New guitarist! |
Tuesday Jan 19th, 2010 |
recently, our much loved guitarist sean decided he was going to hang up his thirsty merc boots. we took a break at the start of 2009 for a number of months, and in the interim sean married his fiance and also decided he was looking to focus on being a record producer - something he's been passionate about ever since we met him. we wish him all the best. we've had too many good times with sean in the merc to even begin to count!
joining the band is guitarist matt smith who some of you may know from the band 'the strides'. we've always dug matt's playing, he's a terrific guy, and having him record with us on this new album has been seamless. matt is a mad keen fisherman, surfer, camper, and all round musician with an awesome groove and vibe. please make sure you say 'hi' to him at our next gig. we're very excited to announce that we've got a few shows coming up very soon - details coming any day now!
rai
Posted by Thirsty Merc at 09:30 am | Hey Guys, Sean here... |
Thursday Jan 14th, 2010 |
I've decided to hang up my Thirsty Merc boots indefinitely. Basically, I'm going to focus on producing music for other bands which I love to do but also keeps me closer to my new wife.....yep...I'm married!
My time with Thirsty Merc has been unforgettable - I've enjoyed the ride, I'll miss the shows and I'll miss the fans..... I'm also excited about producing in the studio for new bands which will be my new focus..... check out........ www.myspace.com/seancareyproducer ......for things to come.
Love Sean
Rai's new songs, Phil's other band and Sean's producing |
Thursday Apr 30th, 2009 |
Hey guys, We've been keeping a low profile of late as each of us has been working on new material for our own side projects. Phil's band House of Orange kicked off its EP launch in Sydney in April 2009 (check their myspace), Sean has been lending his producing talents to up-and-coming bands, and Rai has been writing a bunch of new song ideas which he'll be performing in MAY-JUNE 2009 to help inform his songwriting.. For Rai's solo tour dates go to www.raithistlethwayte.com
Rock on folks.
The Merc
Refuelled Tour |
Saturday Jul 05th, 2008 |
Many of you have asked us to make it easier to buy tickets to Thirsty Merc's final tour of 2008. Thanks for the feedback!
We've heard you and now you can buy a limited quantity online directly from this site, www.thirstymerc.com.
NSW
July 11, Friday - Penrith RSL - BUY TICKETS
July 12, Saturday - Revesby Workers Club - BUY TICKETS
July 18, Friday - Dapto Leagues Club - BUY TICKETS
July 19, Saturday - South Juniors - BUY TICKETS
July 25, Friday - The Cube, Campbelltown - BUY TICKETS
July 26, Saturday - Doyalson RSL - BUY TICKETS
VIC
Jul 31, Thursday - Ferntree Gully Hotel - BUY TICKETS
Aug 1, Friday - Doncaster Shoppingtown - BUY TICKETS
Aug 2, Saturday - Chelsea Heights Hotel - BUY TICKETS
Aug 3, Sunday - Hallam Hotel - BUY TICKETS
Many of you guys have told the Merc what their song 'Homesick' means to you. A few of you even got married to 'Homesick' recently - now that's a compliment to a band if ever there was one. So, by special request, the boys have done a live video montage for 'Homesick'. It was filmed while on tour with Matchbox 20 recently. If you like it as much as we do, send it to your friends.
WATCH HOMESICK NOW
A new studio recording of 'Homesick'is also available. It's on the Merc's myspace page at the moment. This version was produced & mixed by Scott Horscroft (silverchair, The Presets) and is probably the Merc's most heart-felt track yet. I wonder how many differences you can pick between this version and the version on the original version of the SLIDESHOWS album. Check it out on myspace:
www.myspace.com/thirstymerc
Hope to see lots of you at an upcoming gig.
- The Merc Crew
Final Tour For A While - July / August |
Tuesday Jun 17th, 2008 |
Well, we've had a blast these past few months.....played an arena tour with US band matchbox 20, went back in the studio to re-record 'homesick' with producer scott horscroft (silverchair, the presets), and have been honoured by two APRA Award nominations.
