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Hey Mercedes

live in Chicago (2002)
Vagrant Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Katy
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 19th 2002

A friend of a friend hooked me up with a free ticket to the show, and asked me to write this review in return. I don't think he knew that I'm probably the last person to ask.

I grew up in the southwestern Chicago suburbs, and led a pretty sheltered music life until I got to college (U of I). While everyone else had known about Braid and seen them live, all I knew was a couple songs that I had downloaded one night. I thought they were something worth checking out, but by that time they weren't around anymore...

So one day either a friend put Hey Mercedes on in their car or I gave the CD a listen at Record Service in Champaign. Can't remember how it happened, but anyway, I became introduced to the band in their own accord- not that hey this band used to Braid and now listen to them.

A lot of the reviews I read on Hey Mercedes bash them for not being Braid. Why do you think they changed their name? They're not Braid anymore, so why keep comparing them. If you liked Braid, and don't like Hey Mercedes, then stop going to the shows.

Tuesday night's show was really good. I missed the first band, and the others didn't grab my attention at all. Hey Mercedes started up and it was awesome. They played a good show.

I've heard complaints that the band has a boring stage presence, but I don't know what they're talking about. Maybe when they first started out, but I wouldn't know. This was my second time seeing them- the first being at the Highdive in Champaign a few months ago. Anyway, the band was up there looking like they were having a lot of fun. The crowd was smiling and singing along. It seemed like everyone was having a good time.

I'm thinking the Highdive show was a little better because the people who were there wanted to be there. They weren't just looking for something to do on a Tuesday night (not that that is a bad reason to go to a show, I have done it plenty of times before hoping to be impressed by a band I don't know or like that well). It adds a different environment to the show.

As to how the band was actually playing, they were very energetic. They didn't take breaks between songs, they just kept it going. They mixed the new songs with the old fairly well, so they didn't lose attention too easily. They messed around with a couple songs, most notably "Quit" I believe (although I'm probably wrong) where they had it down to the drums and bass for a little while, and Bob adding a little icing. It was sounding pretty cool, and they almost pulled it off, but just barely didn't.

I had a good time at the show, and by the faces of the people around me, I could tell I wasn't the only one. I would definitely recommend going to one of their shows, but don't go if you're still mourning Braid.

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Anonymous (July 24, 2002)

The Benjamins, Allister, and Student Rick all suck really bad. Who would ever pay 15 bucks to see Autopilot Off? I wouldn't, unless they played here. (my small town's biggest concerts have been Zebrahead, 311, Insane Clown Posse, and Country Jam..All of which I refused to attend)I tend to drive to Denver or boulder to watch good shows.

Anonymous (July 21, 2002)

scott-

this is from lucas keller on the KP messageboard:

Unfortunately, and may i add that i handed all booking duties over to Ryan at the beginning of summer so this has nothing to do with me, S.C. has left the show as well as the RX bandits, there were problems with scheduling, but it's okay because the rest of the bands are on the show!!! so come check it out!

oh, and finch dropped off a week or so ago

so now the show is down to the benjamins, allister, autopilot off, and student rick....and thats what i payed 15$ for? uuuhhh, no

maverick (July 21, 2002)

To the guy 4 posts down [about Klub Phenomenon]:

Where did you see that those bands had dropped off? I know on their webpage they're not listed in the first line, but I think they fucked up the HTML when they added the "BENJAMINS REUNION SHOW" thing. Because, everywhere else on their website [and the bands' websites], it says they're all still playing.

-Scott

Anonymous (July 21, 2002)

Yeah hey mercades was good but you forgot one important point about the show, Piebald mopped the floor with those assholes. Hell half the place left after pieblad because they knew it was gonna be all downhill from there.

Anonymous (July 21, 2002)

hey-we-want-to-be-braid-es

..::whendovescry::..

Anonymous (July 20, 2002)

How come these guys suck...Long live braid...j/k....Damon(the drummer) is the only thing that saves this band. He should have stuck with saves the day..then he could be gay and dance with puppets too! Long live drive thru records and finch!

Anonymous (July 20, 2002)

about that drive thru show you said you were going to......you might wanna reconsider....something corporate, finch, AND the rx bandits dropped off the bill.....and i'm extremely pissed, i paid 15$ for the ticket and all i wanted to see was finch....kp can kiss my ass, they need to get their shit together

maverick (July 20, 2002)

If KP would just *advertise,* they would get huge crowds. They don't even bother to advertise in Rockford - do they really think that Freeport can support a club that big? Shit, I don't mind going there, it's way closer than Chicago [45 minutes/90 minutes], it's just depressing as shit to see no one there [especially when you're in a band that plays there and *no one* shows up - it happened to us]. They also charge way too much.

Oh well, I'll be there on 7/29 for that ridiculously huge Drive Thru Records showcase, and I'll probably go to the Further Seems Forever/Breaking Pangaea show, as well [on 8/1, I think?].

Man, it's posts like the one I'm making right now that make me think we should add a message board to this site.

-Scott

Anonymous (July 20, 2002)

i think i only counted 40 people at the KP show. very, very sad.

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

the "turnout" was pathetic scott....unless you consider 50 people with their arms crossed impressive....seriously, i hate that place...but i always go back

seek (July 19, 2002)

yeah, my bad... wrong katy... it was sarcasm to begin with though

maverick (July 19, 2002)

Woah, someone actually *went* to the Klub Phenomenon show? Wow. How was the turnout? I couldn't make it.

-Scott

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

anyone who doesnt like hey mercedes live wouldnt like them on cd anyway, so they should just quit their bitching.....i saw them last friday and they were great, as always

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

'back in the day' as in last december? i don't know if you can use the phrase 'back in the day' for a band that's only a couple of years old. ;)

and she did say something about piebald...that they didn't catch her attention. suck it up, bucko. i'm sure the show was a much better place b/c you weren't in attendance.

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

I saw Hey Mercedes back in the day with Thursday and Saves the Day. They have to be one of the most boring live bands ever. And how could you not say anything about the opener Piebald. They should have been headlining in my opinion. I didn't go based on the fact that they would have a shortened set because Gay Mercedes was headlining.

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

Was this review written by a four year old? It has no substance at all. Get off your computer, take a few years off, learn how to write and then express your opinion in manner that has some detail and expression. Seriously though, did you write out this review with a crayon during art time?

jheisel (July 19, 2002)

worst band ever!

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

Your review is really positive (except the almost part) and you give it only 3 stars?

seek (July 19, 2002)

katy, i know it is you.

the love of your life.

- i iz rob

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

for once! a review on hey mercedes that doesn't play the 'gee, too bad they're not braid anymore' card! thank you!!

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

Wow, this is the weirdest waste of space I have ever been exposed to... Who the fuck cares if they "almost" pulled it off? How can anyone "alomost" pull off playing a part in their song? Fuck man, fuck.

Anonymous (July 19, 2002)

less than ten lines dedicated to the band's performance at the show - AMAZING!