their heavy reliance on the synthesizer coupled with lush harmonies doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but it puts a unique and fresh spin on the current state of pop music. Their smooth background harmonies strongly evoke the '60s California sunny pop of The Beach Boys or The Mamas & The Papas, while the layering synth sounds recall '80s style dance funk.

The five-piece outfit enjoys telling stories in their songs that steer clear of the standard failed relationships, corny love or overtly political topics. They also have built in groove moments in their songs that allow for the crowd to shake it before coming back to the more lyrical sections. This is how they make the sound their own: They don’t just emulate their influences but expand on them. If you’re looking for some new bright and sunny summer anthems, check out The Canon Logic when they return to town.

Arlene’s Grocery is located at 95 Stanton St, between Orchard and Ludlow. arlenesgrocery.net