Mercy Arms
Encyclopedia
Mercy Arms were a band from Sydney
, Australia
. They were together 2005-2009, in which time they released 1 Ep and 1 Lp in Australia.
2006 saw the band tour Australia with The Strokes
, record two tracks with Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio
(unreleased), and sign with Capitol Records
in the US. However, the deal would be short-lived, and within months the band were dropped from Capitol, following its merger with Virgin. The band toured with the Pixies, Editors
, Cut Copy
, Wolf & Cub
and the Horrors
, and played at the Sydney and Gold Coast legs of the V Festival
. The band's first release, the Kept Low EP, was recorded at Mixmaster Studios in Adelaide, Australia with Nic Littlemore and Peter Mayes producing, better known as PNAU. The Ep was released through Levity in Australia, a label A+R'd by Todd Wagstaff, and funded by Levi Jeans.
In 2008 the band recorded and released their debut self-titled LP. It was produced by Tony Cohen (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) and mixed by Tony Espie (The Avalanches) mastered by David Walker at Stepford Audio Melbourne. It was recorded at Linear Recording
Studios in Sydney, New South Wales and Sing Sing Studio's in Melbourne, Victoria. The record was released through MGM distribution.
In 2009, following touring on the Big Day Out in 2009, the band went their separate ways. Other groups and projects involving Mercy Arms members include FLRL (Fashion Launches Rocket Launches), started by Kirin J. Callinan & Julian Sudek with Jono Ma of Lost Valentinos
& Daniel Stricker of Midnight Juggernauts
, Kirin performing solo as Kirin J. Callinan and in Jack Ladder's band, Julian Sudek in Pineapple Head, and Ash Moss in Dark Bells.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. They were together 2005-2009, in which time they released 1 Ep and 1 Lp in Australia.
History
The band was named after a welfare centre in Sydney's suburb of Waterloo. However, other than Moore, all of the band were from Sydney's Northern Beaches. Moore met Callinan & Sudek in early 2005. The band really came into being after Ash Moss joined on bass guitar, shortly after the band's inception taking over bass duties from Moore's schoolfriend Alex Coutts. December 2005, saw Todd Wagstaff (The Vines, Empire of the Sun) become the group's manager.2006 saw the band tour Australia with The Strokes
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
, record two tracks with Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
(unreleased), and sign with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in the US. However, the deal would be short-lived, and within months the band were dropped from Capitol, following its merger with Virgin. The band toured with the Pixies, Editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
, Cut Copy
Cut Copy
Cut Copy are an Australian electronic band formed in 2001 by Dan Whitford on vocals, keyboard and guitar. Other members are Tim Hoey on guitar and sampler, Ben Browning on bass guitar and Mitchell Scott on drums. Their second album, In Ghost Colours peaked at number-one on the ARIA Albums Chart in...
, Wolf & Cub
Wolf & Cub
Wolf & Cub are a band from Adelaide, Australia. Three of the original members hail from Port Augusta, South Australia. Their music is predominantly psychedelic with elements of Rock. The four-piece were signed to record label 4AD. An aspect of the bands music that makes them unique is their use of...
and the Horrors
The Horrors
The Horrors are an English band from Southend on Sea, formed in 2005. Their debut Strange House, was released in 2007 and reached number thirty-seven on the UK Albums Chart, their second album Primary Colours was released in 2009 and peaked at number 25 in the UK...
, and played at the Sydney and Gold Coast legs of the V Festival
V Festival (Australia)
The Australian V Festival was an Australian music festival, and a spin-off of the British V Festival. Like all V Festivals, the event was primarily sponsored by Virgin Mobile. In Australia the event was also sponsored by airline Virgin Blue. The V Festival was televised exclusively in Australia by...
. The band's first release, the Kept Low EP, was recorded at Mixmaster Studios in Adelaide, Australia with Nic Littlemore and Peter Mayes producing, better known as PNAU. The Ep was released through Levity in Australia, a label A+R'd by Todd Wagstaff, and funded by Levi Jeans.
In 2008 the band recorded and released their debut self-titled LP. It was produced by Tony Cohen (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) and mixed by Tony Espie (The Avalanches) mastered by David Walker at Stepford Audio Melbourne. It was recorded at Linear Recording
Linear Recording
Linear Recording is a recording studio complex located in Sydney, Australia, which was established by recording engineer Christopher Vallejo and Emren Kara in 2005. Linear Recording is one of Australia's only dedicated all-analogue recording studios...
