Earlier this August, Tennessee-based alt-rock band mercury made their Los Angeles headline debut at the intimate Gold-Diggers bar/venue/recording studio. The five-piece band led by Maddie Kerr was a sign to see and hear live. Like rolling thunder, mercury oscillates between the heady heaviness of grunge and wistfully urgent indie-rock.
1. Maddie’s vocals are as clear and crystalline as the waters found in Sardinia. Seriously! The fact that her impeccable voice translates from audio to the live stage so perfectly only solidifies her vocal power.
2. This is seriously beautiful guitar rock that can easily switch from lulling to riveting. mercury has masterfully crafted a beautiful dichotomy of sound and emotion. Fans in the crowd were in awe.
3. While Maddie’s voice is the genuine diamond in the ruff, the entire band is a sight to see live. Jumping and falling to their knees as they danced with their guitars and pummeled the skins, it was a spectacle of pure guitar rock. They absolutely shred, and that feeling is beyond kinetic.
4. Guitarist Billy was a master manipulator of strings. Watching him annihilate his seafoam green Mustang while making an alchemy of sound on the pedals and steel was wild.
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5. Maddie’s words are like a poetry diary, sometimes riddled with fear and sorrow and other times signaling hope and joy. As we mentioned in a recent Artists You Should Know editorial, her lyricism slices deep into the raw and tender places of the heart. All of it is amplified with a sonic output that echoes their daunting but fiercely cathartic power.
6. Fans of Chelsea Wolfe, Mazzy Starr, Emma Ruth Rundle, Marissa Nadler, and SASAMI will love mercury.
7. I so wanted to hear Maddie’s visceral howl in their hit song “Born In Early May,” but for some reason, it didn’t happen. I was a bit disappointed. That frustrated, repetitive yell during the heartwrenching lyrics, “If love can find its way,” makes the track all the more emotional. It signals a much-needed release, and my soul really needed to hear that this evening. Needless to say, it was the end of their tour, and understandably, her vocals might have needed to skip out on one of the most taxing vocal exercises.
The next time mercury grace LA, be sure to buy your ticket because this is a band you need to experience live. Visit mercury on their website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Photography: Bryan Olinger
