Alumni:
Mike Byrne - drums
Aubrey Keating - voice
James Crutcher - bass
Avery Cooper - guitar
Jacob Wacker - bass
Samantha Scott - management
Influences
Smashing Pumpkins, Mogwai, Minus The Bear, XTC, Deftones, Porcupine Tree, Team Sleep, They Might Be Giants, Placebo, Rush, Fountains of Wayne, Death Cab For Cutie, Band of Horses, Animal Collective, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Yes, Eels, TV On The Radio, Primus, R.E.M., Band Of Horses, Metric, Sonic Youth, Dungen, Cat Power, Belle & Sebastian, The Flaming Lips, Zwan, Billy Corgan, The Mars Volta, Sianspheric, The Smiths, Dukes of Stratosphear, and more... check this link for what's been playing lately!
Sounds Like
Smashing Pumpkins, XTC, Nine Inch Nails, Mogwai, Placebo, Sonic Youth
The Mercury Tree was started by Ben Spees under the name Electric Doormat in 2004 after the disbanding of Phoenix folk outfit The Vacant Stairs. Electric Doormat's first album was released in 2004 and was mostly a solo project in a techno-rock vein. In 2005 Ben moved to Portland in search of like-minded musicians. The second album, Evil Genius, which featured an assortment of players, was released in early 2006 to excellent reviews. It included mesmerizing vocals from once and future bandmate Aubrey Keating.
Shortly after this, Ben met future Smashing Pumpkins drummer Mike Byrne, forming the genesis of the 4-piece version of the group. Along with bassist James Crutcher and guitarist Avery Cooper, the band set about writing a huge amount of music, and indeed, this was accomplished. On July 27, 2007, The Mercury Tree released its self-titled debut album, still worming its way into ears everywhere. As a four-piece band we played numerous shows around Portland.
In 2008, Mike and James began a new instrumental side project called Moses, Smell The Roses. Ben served as producer for their first EP. Soon thereafter, we were joined by two new band members, Liz Kuhn on vocals, flute and drums, and Alan Johnson on bass, and set out writing even more music for the new band lineup.
LATEST NEWS:As of June 2009, we are getting ready to release several new EPs, the first of which is entitled EERIE. Ben has also recorded a new full-length album with Moses, Smell The Roses, entitled Please Do Over.
Hey, we're playing at the Ash Street Saloon.....Nov 22nd....CDs WILL BE available!!.....also, we'll have music available at CDBaby.com and iTunes, soon......hope to see ya there....
Hey, I just wanted to stop by to show you two of our new songs, "Almost Famous" and "She's Got It." If you get a chance, we'd love to hear what you think about the music. .. Also, you can now buy thew newest iPhonic songs on iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, Napster, and eMusic. Two of the songs ("It's Okay" and "Turn Me On") have never even been released yet! Also, if you get a chance check out the pictures from our recent photo shoot!
thanks guys for hanging out to watch us last night. you guys were great. too bad about the other band being....less then professional, and the promoter for being a total douche. see ya guys/gal later.
Hope you can make it down to check out one of our favorite groups, Solillaquists of Sound. If you haven't heard them yet definitely take some time to check them out!
