Artist description Setting The Standard, Emotional Art-Rock from the suburbs of chicago.

Music Style Emo

Musical Influences The Get Up Kids, The Anniversary, Dashboard Confessional, Weezer, the Rentals, Oasis, Blur, RadioHead, Blink182, Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day, No Doubt.

Similar Artists The Get Up Kids, The Anniversary, Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day

Artist History Wheaton, IL is about an hour west of Chicago and is the hometown of founding members Conrad Merced and Bridget Houcek of Setting The Standard. Call it Emo, call it Synth Pop, call it Folked up Punk. "STS" has come a long way and has been many different styles of music in over four years. From practicing in the hot garage or the cold basement all those years. The original "Setting The Standard" was formed by Conrad in late 99. Although the band has been derived from ska band "Teenage Politix" (97-99) formed by Conrad, Adam Greenlee (now in Zero Calibre) and Dirk Weber (former STS drummer). The original STS line up consisted Conrad Merced, Bridget Houcek and Dirk Weber. Will Higgins joined shortly after. After playing shows for a good year. Dirk Weber left the band on good terms to pursue Drum Corps. The man to replace him was Chris Triebes who was in famous Wheaton Warrenville Drumline at school with Dirk Weber along with Chris Mason and Pat Gilroy of Close Enough. Chris Triebes played drums in a band called "Lost" and after his broke up, Chris offical joined STS. The following year Setting The Standard cut 2 CD demos, dominated many local Battle of The Bands, played numberous shows during school and toured in the summer. After the tour promoting "Staring Out a Window and Thinking" Chris left for college in Indiana and Will left to head the Wheaton Warrenville marching band. Mike Smith of Downers Grove band Epsin 12 replied to an add for Setting The Standard and was hired after a jam session. "I was real nervous. I really wanted to be in. I had a feeling I would get it though, but still there was a side of me that was like "do good!". Right now I feel really good. and im happy to be in the band, and im happy to have such great new friends." -Mike Smith. So right now Conrad and Setting The Standard continues their journey in this business, playing more shows writing new songs all the while having a great time!

Group Members Conrad Merced - Vocals Bridget Houcek- Bass, Vocals Mike Smith - Drums.

Instruments Guitar, Drums, Bass, Keyboards

Albums "It felt like Summer again", "Staring Out a Window and Thinking", "The 7 song demo".

Press Reviews January Issue of "The Pride" Wheaton Warrenville South High School's magizine. “Setting the Standard” is a local band that has performed in front of audiences of up to one hundred people, has recorded a CD professionally, has its own webpage, and is made up of Wheaton-Warrenville South students. The band has been portrayed as a Pop/Punk/emo, independent band, but is influenced by other types of music as well. They have been compared to groups such as Blink 182, Incubus, and Radiohead. The songs by “Setting the Standard” tend to focus on subjects that most teenagers can relate to, such as love, and teenage life. Although the group only began over the summer, its four members all belonged to other bands in the past: “Teenage Politix” and “Lost.” Already, “Setting the Standard” has recorded its first CD at a professional studio, Crystal Recorders. The CD, entitled “It Felt Like Summer Again,” contains four songs and sells for $5 on the band’s webpage. The band enjoys doing shows, and plays for many of the Wheaton Park District teen activities. They also enjoy playing at parties. For more information, visit www.settingthestandard.org. Members of “Setting the Standard”: Conrad Merced- Lead Vocals/ Guitar. Merced writes many of the lyrics for their songs. He is a junior at South. Bridget Houcek- Backing Vocals/ Bass. Also a junior at South, Houcek also writes many of the lyrics. Chris Triebes- Drums/ Piano. Triebes is a senior at South. Adam Neubauer- Guitar. Neubauer is a junior. Says Merced about “Setting the Standard”: “We’re a ‘nice’ band, we’re not the type of band that would go trash hotel rooms on tour… as a matter of fact, we would probably fold all the blankets and towels when we’re done.” Each member is very dedicated to the band, and has worked hard through good times and bad. Like their name, which sounds like part of an inspirational phrase, the band has an inspirational message for other aspiring young musicians. “We played many good shows and even some bad ones, we went through many members and breakups in the band, and we received negative feedback from people… but you can’t let them get you down.” Writes Merced, “Without [difficult] times, we wouldn’t have been as strong a band as we are now. So who knows, if you’re in a band practicing in the cold basement or a hot garage, keep practicing and never give up… We have learned nothing is impossible, if you put your mind to it.”

Location Wheaton, IL - USA

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