In July and August we are doing our last tour for 2008 - the "Refueled tour". we're playing the best we've ever played, and after re-charging our personal batteries, we'll be bursting at the seams to give you a rockin' last show in july-aug 2008. we've tricked up new versions of songs, have adjusted our set-list to include songs that you've been asking for, and are keen to connect with you fully before we disappear off the scene for a while.
See you soon.
Rai, Phil, Sean, Karl (Thirsty Merc)
TOUR DATES
Friday 11th July - Penrith RSL
Tickets from venue: (02) 4731 4333
Saturday 12th July - Revesby Workers Club
Venue: (02) 9772 2100 www.revesbyworkers.com.au
Ticketmaster: 136 100 www.ticketmaster.com.au
Friday 18th July - Dapto Leagues Club
Venue: (02) 4261 1333
Saturday 19th July - South Juniors
Venue: (02) 9349 7555 or www.southsjuniors.com.au
Friday 25th July - Campbelltown Catholic Club
Venue: (02) 4625 0000 www.thecube.net.au
Saturday 26th July - Doyalson RSL
Venue: (02) 4390 0622
Thu 31 Jul - Ferntree Gully Hotel
Venue: (03) 9758 6544
Fri 01 Aug - Doncaster Shoppingtown
Venue: (03) 9848 6811
Sat 02 Aug - Chelsea Heights Hotel
Venue: (03) 9773 4453
Sun 03 Aug - Hallam Hotel
Venue: (03) 8786 0200
Hey Merc Friends! |
Monday Dec 24th, 2007 |
In Feb/Mar 2008 we are back on the road again playing live shows all around Australia which we are really excited about. We can?t wait to rock out with all of you guys, so come down to one of our gigs and we?ll have a great night together.
2008 is a whole new chapter for us, glad you are part of it.
Cheers,
Rai, Phil, Sean, Karl (Thirsty Merc)
A message from the boys |
Wednesday Sep 12th, 2007 |
how are you all travelin? we've been traveling, in a tarago van mainly, playing 38 shows in 7 weeks on our tour. thank you (we can't thank you enough) to all for coming down for the hang, and an even bigger thanks to all who rocked the night away with us! very satisfied but enjoying a tiny rest - no rest for the wicked though - as i'm writing to inform you all of the release of our new single called THE HARD WAY.
Well, this single is out very soon and that means it's gonna be available in stores and also digitally, itunes etc. so please go and grab a copy. to tell you a little bit about the song: well, it's basically a soul infused rock track which lyrically pays a bit of homage to my dad's advice for getting through hard times when you're growing up. i guess life is always a learning curve for me and his advice has been very balanced and straight to the point. he said at times when i'd made a mistake that this is the only way to really learn for yourself - to get out there and take a bite, and chew, even if you end up chewin the dirt. anyhow, the guys play their asses off on this song and it's got a cool guitar riff which almost sounds a little southern soul in nature. Hope you dig it.
All the best...and keep an eye out for shows and releases in the future...til then -- onwards and ono sideboards!
rai and thirsty merc
The Hard Way will contain the following B-side Tracks:
The Hard Way (Radio Edit) 3:57
The Vision (Live) 6:34
20 Good Reasons (Acoustic) 3:35
Merc Members Page Opening Soon! |
Friday Jul 27th, 2007 |
This page will add new things everyday and will also allow you to have your own profile that you can update daily. Once you become a Street Team or Mailing List subscriber you will be given a password that allows you access to the page.
The Members Page will be early next week - we?re not giving anything else away so you?ll have to wait and see!
Slideshows Tour Competition |
Thursday Jul 19th, 2007 |
Then send the show you'd like to go to, your myspace address, your full name, age and mobile number to rachel@coadygroup.com with "I'm learning The Hard Way" in the subject.
Best of luck!
Copy the following to get the flyer on your page:
The Hard Way Music Video! |
Wednesday Jul 18th, 2007 |
The Hard Way hits radio Saturday, July 14th and is due for release on Saturday the 8th of September.
What the song meant to Rai:
The lyric in the chorus is: "My father used to say to me, while you're young, you've got to learn the hard way, son". And that's word for word what he used to say to me. It was just that thing that you just take on what you can.
