FRICTION NYC

The Mercers | 05.31.07 @ The Knitting Factory

Austin natives The Mercers pop their NYC cherry next Thursday night at the Knitting Factory. CU and friends will be there getting in on the action, so be sure to grab your tickets and come join us.

Picking up where the late Choking Ahogo left off, The Mercers bring a fresh sound to the table, serving the better flavors of indie rock and brit-pop with a strong side of alt-country twang. Front man Peter Wagner’s wavering-yet-strong vocals anchor every song while the brothers Ray (twins Brian and Eric) alternate between catchy guitar hooks and country-western chord progressions. Ethan Herr rounds out the four-piece from behinds the drums.

Referencing such seemingly-disparate bands as Guided By Voices, The Psychedelic Furs and The Gourds, listening to The Mercers brings CU right back to Austin without having to leave the five boroughs. Now if only this place would open sooner…

Be sure to check out CU-favorite track By Mistake at their MySpace. Then head on over to CDBaby and grab their new full-length release, Pretty Things Walk.

:: Upcoming shows ::

05.31.07 :: The Knitting Factory :: NYC :: [Tickets]
06.01.07 :: Mountain Jam Festival :: Hunter Mountain, NY
06.09.07 :: The Double Wide :: Dallas, TX
07.07.07 :: Emo’s :: Austin, TX

:: 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.” [Andy Langer @ Esquire]

“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]