The Mercians

Midlands five-piece The Mercians capped off a fine 2022 by supporting former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan at his homecoming show in Leicester.

Let’s check them out:

*images courtesy of Away Day Radio

Little Shaw Lane

The Mercians kicked off 2002 with this fizzing indie anthem. On the surface, it’s another slice of indie rock to match their fine peers The Voyd and Civic Green. However, scratch beneath and their desire for change is looking for a fight that it will surely win.

The guitars launch the single to a rapturous effect but, it’s in the closing stages that the band comes alive. There’s almost a gothic feel to their furious eruption at the state of society. The guitars howl with anguish few can match but, through the dynamism of the vocals, a belief emerges that things will get better.

Just Like You

What Blossoms started The Lathums followed up on with great effect. Now, there is a gluttony of talent writing solid indie-pop (Overpass / The Native). The Mercians are not settling for solid though. Like all great pop music, there’s darkness permeating under the radar. Here, they deftly deal with addiction. Coupled with the Santan-esque solos and the emotive harmonies they have shown they can tap into the mainstream at will.  

The Mercians will be supporting the all conquering Marseille this March. Click image for tickets:

The Mease

The Mease started life as a duo but has now grown to a five-piece. They’re based in Derby and consist of Tristan Cooper (singer-songwriter &rhythm guitars), Guy Smith (lead guitar) Adam Goulding (bass & keys), and Jon Wright (drums).

Tonight they will be playing with the mighty Marseille for the good people at Happy Daze tonight. Click the image at the bottom of the page for tickets.

Image and artwork courtesy of the band.

Today marks the release of their double a-side ‘This Town’ and ‘Shades of Blue’. We review both and ‘Postcards’ which we fell in love with in 2021.

This Town

Written by the bass player Adam Goulding, it slots into the Skinner Brothers withdrawn but menacing style of rock ‘n’ roll. Goulding’s bass perpetuates everything here, grooving like Chris Edwards before accelerating like Andy Bell’s days in Oasis like a destructive funk Prince.

Goulding’s bass, Tristian Cooper’s chilling vocals, and the glam stomp of the drums all serve Guy Smith to serve up a great solo. It flows like Santana but is satanic in spirit like Peter Green. The wah wah guitars and Rob Collins-esque keys that supersede allow for the band to ride out the ending like a jam session that you will not want to end.

Shades of Blue

Frontman flits between Tom & Serge and Richard Ashcroft has the psychedelia spirals behind him. Serge’s songwriting influence shines bright here but, they’ve drawn in the hazy stoner era of Nick McCabe and essence of the Beatles’ middle eastern trips to conjure bugged-out glory!

When hits top gear it’s hard not to imagine Andrew Innes in the studio with them pushing and probing the boundaries of what rock ‘n’ roll can be. Cooper’s vocals switch to faint heavenly whispers to build the mysticism even further!

Postcards

The guitars and drums spark into life a la Shame’s classic ‘One Rizla’ but with far more introspection than the punk counterparts. Indebted to the melancholic genius of The Stills and The National, it sets off for more harrowing landscapes. Cooper’s vocals delve into the shoegaze of cult hero Daniel Land as he unleashes a serious amount of emotive power.

What begins with Coldplay’s early guitar licks and the raw indie power of Electric Soft Parade’s debut intensifies with Smith’s ability to channel Tim Fletcher’s (The Stills) visceral melodies and thoughtful vigour of Jez Williams (Doves).

The spoken word section is a touch of real class. It stacks up alongside ‘Outta Time’, ‘Future Tense’ and ‘In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction’.

 Click the image below for tickets to tonight’s show.

Marseille

Marseille are a Derby-based four-piece with an average age of 17. Signed to ADR Records, they’ve been setting the midlands alight live shows for the great people at Away Day Radio.

*Banner image courtesy of Simon Bunney

Let’s check their work out:

Forget It All

Artwork by Karl Shaw at www.silverbirchcreative.com

‘Forget It All’ was released last Friday on Away Day Records. Frontman Will taps into his inner John Power vocally whilst songwriting cohort Joe finds a happy slot between The La’s and DMA’s.  The infectious glee of ‘Walkaway’ perfectly chimes with melodic soar of ‘There She Goes’ and ‘Silver’.

Scratch beneath the glistening Merseybeat sonic and you’ll uncover a tale of frustration. Our protagonist is beset by those unwilling to change the ways but, Will’s delivery is so melodious it becomes one of defiance. Meanwhile, Joe’s guitars take Squire’s early paisley singles for a spliff on a summer’s day.

She Knows A Place

Released earlier this year, they set their guitars Oasis’ ‘Fade Away’. Where Oasis was aiming for the Pistols, Marseille have taken ‘Fade Away’ to the more playful realm of ‘Digsy’s Dinner’ and party bombast of ‘Round Are Way’.

A rhythm section has sounded this great since The Strypes!

Shout It Out Loud

The world needs this song right now. It’s fucked! Refugee displacement is horrific and world leaders are lacking. It’s enough to make you cry and scream at any point of the day.

So, to hear ‘Sally Cinnamon’ with Kurt Vile on lead guitar is the dreamy escape we all need. Where Vida never fulfilled their potential, Marseille have picked up the mantle and looks set to do truly great things!