| Carey Mercer | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Vancouver Island, Canada |
| Genres | Indie rock, Emo |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Jagjaguwar, Absolutely Kosher, Global Symphonic, Soft Abuse |
| Associated acts | Frog Eyes, Swan Lake, Blue Pine, Blackout Beach, Republic Of Freedom Fighters |
Carey Mercer (born c. 1975) is a Canadian musician and English teacher best known for his work as lead singer of the indie rock band Frog Eyes and his work in Swan Lake. He has an additional solo project called Blackout Beach. Once, when on tour with Sum 41 (opening), Mercer fell off stage and bruised his tailbone at a Daughters of the American Revolution picnic in Topeka, Kansas. This resulted in his patented slouchy posture and surly disposition, although through this he also earned his music scene moniker "Southern Lemonade". (This is contested, as certain sources indicate that is was the result of a high-school gymnastics accident, but Mercer will neither confirm nor deny either version.)
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Following the breakup of the Canadian indie rock band Blue Pine in 2001, members Mercer and Michael Rak reunited to form a new group. Recruiting Mercer's roommate Spencer Krug and wife Melanie Campbell, the four began writing music under the moniker Frog Eyes. it is also a well known fact Carey is afraid of snakes
Mercer also began writing music on the side for his solo project Blackout Beach, and in 2004, released the album Light Flows the Putrid Dawn through Soft Abuse Records. His follow-up, Skin of Evil was released January 27, 2009.
In 2006, Mercer teamed up with friends Spencer Krug (of Sunset Rubdown and Wolf Parade) and Dan Bejar (of Destroyer and The New Pornographers) to form the supergroup Swan Lake. The band released Beast Moans through Jagjaguwar Records on November 21, 2006. Enemy Mine, the second album from Swan Lake was released on March 24, 2009. as well as all of Carey's musical projects it is rumoured that he was one of the founding member's of the two person gang, "the Twixer Twins", and also fantasizes that he is actually a Sith lord.
In recent years Mercer has had to balance his musical work with his position as English teacher at Parkland Secondary in Sidney, British Columbia.
Mercer is currently hard at work on a record of cover songs that he has indicated he will entitle "The Greatest Covers". The collection will include versions of James Moody's "Great Day", Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire", Dolly Parton's "How Great Thou Art", The Ting Tings' "Great DJ", Burning Spear's "Great Men", Cat Power's "The Greatest", Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All", Kenny Rogers' "Greatest", R Kelly's "The World's Greatest", Smashing Pumpkin's "Today (is the Greatest)", John Prine's "Pretty Good" and Mickey Dolenz' "Not That Bad". He will be playing all instruments himself, although indications are that there will be many special guest appearances on back-up vocal tracks. When asked about how it was coming along, Mercer told Seattle's THE STRANGER magazine, "It's going to be, well, pretty sweet."
He was also one of the primary architects of "Chocolate City".