Urban Fetch

"The guys of Urban Fetch have conglomerated a unique sound that is tranquil and at the same time powerful. Released in the fall of 2006, this self-titled record showcases the band’s talent and songwriting ability to the fullest. Filled with gut busting melodies and fiery guitar solos, the disc is nothing short of great."
-The Artist District.com
"Urban Fetch is a catchy collection of piano-based rock tunes that had an indie feel but never lost sight of a great hook. ... They have a sound that is unique and ready for the airwaves - the college radio market won’t know what hit ‘em!"
-Bodog Music
As modern music consumers, we tend to gravitate towards that which is easily classified. Given the profusion of bands these days, it often seems imperative to separate, sort, and prejudge bands based on a few broad criteria. But bands, like people, are not simple static affairs – indeed, the finest of music transcends genres, labels, and ages. Oftentimes, our most rewarding experiences as listeners come when we embrace the unclassifiable – the puzzle pieces that seemingly fit everywhere and nowhere at once. Which brings me to New York’s Urban Fetch – four guys who play music. Damned fine music, I might add.
A few months ago, a trusted confidant handed me the band’s record and beseeched me to spend some time with it. Naturally, I asked the necessary questions: "Where are they from? Who are their friends? What’s the genre? Do they sound like anything I dig?" My friend only shook his head and walked away smiling. I retreated to a quiet space to have a listen, slightly bewildered.
A mere fifteen minutes later, and I completely understood him. Urban Fetch is a band that invites unlimited comparisons – but ultimately, none of them seem adequate. In Danny Golub’s piano playing and unique lead vocals, one hears echoes of Ben Folds and Donald Fagen. The rhythm section of drummer Josh Mankes and bassist Mike Buckner is tight as they come, but never at the expense of energy or emotion. And just when you think you have the band figured out, in comes lead guitarist Jim Cobb – the man can straight up play – and brings the songs to a new dimension. Perhaps most impressive about the band, however, is their ability to concisely synthesize the wildly disparate sounds and genres of the modern musical landscape. Urban Fetch is not trite radio pop. It is not a cynical indie band. It is not an unfocused improvisational savant. In fact, one gets the idea that it could very easily be any one of the three, but is simply not content to pigeonhole itself. Indeed, part of the band’s charm is its ability to seamlessly slip into different guises – often several times within the same track – while maintaining singular focus on a song as a whole. The result is refreshingly interesting pop music.
A month ago, I had the privilege of witnessing the band in a live setting – New York’s Knitting Factory. As much as I enjoy their recorded output, the stage is where Urban Fetch truly shines. I remember quietly standing in front of the stage, allowing the band to take me wherever they chose – and I was handsomely rewarded. Some shows are like snacks. This was a full-course meal. I heard the intensity of post hardcore, the playful cynicism of indie, the musical spontaneity of a jazz quartet, and the hooky bliss of vintage pop - all wrapped up in one band and one sound.
Urban Fetch is an independent band in the purest sense. To hell with tapered jeans, trucker hats, and Chuck Taylors. These guys play their asses off. They wear what they happen to put on in the morning. And they do it in front of anyone who’ll listen.
-Stephen Press
New York City, 2007