Thirsty Merc

Infobox musical artist
Name = Thirsty Merc


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Dubbo, Australia, residing in Sydney
Genre = Pop rock
Years_active = 2002–Present
Label = Warner Music Australia
URL = http://www.thirstymerc.com/
Current_members = Rai Thistlethwayte
Phil Stack
Karl Robertson
Sean Carey
Past_members = Matt Baker

Thirsty Merc is an Australian pop rock band, originating in 2002 in Dubbo, Australia, and currently residing in Sydney. The band consists of Rai Thistlethwayte (vocals), Phil Stack (bass guitar), Karl Robertson (drums), and Sean Carey (guitar).

Thirsty Merc's debut EP, "First Work", caused Warner Music Australia to take note of the band, and they have since released two albums on the label; "Thirsty Merc" and "Slideshows". The band have also toured around Australia and New Zealand, including a tour with New Zealand band Evermore. They were nominated for four ARIA Awards in 2005.

History

"First Work"

Thirsty Merc's first EP, "First Work", was released on 8 September 2003 on Warner Music Australia's "Don't Music" label. The EP had been recorded without a label, however the band were contacted by Warner Music after watching the band perform live.

The band's first single, "Wasting Time", achieved radio airplay but failed to chart.cite web|url=http://www.warnermusic.com.au/artist,w_artist,110469 |title=Thirsty Merc|publisher=Warner Music Australia|accessdate=2008-01-14] "Emancipate Myself", the next single, had more success, reaching #37 on the ARIA Singles Chart.cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Thirsty+Merc |title=Discography - Thirsty Merc|publisher=australian-charts.com|accessdate=2008-01-14] A video for "Emancipate Myself" was also made, and received airplay on Channel V, which Thistlethwayte described as highly satisfying.

Stack said the EP was not the best work the band could produce, noting that their next album would easily outshine it. In 2004, he said that "we knew both tracks were a yardstick of what "Thirsty Merc" is".cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/12/1092102587275.html?from=storyrhs |title=Running on empathy|publisher="The Age"|date=13 August 2004|accessdate=2008-01-14|author=Andrew Murfett]

"Thirsty Merc"

Thirsty Merc's debut studio album was the self titled "Thirsty Merc", released on 16 August 2004. The band again chose to work with Warner Music Australia. The album spent 48 weeks on the ARIA Albums Chart, peaking at #15, and launched the band in the Australian mainstream. The album reached #29 on New Zealand's RIANZ chart.cite web|url=http://charts.org.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Thirsty+Merc |title=Thirsty Merc - Discography|publisher=charts.org.nz|accessdate=2008-01-22] The band worked with producer Lindsay Gravina on the album, with Thistlethwayte noting that he was an excellent producer. [cite web|url=http://www.amo.org.au/qa_interview.asp?id=463 |title=Catching up with Thirsty Merc (July 04)|publisher=Australian Music Online|accessdate=2008-01-22|date=19 July 2004]

Four singles were released from "Thirsty Merc": "My Completeness", "Someday, Someday", "In the Summertime", and "When the Weather Is Fine". All of the singles charted in Australia, with "Someday, Someday" reaching #19, while only "In the Summertime" charted in New Zealand, where it peaked higher than in Australia. "In the Summertime" was nominated for the 2005 ARIA Award for "Best Video", while "Someday, Someday" was nominated for "Single Of The Year", "Best Group", and "Best Pop Release".cite web|url=http://ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=T&artist=Thirsty%20Merc |title=Winners by Artist: Thirsty Merc|publisher=Australian Record Industry Association|accessdate=2008-01-24]

In interviews after the album's release, Thistlethwayte stated that the album was the band trying to "Just be yourself", and that the album was "just about being young and living in Australia". [cite web|url=http://www.jetmag.co.nz/Music/Bands/ThirstyMerc/tabid/309/Default.aspx |title= Thirsty Merc|publisher="Jet"|accessdate=2008-01-22] In a later interview discussing their next album, "Slideshows", Thistlethwayte noted that "the first album is always about getting noticed".cite web|url=http://www.ripitup.com.au/interviews/3420 |title=Thirsty Merc Give a Smile to the Planet|publisher=Rip It Up|author=Rob Lyon|accessdate=2008-01-22]

"Slideshows"

Prior to the release of Thirsty Merc's second studio album, "Slideshows", Baker left the band, and was replaced by Carey, whom the band had met when they first moved to Sydney. [cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=THIRSTY|MERC&sql=11:gpfpxqrsld0e~T1 |title=Thirsty Merc > Biography|publisher=Allmusic|author=Jason Ankeny|accessdate=2008-01-25] "Slideshows", was released on 21 April 2007 via Warner Music Australia. The album was the band's most successful release yet, peaking at #4 in Australia, although it was less successful in New Zealand, only reaching #38. The album's first three singles, "20 Good Reasons", "The Hard Way", and "Those Eyes", achieved chart success, with "20 Good Reasons" reaching #4 in Australia and #17 in New Zealand. The album's fourth single, "Homesick", has recently been released digitally, with a CD Single scheduled for release in late August/early September, 2008.

Thirsty Merc noted that with "Slideshows" they did not need to impress as many people as with "Thirsty Merc", and so they did not "have to do quirky things, funny things" to get attention and airplay. However, they admitted there was more pressure in producing a good follow up. Stack said that the album was less about getting noticed, and had more "cohesiveness", part of which came as a result of the band having written in excess of 30 songs in pre-production.

After the release of "Slideshows", Thirsty Merc toured extensively around Australia, playing 35 shows in seven weeks. The band played numerous regional areas, rather than just capital cities, because according to Carey that's "what being in a band is all about". [cite web|url=http://thedwarf.com.au/nd/interviews/thirsty_merc_the_great_australian_slideshow |title=Thirsty Merc - The Great Australian Slideshow|author=Kylie Cox|date=9 August 2007|publisher=The Dwarf|accessdate=2008-01-24] The band toured in New Zealand with bands Evermore and The Electric Confectionaries.cite web|url=http://www.radiochick.co.nz/Stuff/mercint.aspx |title=Interview with Thirsty Merc |publisher=Radiochick|author=Erin Boyle|date=20 June 2007|accessdate=2008-01-24]

Members

Current members

*Rai Thistlethwayte; Guitar, piano, singer-songwriter (2002–Present)
*Phil Stack; Bass guitar, backing vocals (2002–Present)
*Karl Robertson; Drums, percussion (2003–Present)
*Sean Carey; Guitar, backing vocals (2005–Present)

Former members

*Matt Baker; Guitar, backing vocals (2002–2005)

Discography

Albums

Awards and nominations

Notes

External links

* [http://www.thirstymerc.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thirstymerc Thirsty Merc] on MySpace