Mercy Arms

Mercy Arms
Background information
Origin Sydney, Australia
Genres Rock n' Roll
Dream pop
Years active 2005–2009
Website MySpace page
Members Thom Moore
Kirin J. Callinan
Ash Moss
Julian Sudek
Past members Alex Coutts

Mercy Arms were an indie rock band from Sydney, Australia. Formed in early 2005, the four-piece was made up of Thom Moore (lead vocals, guitar), Kirin J. Callinan (guitar), Ash Moss (bass guitar) and Julian Sudek (drums, percussion). The band dissolved in February 2009 after four years together.

History

The band formed in 2005 after Moore met Callinan and Sudek at a Morning After Girls show.[1] Callinan and Sudek lived in the same area and were childhood friends.[2] Bassist Ash Moss joined the band soon after.[3] The band played their first show in April 2005, three days after their first rehearsal.[4]

2006 saw the band tour Australia with The Strokes, record two tracks with Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio, and after an intense bidding war, eventually sign with Capitol Records in the US. However, the deal would be short-lived, and 2007 saw the band part ways with Capitol after 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 and released August 2007 on Levity in Australia.

On their self-titled debut album, released in Australia independently in August 2008, they collaborated with producer Tony Cohen and mixed the album in Melbourne with Tony Espie.[5]

Mercy Arms have been on hiatus since February 2009 after touring with the Big Day Out nationally. This is mainly credited to Callinan and Moore's creative differences. 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 playing guitar in Jack Ladder's band, Julian Sudek playing in Canyons & Danimals, Ash Moss playing bass in Dark Bells.

Members

Discography

Kept Low EP

  1. "Kept Low" – 2:57
  2. "Shot Right Down" – 6:49
  3. "Ending To Begin" – 3:30
  4. "Uptown Address" – 3:24
  5. "Scream" – 3:14
  6. "Loitering with Intent" (download only)

Limited pressing singles

  1. "Always"
  2. "Sacred Heart"
  3. "Julie"
  4. "Quit Your Fooling"

"Half Right" (Single)

  1. "Half Right"
  2. "Quit Your Fooling"
  3. "Always" (download only)

Mercy Arms (Self-titled album)

  1. "Down Here, So Long"
  2. "Half Right"
  3. "Footsteps"
  4. "To Me Now"
  5. "Kilby"
  6. "Speed"
  7. "Shine A Light Down"
  8. "Caroline"
  9. "Firing Line"
  10. "On & On"
  11. "1956 State Fair" (download only)

Touring

Past touring

References

  1. "Mercy Arms Reach Out". Mess+Noise. 2007-09-07. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  2. Pearce, Dominic (August 2007). "Interview with Kirin". Rockus. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  3. Nicoleybird (2007-11-14). "Mercy Arms' Kirin Callinan Chats About the Struggle to Not Be 'Kept Low' Forever". Fasterlouder.com.au. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  4. "Ausmusic Month 06: Next Crop Artist: Mercy Arms". Triple J. 2006. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
  5. "Mercy Arms - Biography". The Harbour Agency. 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-02.

External links