31 Dec 2024
Mercury Crowe - Mercury Crowe Newsletter Interview
18 Jul 2009 // An interview by Shade
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
I’d say our Wellington album release at Bodega in May would be well up there. The bar was jam-packed, we played really well and everyone was partying up a storm which made it a wicked night. Plus we had Edinburgh Zuccollo from Harbour City Electric playing Hammond and Lisa Tomlins from Fat Freddy’s singing backing vocals, so it was good to introduce some of the new songs on a bigger scale like that… Having said that, we’ve played mid-week shows to about three people and had a blast doing that too.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
Tough call actually. We loved the vibe at the Dux de Lux in Queenstown, the Cavern Club in Wellington (with all its Beatles memorabilia) is great for acoustic gigs and I’d recommend any venue which has Toby Melbourne behind the bar. It basically comes down to the crowd in the end.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
I can’t wait to see Little Bushman again – they completely blew me away last time and Rick Cranson is one of my favourite drummers in the world. The Dukes are also great and I enjoyed The Checks new stuff the other night. I think for it’s size, Wellington is spoilt for good bands and there seems to be a high level of musicianship too. I love the fact that I can regularly go out and see my friends bands (Harbour City Electric, The Thomas Oliver Band, Moonlight Flit, Andrew Moore, Th. Cherry Bombs, Elston Gun) and be constantly amped about how good they all sound.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
We often follow Auckland gigs with a weekend on Waiheke Island which always ends in a debauched mess. One night Rowan fell into an uncovered man-hole while stumbling back to the motel and smashed his face leaving him with a massive, bloody black eye to go home with. We’ve also all had the odd spew out of the van window on a hangover etc but we know each other pretty well now, it takes a bit to get to the embarrassed stage.
How did you come up with the name Mercury Crowe?
Over a Big Mac combo at McDonalds Basin Reserve. That’s where we go to make all important decisions. It’s where we named our band both times (first Supernova, then Mercury Crowe), and where we decided on track-listings and album titles for both releases. It’s phenomenal.
How do you describe your music?
The Black Crowes playing a Hendrix cover of a Beatles song. That’s roughly the mule we’re riding.
What can we expect to see from Mercury Crowe over the next year?
We’ll be touring the 'Set Your Mind to Fly' album around the country over the next few months, continuing our Cavern Club residency on the first Thursday of every month and basically working on the ridiculous amount of songs we’ve all been writing/ demo-ing lately and working those into the shows. We’re loving writing at the moment and relishing the chance to jam without too much of an agenda.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
If you jam with as many musicians as you can, you’ll instinctively gravitate toward like-minded people. After that it doesn’t matter if you’re playing to five people or five hundred people, it’s all amazing.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?I’d say our Wellington album release at Bodega in May would be well up there. The bar was jam-packed, we played really well and everyone was partying up a storm which made it a wicked night. Plus we had Edinburgh Zuccollo from Harbour City Electric playing Hammond and Lisa Tomlins from Fat Freddy’s singing backing vocals, so it was good to introduce some of the new songs on a bigger scale like that… Having said that, we’ve played mid-week shows to about three people and had a blast doing that too.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
Tough call actually. We loved the vibe at the Dux de Lux in Queenstown, the Cavern Club in Wellington (with all its Beatles memorabilia) is great for acoustic gigs and I’d recommend any venue which has Toby Melbourne behind the bar. It basically comes down to the crowd in the end.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
I can’t wait to see Little Bushman again – they completely blew me away last time and Rick Cranson is one of my favourite drummers in the world. The Dukes are also great and I enjoyed The Checks new stuff the other night. I think for it’s size, Wellington is spoilt for good bands and there seems to be a high level of musicianship too. I love the fact that I can regularly go out and see my friends bands (Harbour City Electric, The Thomas Oliver Band, Moonlight Flit, Andrew Moore, Th. Cherry Bombs, Elston Gun) and be constantly amped about how good they all sound.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
We often follow Auckland gigs with a weekend on Waiheke Island which always ends in a debauched mess. One night Rowan fell into an uncovered man-hole while stumbling back to the motel and smashed his face leaving him with a massive, bloody black eye to go home with. We’ve also all had the odd spew out of the van window on a hangover etc but we know each other pretty well now, it takes a bit to get to the embarrassed stage.