The Merc are coming to DUBBO! |
Thursday Jul 05th, 2007 |
It is with great pleasure that we can officially announce the following two big THIRSTY MERC shows at the Dubbo RSL in October 2007 to launch their hugely successful album SLIDESHOWS.
Tickets go on sale Thursday the 12th July from the Dubbo RSL on 02-6882-4411
Date: Saturday October 27th
Tix: Dubbo RSL, Ph: 02-68824411
Show 1: All Ages Unlicensed Show
Doors open: 4.00pm
Support TBA: 4.30-5.00pm
Thirsty Merc: 5.30-6.45pm
Show 2: Over 18's Licensed Show
Doors open: 7.30pm
Support TBA: 8.00-9.00pm
Thirsty Merc: 9.30-10.45pm
GET READY, Thirsty Merc are about to embark on a massive tour of regional Australia! |
Friday Jun 15th, 2007 |
The Merc Crew
Panthers Port Macquarie Seagulls Tweed Heads Brothers Sports Club Magnums Airlie Beach Bombay Rock Townsville Hallam Hotel - Hallam Chelsea Heights Hotel Westend Market Hotel Cronulla Leagues Wyong Leagues Revesby Workers Forster Memorial Club Yamba Bowling Club Rivcol University - Wagga Saloon Bar Station Resort - Jindabyne Waves Nightclub - Wollongong
|
Lake Kawana Community Center Alexandra Hills Hotel - South East Brisbane Gladstone PCYC Mackay Entertainment Centre (Foyer) Brothers Leagues Club Cairns Shoppingtown Hotel - Doncaster Ferntree Gully Hotel Mean Fiddler Rooty Hill RSL South Sydney Juniors Coffs Ex Services Club Glenn Innes Services Club CSU Bathurst University Wrestpoint Casino - Hobart Newcastle University ANU Bar |
Sydney show broadcast on Nova |
Friday May 25th, 2007 |
Message from the Merc |
Friday May 11th, 2007 |
Motorola artist of the month! |
Monday May 07th, 2007 |
Thirsty Merc SLIDESHOWS Album On sale NOW! |
Friday Apr 20th, 2007 |
Album Launches Announced |
Wednesday Apr 04th, 2007 |
Expect to hear tracks from the New Album SLIDE SHOWS including the single ‘20 Good Reasons’ and some old favorites like “In the Summertime” and “Someday Someday”
“Getting back to audiences in the sweaty pub setting was a total blast,” “Something we've grown up on and a great way to reconnect and introduce a new swag of tunes. But on the other side we're looking forward to launching our new album SLIDESHOWS in some theatres and classic venues from late May onwards...it's going to be a fun year.” – Rai Thistlethwayte (Lead vocals/piano)
Tickets go on sale to the General Public next Monday,April 9 at 9am.
|
Friday 25th May – Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane Ticketek - 13 28 49 Rocking Horse – (07) 3229 5360 Skinnys – (07) 3229 2389 www.ticketek.com.au Saturday 26th May – Enmore Theatre, Sydney Venue - (02) 9550 3666 Ticketek – 13 28 49 www.ticketek.com.au Friday 1st June – Forum Theatre, Melbourne Ticketek – 13 28 49 www.ticketek.com.au Saturday 2nd June – Woolshed Ballarat Ticket Master – 136 100 www.ticketmaster.com.au Rediscovery CDs – (03) 5331 5153 |
Sunday 3rd June – HQ, Adelaide Venuetix – (08) 8225 8888 www.venuetix.com.au Saturday 9th June – Capitol, Perth Mill's Records - (08) 9335 1945 Planet Music – (08) 9328 7464 Galaxy Entertainment – (08) 9474 2440 Jumbo Entertainment - (08) 9319 9033 www.moshtix.com.au Perth Booking Line - (08) 8463 0691 Boc's Ticketing - (08) 9484 1133 www.bocsticketing.com.au |
However if you become a member of the Thirsty Merc Street Team, you will be able to pre- order your copy of SLIDESHOWS from today Wednesday, April 4th online at iTunes and JB HI FI.
Join the Street Team here!
Thank you so much for supporting Thirsty Merc, we look forward to seeing you at the Album Launch.
