Mercy Arms, The Process, RATS@ The Bakery

Wed 17th Sep, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Toxikon’s Gallery

If you don’t know the Mercy Arms story it goes something like this. Forming in 2005, the Sydney 4-piece enjoyed that oh-so-popular tag of the next big thing. They toured supporting some of the biggest names around including The Strokes and Cut Copy and before the ink was dry on a major contract with Capitol in the US, had uber-producer Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio lined up for production duties. In 2007 the band fell victim to the great record company wars that saw Virgin merge with Capitol and both labels’ rosters trimmed of many unlucky groups. Levity records, Levis jeans musical arm, pounced and the Kept Low EP was released last year to mixed results. Had all the pressure got too much for the young lads from the harbour city? If their debut LP is anything to go by, it certainly hasn’t. A perfect mix of arty psychedelia and pop hooks, their self-titled first effort is one of the Australian releases of the year. This brings us to the Bakery show for Mercy Arms’ album release tour to headline their own gig with their well-renowned live show.

Opening for them were RATS and Melbourne quintet The Process who wandered on stage to little fanfare from the modest crowd. Angular guitars and post-punk rhythms are the basis of The Process’ sound; but their most striking aspect is frontman August Skipper. His booming baritone and pointed dance moves invite comparisons to Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. Skipper’s urgent vocal delivery and the band’s dark sound almost takes them into the dangerous territory of wearing too many of their influences on their sleeves. Yet Skipper somehow manages to keep the band from being another Joy Division knockoff. It was difficult to take your eyes away from the lanky vocalist whose impassioned pleas worked their way into all in attendance. He then decided to involve the crowd even further by wandering on to the hole at the front of the stage and spinning and dancing in some sort of primal pagan ritual. At some stage he managed to cut his lip open with an overambitious dance move which he let bleed down his chin for a while, whether or not this was deliberate didn’t matter, it certainly got the crowd’s attention. The Process’s set unfortunately didn’t captivate like their frontman. Their sound, although crisp and well defined, lacked any real focus. Their hookless brand of post-punk all sounded a little similar and the only memorable track was the upbeat set closer which had a solid rhythm and was a clear standout.

Mercy Arms stepped out to an improved crowd and were all dressed in white, like their album cover, with white leggings for five sets of legs. Diminutive vocalist Thom Moore nonchalantly strode to the mic and his four backers launched into Caroline from their debut. Plenty of Jesus and Mary Chain delay and feedback filled out their dense and intricate sound. Following up with first single and one of the guitar tracks of the year Half Right, the young fivesome sounded fresh, yet familiar and as crisp as they do on record. The guitar riff is impossible not to enjoy and everyone in attendance knew they were in for an impressive night.

Bassist Ash Moss did most of the conversing with the crowd but it is clear that Moore and guitarist Kirin Callinan are the real creative forces in the group. Callinan has that bit of weirdness that creative types are so commonly gifted with, his smeared face makeup and anxious body language complimenting his sublime guitar skills. They are not Santana like solos but manipulation of the frets, and extensive but not indulgent use of effects pedals. Running through album tracks such as Speed and On and On, Mercy Arms reveled iin new found confidence that comes with the release of a debut album. They sounded fantastic and their dream pop was capped perfectly by Moore’s vocals. Never straining but always emotive, his voice floated above the wall of noise like a firefly above fog and was greeted warmly by the crowd. Fan favourites Shine a Light, including cockney soliloquy by Callinan, and Firing Line went down a treat and finishing off with Down Here, So Long, the band departed for the first time. Returning after a very brief moment, the lads finished with a couple of tracks from their EP that now almost seem out of place with their newer material. Mercy Arms have emerged from a mini-label disaster and have come out smelling like roses and we are all the luckier for it. Friday night demonstrated why their was so much interest in these young men, get yourself to a gig, you won’t be disappointed as they are one of the premier musical talents in Australia.

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