EXIT 109 SMASHES SET AT STONE PONY
From the lunchroom to The Stone Pony, NJ-based Exit 109 has come a long way.
The 4-piece band made up of lead singer and guitarist Grayson Hardwick, guitarist Sean O’Grady, drummer Ian Valenzano and bassist James Matthews played their first opening set at iconic Asbury Park venue The Stone Pony on May 27.
“Sean was learning guitar, I’d been playing guitar for a few years, Ian had been playing drums for a while, and James decided to learn bass,” Harwick said. “We had our first practice shortly after, and knew that it was something we wanted to pursue.”
Photo by Aki Sykes
The crowd of over 100 was jamming along to a mixture of popular indie-pop songs, like Surf Curse’s “Freaks”, alt-rock songs, like The Killers’ “When We Were Young”, and originals. Setlist staple “Kilby Girl” by The Backseat Lovers took on a new form during this performance – a mashup with TLC’s cult classic “No Scrubs.”
“The No Scrubs and Kilby Girl mash-up was completely improvised,” Matthews said. “We did it during our opener but Sean just surprised me when he pulled it out.”
The all-new mash-up wasn’t the only thing that debuted at their Stone Pony performance. Matthews, known for his bass licks and driving beats, brought out a keyboard for his favorite song: “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers.
“He started keyboard in seventh grade,” Valenzano said. “He’s just been playing a lot and has gotten really good.”
Photo by Aki Sykes
“Piano definitely has a steeper learning curve,” Matthews explained. “I was confident enough to play bass in front of people long before piano.”
Using their decade-long relationship the band took the stage at the Stone Pony with an air of relaxation and charm – helping to mask their nerves over the history that the venue holds.
"It's surreal to be at such a historical venue like the Pony. I just can't believe that we get to share the same stage with musicians who have played there before like Bruce Springsteen and Joan Jett,” said O’Grady.
“We can't wait to play there more," he added.
Photo by Aki Sykes