The Merc Crew
Thirsty Merc 20 Good Reasons Tour |
Thursday Mar 22nd, 2007 |
Appreciate all your support, hope you can make it to the last shows before our National Tour hits!
| Thurs 29th March - The Zoo, Brisbane - SOLD OUT Rocking Horse – (07) 3229 5360 Skinnies – (07) 3229 2389 Mosh Pit Music – (07) 5479 2777 Sunflower – (07) 5538 1850 Butterbeats City – (07) 3220 0005 Butterbeats Valley – (07) 3257 3257 Music Mania – (07) 5591 1665 Ticket Pricing – Presale $20/22 incl. GST Door $26/28incl GST door |
Sat 31st March - Molong Music & Arts Festival Festival office: 63 668 012 7 - 9 Bank St, Molong Ticketek - 13 28 49 www.ticketek.com.au Adults: $55 per night incl GST Children (6-12): $33 per night incl GST Under 12 Free |
The Merc Crew
20 Good Reasons used for LOST promo |
Thursday Mar 08th, 2007 |
Posted by Rai Thistlethwayte at 04:10 pm | Thirsty Merc Tour Announced! |
Wednesday Feb 21st, 2007 |
Guess what, we have gigs. Back on the scene in 07. Good to hear, eh. Here are the details.
| Thurs 1st March – Clipsal 500 Venue – 13 12 46 www.bass.net.au Fri 2nd March – Annandale Hotel - SOLD OUT Venue – (02) 9550 1078 www.annandalehotel.com Ticket Price - Presale$19.30/22incl GST Door: : $25.30/28incl GST Sat 3rd March - Annandale Hotel - SOLD OUT Venue – (02) 9550 1078 www.annandalehotel.com Ticket Price - Presale $19.30/22incl GST Door $25.30/28incl GST Thurs 15th March Northcote Social Club, Melbourne - SOLD OUT Venue Box Office – (03) 9486 1677 www.northcotesocialclub.com Ticket Price - Presale $19.80/22 incl. GST Door $25.80/28 incl. GST Fri 16th March - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne - SOLD OUT Venue Box Office – (03) 9486 1677 www.northcotesocialclub.com Ticket Price - Presale $19.80/22 incl. GST Door $25.80/28 incl. GST |
Sat 17th March - Wagga Showground’s (Dusty Days) with SFK, Frenzal Rhomb, The Herd www.dustydays.com.au Don Tuckwells - ph: (02) 6921 4862 Allison Music - ph: (02) 6921 2696 Custom Music -ph: (02) 6921 5855 The Leading Edge - ph: (02) 6921 4411 Star FM - ph: (02) 6921 1022 Civic theatre - ph: (02) 6926 9688 Ticket Pricing – 1st release is $39 incl. GST 2nd release is $49 incl. GST Thurs 29th March - The Zoo, Brisbane Rocking Horse – (07) 3229 5360 Skinnies – (07) 3229 2389 Mosh Pit Music – (07) 5479 2777 Sunflower – (07) 5538 1850 Butterbeats City – (07) 3220 0005 Butterbeats Valley – (07) 3257 3257 Music Mania – (07) 5591 1665 Ticket Pricing – Presale $20/22 incl. GST Door $26/28incl GST door |
Our first single from our new upcoming album is fast approaching release date. It's called '20 Good Reasons' and it's gonna be available on digital platforms on February 26th and will be in stores on the 24th March. We're hittin asphalt (rev that merc, broom broom) for a run of intimate shows to get things started.
Now - we're told that these shows will sell out so make sure you get in early as we don't want anyone to miss out..
We will be performing a whole stack of news songs from our new album SLIDESHOWS so get your tickets now cause they’re selling fast!
The Merc Crew
Tour Tales |
Saturday Mar 04th, 2006 |
After a cranking gig at QLD Uni with Faker, Shihad, Youthgroup and Paul Mac at the end of Feb we got on a plane and headed across to the US of A to do a couple of low key shows for our label and some producers. We had ball. In LA we played at a rocking little venue called The Hotel Café in West Hollywood. I don’t know why it’s called Hotel Care? It looks a bit like the Hoey in Surry Hills and nothing like a café or a hotel. We played on what would have been the world’s smallest stage which made for a pretty tight set…haha. We have to mention this Japanese restaurant we went to called Koi. Man the food was incredible!
