the groovement

By Jameson Mangan | January 24, 2023

NYC-based indie rock new-comers Me + Nobody pulled off a polished performance at The Mercury Lounge along with other heavy hitters Calista Garcia and Blanket Approval.

Me + Nobody are a band in their infancy, having only assembled less than one year ago. The hype surrounding this band is tangible, and they’re receiving early recognition through Spotify playlist placements and buzz on multiple popular music blogs. Their limited experience certainly didn’t hold them back, as the quartet seemed poised and ready to deliver a memorable performance.

It didn’t take long for the uninitiated in the crowd to get into it. This talented young group displays a natural aptitude for penning catchy indie-pop hits. Me + Nobody members Richie Anderson (lead singer), Thomas Kinsella (guitar), Vinny Sutera (drums) and Joe Genduso (bass) all combined electronic components (drum pads, pre-recorded elements, loops etc.) with live instrumentation– a tricky feat in a non-studio setting.

Me + Nobody showed the audience that they are quite adept at masterfully weaving together these various sounds and influences. By layering their guitar/bass/drums performances atop atmospheric strings and stacked vocal harmonies, the group was able to create a vast soundscape that sounded much richer than an average 4-piece rock band.

By the third song, the band was warmed-up and firing on all cylinders. Emotive frontman Richie Anderson provided nostalgia-tinged lyrics delivered with conviction on fan-favorites like “The Red” and “The Cab,” in addition to teasing some unreleased material for fans. Anderson’s soothing voice bounced back and forth between enthusiasm and apathy. Their songs were often understated by design, starting as relatively simple compositions and evolving into sweeping, layered ballads.

Before the show, we caught up with Me + Nobody and they answered a few questions for the groovement:

What was your first concert you went to?
Richie: Metallica
Joe: Iron Maiden
Vinny: Van Halen
Tom: Billy Joel

Where are you from?
Vinny: We are all from Long Island.

How did you first get started?
Joe: Vinny and I were in various bands together in high school and college. We met Joe and Richie along the way and started playing with them in 2022.

What was the first concert you performed?
Richie: Our first show playing together as Me + Nobody was at a venue called Amityville Music Hall in Long Island on August 19th 2022.. It was our first show together as a band and we completely sold out the venue – it was really exciting.

How would you describe your music – either by genre or general vibe?
Joe: I would describe our sound as Indie Pop, but we have a ton of different influences. We listen to just about everything and try to incorporate that into our music.

What is your pre show routine (anything you need to do, eat or drink)?
We all drink bud heavy.

Who/what do you draw inspiration from?
Richie: I draw inspirations from my personal experiences in the world and the experiences of others.

Do you have anything you want people to take away from your music?
Richie: We would love to convey the emotions that we feel in our music and have that connection carry over to the people listening to our music.

What’s your dream venue to perform at?
MSG. It’s gotta be MSG.

What’s next for you?
Joe: We will be putting out a new album or EP relatively soon. We have quite a few songs saved up, and we’re just trying to decide what to include. We’re obviously really excited about our show at the Mercury Lounge tonight, and of course our feature with the Groovement!