How did you come up with the name Mercury Crowe?
Over a Big Mac combo at McDonalds Basin Reserve. That’s where we go to make all important decisions. It’s where we named our band both times (first Supernova, then Mercury Crowe), and where we decided on track-listings and album titles for both releases. It’s phenomenal.
How do you describe your music?
The Black Crowes playing a Hendrix cover of a Beatles song. That’s roughly the mule we’re riding.
What can we expect to see from Mercury Crowe over the next year?
We’ll be touring the 'Set Your Mind to Fly' album around the country over the next few months, continuing our Cavern Club residency on the first Thursday of every month and basically working on the ridiculous amount of songs we’ve all been writing/ demo-ing lately and working those into the shows. We’re loving writing at the moment and relishing the chance to jam without too much of an agenda.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
If you jam with as many musicians as you can, you’ll instinctively gravitate toward like-minded people. After that it doesn’t matter if you’re playing to five people or five hundred people, it’s all amazing.
About Mercury Crowe
The nine-track album credits song-writing from all four band members and features long time collaborator Ed Zuccollo (Harbour City Electric) on Hammond Organ, and the phenomenal Lisa Tomlins (Fat Freddies Drop, Hollie Smith) singing backing vocals. It’s a big step forward from their debut e.p ‘Mercury Crowe’ (2007) and, while both were similarly produced, mixed and designed by the band themselves; it’s clear the year-and-a-half between was spent honing their craft from the stage. The result is nine well delivered, road tested, sing-able rock n roll songs.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Mercury Crowe
Other Interviews By Shade
MNZ Interview: Muzic Speak S01 / E02 - Courtnay & The Unholy Reverie
12 Dec 2024 // by Shade
Brought to you by Muzic.NZ's Lisa Jones, Muzic Speak is a fresh new interview series which pays homage some of the best up and coming acts this country has on offer.
Read More...
MNZ Interview: Muzic Speak S01 / E01 - Powder Chutes
06 Nov 2024 // by Shade
Brought to you by Muzic.NZ's Lisa Jones, Muzic Speak is a fresh new interview series which pays homage some of the best up and coming acts this country has on offer.
Read More...
Interview with Angus Woodhams, lead of Weka
16 Sep 2024 // by Shade
Weka is a three-piece electronica band combining unique timbres with pulsing bass and punching drums. Formed of Angus Woodhams on keys and controllers, Mitch Harty on guitar, and Cathal Lennon on drums, Weka’s instrumental electronic sound is diverse, beautiful, and thought provoking, urging audiences to dance uninhibitedly.
Read More...
Pull Down The Sun Newsletter Interview
01 Dec 2022 // by Shade
Boasting an international standard of modern metal, New Zealand's Pull Down The Sun have set many an audience alight with their glorious imagery that holds true to sheer riff obedience, making motions from heavy and erratic to dark and moody, through to light and uplifting with minimal effort. We spoke to frontman Koert, and he had this to say:How did you become involved in music?
Read More...
Coridian Newsletter Interview
27 Nov 2022 // by Shade
Coridian are one of New Zealand's leading rock acts, and they have an exciting 2023 in the works. In recent months the release of singles Rakshasa (with Michael Murphy from Written by Wolves) and State of Mind have further cemented their status in NZ music.
Read More...
1 Drop Nation Newsletter Interview
19 Nov 2022 // by Shade
Otautahi six-piece 1 Drop Nation will be dropping their exciting self-titled debut album on 1 December, and it’s guaranteed to set Aotearoa music fans up for a great summer! They answered the following questions for Muzic.
Read More...
Interview: 2Fly Ty
17 Oct 2022 // by Shade
Despite currently residing in Brisbane, 2Fly Ty still identifies as a Kiwi at heart, as he looks to make a name for himself in the music scene of his homeland, Aotearoa. He answered the following questions for Muzic.
Read More...
Dead Beat Boys Newsletter Interview
29 Sep 2022 // by Shade
Auckland Rockers Dead Beat Boys fuse punk intensity with classic-rock riffs, all strung together in a show uncontainable by the stage. On the 1st of October they released their first and last album, be sure to check it out here.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
Custom Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