After spending some heady nights in LA town it was time to fly to the city that never sleeps. NYC. Wow what a city. This place has an energy that is nothing short of incredible. So much is happening all the time and you get caught up in the intensity of the place as soon as you arrive. It was bitterly cold when we arrived with the streets covered in snow but we managed to keep warm as our hotel was the smallest hotel in the world. The place is called Off Soho down in the lower east side of NY. The lads from Jet stayed there before they made millions…You gotta start somewhere!
There is so much to do in NY. Phil and Rai got to see heaps of live Jazz and Karl, Sean and Francis got to check out all the art galleries. Our showcase was at the legendary Mercury Lounge. What a venue. We had the best sound guy who looks like Gaby our sound guy in OZ and the place filled up by the time we hit the stage. What a blast doing a show on the other side of the world. We will back here for sure! Stayed tuned US fans we are coming back for a real tour!
After a massive flight home we were all feeling pretty stuffed and what’s more we were only in Sydney for one day before we had to fly to Perth for a special one of show. After a few weeks off we headed to New Zealand for Edgefest!
NEW ZEALAND WE SALUTE YOU! NZ is now our second home! Well almost. After being there only a month prior doing a promo trip it was great to be back and playing in front of sooooo many new fans. Edgefest was such a well run touring festival and we want to thank all the crew for all their help. From Wellington and Christchurch to Auckland and Hamilton we were given the chance to play to a total of 24,000 thousand screaming Kiwis in four days. Also on the bill were an incredible bunch of bands: Living End (they rocked), POD from the US, Presidents of the USA, Elemeno P, Savage, Frontline and more….All the bands were really supportive of each other and we want to send a big shout of to The Living End for watching us side of stage and for Chris for coming up and jamming with the Merc lads at the after party. What a buzz!
Well we just got from our last show in Molong. It’s now time to stop playing live and but our heads down and start working on our next album. We will update you with all the latest recording news as it happens. Thanks for reading!
The Merc
The Merc hits New Zealand |
Thursday Feb 23rd, 2006 |
Well this is what went down. Brooke and Dotti from our NZ record label picked all of us up at the airport late in the night on Thursday night and we all hit the sack after some seedy takeaway food. The following morning we headed to Cruise Bar to begin a massive day of scheduled interviews with pretty much every journalist in town! They all went really well. We also recorded In the Summertime and My Completeness on Top of the Pop to a live studio audience. That evening we went to a wicked Japanese restaurant with our manager and our record label. We all ate a serious amount of food and a little too much Sake....We all rolled out into the night and headed to a great little bar! Everyone had an absolute blast.
The following day we headed to a cool little indie venue called the Kings Arms where we did a special afternoon showcase gig for Rock FM winners and their friends. We played some new demo tracks which went down a treat. That night everyone had a pretty chilled one as we had to be ready for a massive gig at Rock in the Park the next day. Sunday arvo we arrived at Greens Park, about 10mins out of Auckland, where about 6,000 people were going off to Pluto then Elemeno P! They rocked hard. We were on at about 4pm and by that time the crowd was reaching 8,000 or so. We played hard and people seemed to dig it. Someday Someday and In the Summertime got a big reaction because of the radio support but people seemed to also like My Completeness which is about to be released this week to radio in NZ. It was sooo hot on stage but the vibe of the crowd was incredible.
On Sunday evening we had a lovely BBQ at Brookies house which looks over a beautiful bay in Auckland. We were all so exhausted but felt extremely satisfied with what we had achieved in the last few days. Mon morning came round and we did a few final interviews at a local cafe with some journos before flying back to Sydney. We had the most incredible time over in NZ town and all the fans who came out to support us at Rock in the Park....we salute you!
We are all busy working on new tracks back in Sydney and next week we fly to LA and NY to meet with some producers and our US label. We also have a couple of low key gigs in LA and NY so check out the gigs page. We have also got some video footage up on the web from our NZ trip!
Keep rocking on and we will see you at a gig soon!
