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press:
"Myspace friends of Nada Surf and Dr. Dog, these Austin misfits claim to be influenced by "cheap beer, big dreams; sad sarcastic pop bursts." Who isn't? The band's best Myspace mp3, "Sexy Youth," sits at the shady crossroads of swagger and sensitivity; one day this one's gonna be an excellent soundtrack to a show-closing montage on Grey's Anatomy."
Esquire Magazine - July 2006
"Above the melodic guitar and synthesizer, Peter Wagner's distinctive voice soars, part Peter Gabriel, part Jeremy Enigk. It's distracting at first, even a bit abrasive. Yet by the time the Mercers' debut loops back 'round, Wagner has become inexplicably woven into the local fivepiece's lyric-heavy songs, which are head and shoulders above previous incarnation Choking Ahogo. If not for Wagner's vox, the riffs of opener "Sexy Youth" and addictive bridge of "Use for Abuse" would seem formulaic, but behind that compressed croon, acoustic highlight "The World It Has Forsaken Me" and chilling closer "Evo" become heartbreaking odes to faraway lands. The Mercers' take on Americana pop lands them somewhere on Irish shores. Wagner's storytelling, brothers Erik and Bryan Ray's able bass and guitar, and Nathan Delacretaz's pedal steel melt into a worldly vision of classic rock & roll, a testament to true songwriting determination. THREE STARS"
Austin Chronicle - February 2008
"The debut album from this indie band shows what all the fuss is about. The Mercers combine disparate influences like country and western, Celtic folk and British pop to produce a cohesive sound that resembles nothing else. As lead singer Peter Wagner says, 'We're from Texas but it's obvious our minds have wandered elsewhere.' Wagner's soaring vocals on The Downtown of My Love call to mind Peter Gabriel, while When the Beers are in Bloom could begin an Irish seisun. Take your pick from the 12 tracks; you'll find pop elements and pleasing chord changes that will appeal to an array of tastes."
Austin Monthly - January 2008
"Austin Indie stalwarts The Mercers have somehow survived the ongoing evolution of the Austin music scene by simply letting it catch up with them. This three piece turned micro-symphony is particularly note-worthy because there isn't a band in this town that comes close to sounding like them, in fact they're one of the few bands in the live music capitol that bears little or no resemblance to the influences they cite in their bio (which includes Guided by Voices, Wilco, and oddly enough The Psychedelic Furs). Despite their immense talent, they're not famous yet and aren't in any apparent hurry to ink any deals, choosing instead to focus on writing brilliant, instantly catchy songs that make you almost wish they were pop radio sweethearts, tastefully drowning out all the crap we're force fed by Clear Channel and their ilk on any given day"
Whoopsy Magazine - March 2007
"Pop-rock can go so very bad, but, The Mercers have that special touch that separates whiny kids wanting to play in bands from well-heeled musicians who understand the roots of music while bringing something original.
Their debut record, Pretty Things Walk, pulls together 12 tracks of layered, semi-symphonic rock that draws heavily from a solid foundation of Brit-Pop but also retains the melancholy Texas twang of steel guitars to create a sound that's hard to put a finger on. Lead track "Sexy Youth" floats languidly along for a minute then elevates in force to provide a three-dimensional soundscape that you will have a hard time not bopping your head to. Another stand-out track "Around the Old Man" pairs a driving rhythm section with ethereal melodies on guitar and vocals with a touch of rawness.
Thankfully, the band also adds intelligent and original lyricism to their music to provide a great overall experience. There's plenty of cross-over appeal here and, in this case, the accessibility of pop doesn't result in watered-down tastelessness."
Study Breaks Magazine - October 2007
"Catchy, eclectic Brit-pop with dreamy riffs, The Mercers (Austin) bring back early ‘90s alternative music. All the criteria are checked: Hard-to-place sound (they cite influences from “The Who” to “Japanese Classic Music,” according to their MySpace page); grungy band members (they’re from Austin); and lyrics that read like they were written in a university creative writing class (“I wake in the grace of a winter's sunrise/ we're baking bombs and we're planning bloodshed/until the king's dead”—“Unamericana.” What king? And who needs rhyme when you have free association…)
None of that is an insult. The point is, The Mercers are different.
Comprised of three guys who met in college (UT Austin), The Mercers’ front man Peter Wagner attended Austin High School. The native and self proclaimed “God-awful violin player” discovered the latter fact by having taken a UT-sponsored string program in high school. But it stoked his interest in music, and the rest will perhaps have been American music history."
San Angelo Live - November 2007
Pretty Things Walk
THE DEBUT ALBUM FROM AUSTIN'S THE MERCERS
_____________________________________________________________
FORMED FROM THE STILL-SMOKING ASHES OF CHOKING AHOGO IN MAY OF 2006, THE
MERCERS CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE BAND'S PENCHANT FOR MESMERIZATION
While comparisons to early Peter Gabriel, the Who, and Guided by Voices are apt, the Austin group is
perhaps most proud of the occasional country influence. “Combining our brit-pop inspired melodies with
the occasional pedal steel or country/western chord progression gives our songs a sort of eerie quality”
says front man Peter Wagner. “We're from Texas, but it's obvious our minds have wandered elsewhere.”
Peter, born and raised in Austin, met the Ray brothers in college through a shared membership in several
bands with Bryan Ray. After nearly crippling his left hand opening a can of paint thinner with an exceptionally sharp knife, he asked Erik Ray to help out on guitar. Erik eventually found a permanent spot in
the band's lineup, playing both guitar and keyboards. Ethan Herr joined the band after he and Peter were
introduced by a mutual friend.
The Mercers' brit-pop sensibilities, whining pedal steel, eclectic influences, and affinity for sad, haunting
melodies give this talented quartet's efforts on PRETTY THINGS WALK a strange but accessible beauty
listeners will quickly find themselves drawn to, again and again.
THE MERCERS ARE:
Peter Wagner - vocals, guitar
Bryan Ray - bass
Erik Ray - guitar, keyboards
Ethan Herr - drums
BOOKING: SureFire Media + Promotion, Booking@TheSureFireEffect.com
PUBLICITY: SureFire Media + Promotion, Kaci Archer, Kaci@TheSureFireEffect.com
MORE INFORMATION: www.TheMercers.com
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