The Bowery Presents

The Mercury Lounge upcoming shows

Freelance Whales
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"The Freelance Whales is a series of unfinished thoughts, confused sensory experiences and convoluted yet composited emotions...the lighthearted sound is overshadowed by lyrics that make you smile to yourself and wonder if your dreams can be as fulfilling as the sound from The Freelance Whales."
- Wes Soltis, HEAVEmedia

"someutieme when i walk up somne stairs at houuses i think 'ghmmm, i wanderr if whenevr i donbt raelly liek to walk all teh time if a anohter clone from siume city in outer sopace fallsz upside dohwbn to find a hamborger ful of fun and lketchup!1 tehn i listened to sonme new kkid named Judagh Dadoone on his one band soumetimez caled "fFREE LANCE WHAL ES!!!!"1 tehy asnwered al mny evry questions abuot stuff htat is about walking uop stairs, on teh elevators, how much to hug a faviret girl and when ot brush yuor teeth with love.
did yuo blogeger fanz evr here of FRELANSE WAHALES?! yuo should. its liek a magicc box wiht difernet size coins and poiano ballsz faling down onto elctric pumper trampoleens oin order of funnest to haoppiest!/1! plz listn to "hannahh" abuot a stare of waling shoes. if yiuo liek it aloit tell the mysopace man that PUKEBOZx SHOwe YOUR ZBZLOGZ!!!!!!!!!"
- Pukebox the JOke
Animal Tropical
official website
myspace
ANIMAL TROPICAL are four friends from childhood who – despite their varying interests -- always wanted to be in a band. Pabona, the guitarist, is an amateur anthropologist and mystic; Norge, the drummer, is a filmmaker and dabbler in fashion photography; Jose Jose, the piano player, writes poetry and paints pictures of rottweilers; Jarrett, bass player, is a full on gourmand and food scholar. But Saturday nights (or any time you care to party), they forget all of that: handi-camera and dagga sprout, pencil and spatula are toweled stowed, amps switched on, and soon enough Cuban heels spiral off of feet, and cymbals crash, and all of Miami is set in muggy motion (and the fun isn’t limited to Miami, of course: this contagion has, over the years, spread up the peninsula to every corner of the south and midatlantic and Midwest; Johnstown! Wichita! Brooklyn! Peroria! Sioux Falls!) Indeed, after their peculiar fashion sense (a sultan’s wardrobe of cuban heels, perfumed hankies,leisure suits and open collared oxfords, all dismissed as “natural elegance”), AT are best known for their under-the-big-top flavored live performances, spectacles of an intensity that belies the craftiness of their music. Listen to the records. Their lyrical and musical density recalls Steely Dan; their classical precision and punk attack pure Elvis Costello and the Attractions; their feverish soulfulness pinched from The Band, Motown, and gospel old-timey and new timey; their freakiness from Tropicalia; their wistful, big smile pop worthy of ABBA. They are young. Crazy. Ambitious. “We fully expect to be a next big thing” slurs Jose Jose, interrupting his colleagues, loud with drink all. “We’re emotional bluebloods that way”“I’d rather die then not make it” roars Norge “I’d rather be nailed to a cross.”Jarrett apologizes for the melodrama,while Pabona confides that Norge has “said that more than once”, quickly adding “we all totally agree”. Catch them if you can.-- Pedro Pajaro
Still Life Still
official website
myspace
STILL LIFE STILL are a Canadian five-piece band from East York, Toronto, who play a textured and layered style of indie/grunge/pop style music. The band’s line-up has undergone minor changes over the years, but currently consists of guitarists/vocalists Brendon Saarinen and Eric Young, bassist Derek Paulin, drummer Aaron Romaniuk and his brother, keyboardist/percussionist Josh Romaniuk.

Their debut LP “Girls Come Too” was released on Arts & Crafts August 25, 2009 with the first single “Pastel” put into rotation on Toronto radio stations. Girls Come Too is chock full of catchy melodies, deep lyrics, dynamic drumming and songs that will get stuck in your head for days.

Though all the band members are in their early 20’s, SLS has been playing together for nearly ten years and their chemistry and experience make for good music and a dynamic live set. Their consistent play in Toronto indie circles has resulted in a large local fanbase that is eager to dance and party each time the band plays.
Faces On Film
official website
myspace
Faces on Film is the project of songwriter Mike Fiore. Showcasing both the epic and the intimate on The Troubles, its first official LP, guitars drone and pianos alternate between plucking out fun and eerie melodies, all while Fiore makes veiled references to unspoken crimes, abandoned plans, and dysfunctional families, with his rich and enigmatic lyrics.

With a sound this multifaceted, it's not surprising that Faces on Film has collaborated with a rotating cast of musicians from its Boston-area home, including members of bands like Hallelujah the Hills and Mr. Sister, in addition to consistently featuring Dave Hinckley on guitar.

Though Fiore wrote some of the songs on The Troubles as long as four years ago, the recording process was brief-- predominantly recorded in a former piano factory in less than one week.

Upon its release, The Troubles was named as an "Album of the Year" by the Boston Globe.
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