The Merc
Happy Belated New Year! |
Wednesday Feb 01st, 2006 |
Well, where do we start? 2006 has arrived. HAPPY NEW YEAR Merc fans!
We thought it would be good to catch up on some of the highlights of 2005. We toured the UK and performed at Reading and Leeds Festival which were both incredible. Watching Queens of the Stone Age and the Killers from side of stage was nuts. We also played our first international club dates around London. Our last show at the Marquee went off with the place packed out which was a great vibe.
We continued to tour OZ with the release of WTWIF and ran into heaps of new Merc fans along the way. In early November we headed down to Melbourne to perform a live set for Live at the Chapel. Wow! That was an incredible experience. Live at the Chapel is set in an old church with massive candles on either side of the stage. It was sooooo hot in the venue but we had a blast. Thanks to all the Merc fans who turned up on the night to support us.
After hanging out with our respective families over Christmas we all headed down to Geelong for NYE. The venue was packed with thousands of people and we could not have asked for a better way to bring in 2006.
So what’s in stall for 2006? Well, we just did a massive gig at the front of Parliament House in Canberra in front of 30,000 people for Australia day. What a crowd. We also got to meet you guys at the Merch signing. Thanks for coming over and saying G’Day.
We are now focused on recording new demos for our next album but also realised how much we miss playing live so we are doing some one off shows for Merc fans (ALL AGES) across this big brown land. We are also heading across to NZ for a promo tour later this month and then we head back over again in March for Edgfest. Check out the gigs page for more info.
Sorry we have to go as it’s late and we have to get back to recording!
See you at a gig soon! The Merc
Update from tour |
Tuesday Apr 19th, 2005 |
Firstly, thanks to all who came down to the latest merc gigs! All the last leg of touring has been some of the best we've done, some of the most fun, we are really loving playing live, it's so good as we've been doing this for 3 years now, and it's a real high point for us to be able to play to audiences all over this big brown land!
So, of course,
There's more coming up! Many more shows on the 'gigs' page, make sure you get along to a show, new songs, more keyboards, more singing along, more people and a new line of merc-andise, we'll see you there! Also, we're going farther and wider than ever before! And some all ages ones too. If you can buy tickets, grab em early, the last 2 weeks' gigs sold out...thanks to you!
We are workin on some new material too, and some of these tunes will work their way into live shows, and onto possible releases for later merc singles and albums. We are playing a new song called 'kaleidoscope' and it's already a bit of a new fave in the band and with some recent audiences.... We hope to bring more merc to you as the year rolls out.
On the promotional front, the footy show and today show gigs last week were both fun, TV gigs can be a bit nervy and stuff, bit we got thru thanks to Brendan (stage tech) and of course the man with the shorts, Gab (sound and production) so if you see these guys at a gig, say hi!
The debut album is gold! About a month ago we received plaques from our record label for this achievement...thank you guys! We couldn't have done it without you, and the fans!
Merc undies, singlets, posters, available at gigs. Thought I'd put that out there....they look good too!
And, Pete, the one way roadie, went totally nuts last weekend, on the Sydney shows, had an absolute blinder, go Pete, I seriously don't think he slept for 3 days. Pete has been a roadie and friend of the band for years now, he toured with us on our first trip to melbourne about 2 years ago, it was so good to have him back on board just like the old days....jeez, sound like an old bloke after all that, and I only just turned 25!
On that note, better crash out....
I'm chillin out on the beach for a week in Malibu, California, but back for Woodstock festival in brisbane on the 29th, then it's on the road again for the merc, oh yeah!
See you soon!
Rai and thirsty merc...
Gigs, Gigs, Gigs! |
Wednesday Mar 23rd, 2005 |
Ok, enough of the sell! We are pretty much touring like crazy for the next while, trying out some new tunes too, such as a song called 'kaleidoscope' and rehearsing when we have time at soundcheck, it's been amazing for us to be doing what we love and bringing our music to audiences around this bug brown land!
Also, all ages gigs will happen this year we promise. There are plans to address this as we get the next schedule organised in the coming months etc! Rock the house....and until then, thanks for the support!
Rai and thirsty merc!