Studios in Sydney, New South Wales and Sing Sing Studio's in Melbourne, Victoria. The record was released through MGM distribution.
In 2009, following touring on the Big Day Out in 2009, the band went their separate ways. Other groups and projects involving Mercy Arms members include FLRL (Fashion Launches Rocket Launches), started by Kirin J. Callinan & Julian Sudek with Jono Ma of Lost Valentinos
Lost Valentinos
Lost Valentinos are a band from Sydney, Australia. They released two EPs under the band name The Valentinos but changed their name in mid 2007 to Lost Valentinos due to the threat of legal action by soul artists from the 1950s, Bobby Womack & The Valentinos...
& Daniel Stricker of Midnight Juggernauts
Midnight Juggernauts
Midnight Juggernauts are a band from Melbourne, Australia composed of Andrew Szekeres, Vincent Vendetta, and Daniel Stricker. The band has been described as anything from 'prog dance meets cosmic film scores', to 'slasher-flick disco' to 'deadpan landscape',...
, Kirin performing solo as Kirin J. Callinan and in Jack Ladder's band, Julian Sudek in Pineapple Head, and Ash Moss in Dark Bells.
Members
- Thom Moore - Guitar, Organ, Piano, Vocals, Hair.
- Kirin J. Callinan – Guitar, Soundscapes, Vocals & Astaire.
- Ash Moss – Bass Guitar, Jackets.
- Julian Sudek – Drums + Various Percussion, Skateboards.
Kept Low EP
- "Kept Low" – 2:57
- "Shot Right Down" – 6:49
- "Ending To Begin" – 3:30
- "Uptown Address" – 3:24
- "Scream" – 3:14
- "Loitering with Intent" (download only)
Mercy Arms (Self-titled album)
- "Down Here, So Long"
- "Half Right"
- "Footsteps"
- "To Me Now"
- "Kilby"
- "Speed"
- "Shine A Light Down"
- "Caroline"
- "Firing Line"
- "On & On"
- "1956 State Fair" (download only)
Past touring
- Supported The StrokesThe StrokesThe Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
on the 2006 Australian Tour. - Supported Wolf & CubWolf & CubWolf & Cub are a band from Adelaide, Australia. Three of the original members hail from Port Augusta, South Australia. Their music is predominantly psychedelic with elements of Rock. The four-piece were signed to record label 4AD. An aspect of the bands music that makes them unique is their use of...
on the 2006 Australian tour - Supported Cut CopyCut CopyCut Copy are an Australian electronic band formed in 2001 by Dan Whitford on vocals, keyboard and guitar. Other members are Tim Hoey on guitar and sampler, Ben Browning on bass guitar and Mitchell Scott on drums. Their second album, In Ghost Colours peaked at number-one on the ARIA Albums Chart in...
on the 'Hearts On fire' 2007 Australia tour. - Australian "Kept Low" tour, supported nationally by Ghostwood (band)Ghostwood (band)Ghostwood are an Alternative-Indie band formed in Sydney, Australia in 2006. They quickly established themselves on the Sydney indie scene, and signed to Modular Recordings for 1 EP in late 2006....
- Supported EditorsEditorsEditors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
as part of the Splendour in the GrassSplendour in the GrassSplendour in the Grass is an annual Australian music festival held in July at Woodford, Queensland, and previously held at Belongil Fields, outside Byron Bay...
sideshows in August 2007 throughout Australia. - Supported The HorrorsThe HorrorsThe Horrors are an English band from Southend on Sea, formed in 2005. Their debut Strange House, was released in 2007 and reached number thirty-seven on the UK Albums Chart, their second album Primary Colours was released in 2009 and peaked at number 25 in the UK...
on their 2007 Australian Tour. - Supported Pixies on their Sydney show in 2007.
- Australian album tour, supported nationally by The Process + Cut Off Your Hands
- Supported Cut CopyCut CopyCut Copy are an Australian electronic band formed in 2001 by Dan Whitford on vocals, keyboard and guitar. Other members are Tim Hoey on guitar and sampler, Ben Browning on bass guitar and Mitchell Scott on drums. Their second album, In Ghost Colours peaked at number-one on the ARIA Albums Chart in...
on their 2008 UK & Scandinavia Tour - Australian "Down Here So Long" tour, December 2008.