Bio

The Mercers:

Pretty Things Walk THE DEBUT ALBUM FROM AUSTIN‟S THE MERCERS

FORMED FROM THE STILL-SMOKING ASHES OF CHOKING AHOGO IN MAY OF 2006, THE MERCERS CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE BAND‟S PENCHANT FOR MESMERIZATION

While comparisons to early Peter Gabriel, the Who, and Guided by Voices are apt, the Austin group is perhaps most proud of the occasional country influence. “Combining our brit-pop inspired melodies with the occasional pedal steel or country/western chord progression gives our songs a sort of eerie quality” says front man Peter Wagner. “We‟re from Texas, but it‟s obvious our minds have wandered elsewhere.”

Peter, born and raised in Austin, met the Ray brothers in college through a shared membership in several bands with Bryan Ray. After nearly crippling his left hand opening a can of paint thinner with an excep- tionally sharp knife, he asked Erik Ray to help out on guitar. Erik eventually earned a permanent spot in the band‟s lineup, playing both guitar and keyboard. Ethan Herr joined the band after he and Peter were introduced by a mutual friend.

The Mercers‟ brit-pop sensibilities, whining pedal steel, eclectic influences, and affinity for sad, haunting melodies give this talented quartet‟s efforts on PRETTY THINGS WALK a strange but accessible beauty listeners will quickly find themselves drawn to, again and again.

PRESS: Esquire Magazine, July 2006 “MySpace friends of Nada Surf and Dr. Dog, these Austin misfits claim to be influenced by „cheap beer, big dreams; and sad sarcastic pop bursts.‟ Who isn‟t? The band‟s best MySpace mp3, “Sexy Youth” sits at the shady crossroads of swagger and sensitivity; one day this one‟s gonna be an excellent soundtrack to a show-closing montage on Grey‟s Anatomy.”

Whoopsy Magazine, 2006 “Austin‟s Indie stalwarts The Mercers have somehow survived the ongoing evolution of the Austin music scene by simply letting it catch up with them. This three piece turned micro-symphony is particularly note -worthy because there isn‟t a band in this town that comes close to sounding like them. Despite their im- mense talent, they‟re not famous yet and aren‟t in any apparent hurry to ink any deals, choosing instead to focus on writing brilliant, instantly catchy songs that make you almost wish they were pop radio sweet- hearts...”

THE MERCERS IS: Peter Wagner - vocals, guitar Bryan Ray - bass Erik Ray - guitar, keyboards Ethan Herr - drums