Happy Birthday Mercy Lounge!

Dearest friends and readers, I have come to pay tribute to Mercy Lounge and to those who performed at the filled-to-capacity, fifth-year celebration of her day of establishment.  On this occasion, J-to-the-J, Natty Light and I had the opportunity to bask in the glow of bands both familiar and previously unknown.

As the evening’s opener, The Lonely Hearts performed with sufficient energy and skill.  The stone-still audience even seemed to like them.  I just found The Lonely Hearts reminded me too much of a young Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  And, Tom Petty has never been able to carry a tune to my liking.

I was delighted that Space Capone played earlier in the evening.  They set a fine pace for their successors, quickly spurring the comically rigid audience into motion and mirth.

Now, I don’t know when I had come under the impression that I was familiar with all worthy Nashvillian bands, but that notion was resolutely proven false when Jeremy Lister took to the stage.  I couldn’t help but be drawn into his sound.  Jeremy Lister’s songs could easily appeal to country music fans, indie rockers, and pop junkies alike.  

And as much as I was thrilled to hear new songs from AutoVaughn, whose measures have always brought my heart much joy, I would have preferred to have been able to sing along in my usual trans-like state during their set.  The rest of the audience seemed to respond in similar fashion, no doubt just as loyal to the band as me.  Fortunately, AutoVaughn's new products are just as marvelous as those that preceded them.  I have been stalking their MySpace ever since for news of the album release.

There were plenty more bands to grace the stage that evening, and I am told that the celebration went on well into the night.  But the boys and I had other engagements to keep.  So, we left Mercy with good wishes and thanksgiving for providing Nashville with a fine place to showcase its talent.  Here’s to five years and more!