Mercy Creek News updated 4/20/06
* Thanks to WYOU FM 100.9 Williamsburg Public Radio for spins of "Take It Away" and "Take Back the Time" and for hosting Mercy Creek at JM Randall's on 3/31/06 www.wyou.fm now streaming!
* The Washington Post Fairfax Extra December 22, 2005 ......"Mercy Creek can perform folk, harder rock, calypso groove, swinging alt-country, and bluesy gospel. The band makes a mighty noise for just 2 players. After six years of extensive touring, the duo has been described as "the White Stripes of Americana." Jack and Meg White, watch your back." M. Meyer
Sept 8, 2005 The Washington Examiner
Virginia duo Mercy Creek plays "aggressive folk rock", and if that is the chosen label, I commend them, because I wouldn't be so willing to classify. I agree in theory, but with all they offer, I think Mercy Creek can also be called liars by omission. Vocalist-guitarist Cheryl Nystrom is an undeniable star, with a strong expressive voice that swoops around pop choruses and haunts the verses in between, like a burnished and coppery Beth Orton. Drummer Jim Ball knows when to hit it and when to quit it, letting the songs ride on Nystrom's wave.
August 2005 Singer and Musician Magazine "Bonfire of Vanities"
Have Mercy-Mercy Creek can rock! The group is so overflowing with creative, boundless musical energy that for its fourth release, "Bonfire of Vanities," they had to do a double-disc. The two-disc set contains the first recording
ever of Mercy Creek as just a two-piece, in addition to a fresh studio album with ten new tracks, including "Born to Rock," "Ready or Not," "Turn to Rain" and "Summer." The fully produced disc was recorded by Paul Mahern,
known for his work with greats like Iggy Pop, John Mellencamp, Juliana Hatfield and others. The live disc was recorded last July at Echo Park Studios and includes favorites like "Match and a Conversation," "Sparked
Fire," "Shadow Dance" and more. For those unfamiliar with Mercy Creek, the two-piece group (singer/guitarist Cheryl Nystrom and drummer Jim Ball) is one of the leaders of an aggressive folk rock movement and have been coined "The White Stripes of Americana." Their sound blends modern folk with pop, rock, blues and even bluegrass. Nystrom's vocals are raw, uninhibited, intense and sensual. Mercy Creek was definitely "Born to Rock." - K.S. Aug 2005
Mercy Creek's "Bonfire of Vanities" hits postiion 50 on FMQB Week of April 6, 2005
FMQB Public Breakout Top 200 April 6, 2005
Position Artist
47 Allison Krauss
48 Crooked Finger
49 Mark Knopfler
50 MERCY CREEK
FMQB Public Breakout Top 200 March 30, 2005
Position Artist
56 Carbon Leaf
57 John Hammond
58 Andrew Bird
59 Pinback
60 Ray Lamontagne
61 MERCY CREEK
June 2005 - Commercial radio ADDS at WEBK - Killington Vermont; KTAO - Taos/Santa Fe New Mexico; WRNX - , MA KPIG - Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cuz/San Luis Obispo, CA
"Bonfire of Vanities" is XM Radio's featured artist Friday May 20, 2005. Listen for free for3 days by signing up (limited offer) at www.listen.xmradio.com. Channel XM 52!
4/28/05: Eddie Bauer stores nationally will be featuring the song "Summer" as part of the PLAY Network's music service to the stores.
4/12/05: Mercy Creek is now set to enter a nationwide distribution deal with Redeye USA. The street date has been set for June 14, 2005. "Bonfire of Vanities" will be available nationwide at notable chains such as Best Buy, Borders, Tower, and more. Redeye will also be the digital distributor of the entire Mercy Creek 4 album catalogue. All albums are currently available at digital sites such as I-tunes for legal downloading.
4/10/05: On the road from Indiana...We finally got to see Over the Rhine on our way back east via Rt 70...at a stop in Dayton. Paul Mahern, who has also produced material for O.T. R., was running sound. They are a splendid act, and Paul had them sounding great. It's always a pleasure to see Paul, and a musical treat to see O.T.R. the night after playing with V.O.L.
4/9/05: The Timmy Foundation On the road to Indiana We had the pleasure of playing a Timmy Foundation event with V.O.L. in Indiana, and it's a great organiazation to get involved with...check them out at www.timmyfoundation.org Assisting children thruout the world with health care is the primary goal of the organization. Thanks to Jeff, Dr. Chuck, and all the folks involved in the show at Radio-Radio, and many thanks for making Mercy Creek a part of the event. It was a true honor to open for V.O.L. and to be a part of such an important event.
4/6/05: Sixth solid week at radio for "Bonfire of Vanities". Mercy Creek climbed to position # 50 on FMQB's Breakout Chart.
3/15/05: Third solid week at radio for "Bonfire of Vanities". Mercy Creek climbed to position # 80 on FMQB's Breakout Chart.
3/8/05: Second solid week at radio for "Bonfire of Vanities". Mercy Creek continued to gain on FMQB's Breakout Chart climbing to # 111. A combined 72 AAA and College stations have added the record. Our thanks to following stations for playing our music!
3/3/05: First week at radio earns Mercy Creek a debut in FMQB's Breakout Chart at # 129.
KASF (Alamosa, CO) #28 CMJ - KAXE (Grand Rapids, MN) - KIDE (Hoopa, CA) #26 CMJ - KMSM (Butte, MT) #28 CMJ - KMXT (Kodiak, AK) #28 CMJ - KTOO (Juneau, AK) #10 CMJ - KUTE (Salt Lake City, UT) #16 CMJ, - KZRC (Bay City, TX) - WFHB (Bloomington, IN) #25 CMJ - WOLV (Houghton, MI) - WQNR (Auburn, AL) - WALT (Davidson, NC) KKSM (San Marcos, CA) KMNR (Rolla, MO) KPUR (Forest Grove, OR) #39 CMJ - KUMD (Duluth, MN) - WNKU (Highland Heights, KY) - WPMD (Norwalk, CA) - KASF (Almosa, Ca) - KHNS (Haines AK) - WDTS (Georgetown, DE) - WHRW (Binghamton, NY) KKCR (Princeville, HI) - KKFI (Kansas City, MO) - KMSU (Mankato, MN) - KRCL (Salt Lake City, UT) - KUNI (Cedar Falls, IA) KVNF (Paonia, CO) - KWVA (Eugene, OR) - KXUL (Monroe, LA) - KXZY (Stillwater, OK) - WBAI (New York, NY) - WCBE (Columbus, OH) - WDTS (Georgetown, DE) CMJ Add - WECI (Richmond, IN) - WERU (E. Orland, ME) - WFWM (Frostburg, MD) - WHFC (Bel Air, MD) - WMPG (Portland, ME) - WNCW (Spindale, NC) WOWL (Boca Raton, FL) - WPUB (New York, NY) WTCC (Springfield, MA) - WWUH (W. Hartford, CT) - WWVU (Morgantown, WV) - KABF (Little Rock, AK) - KAOS (Olympia, WA) - KBSU (Bosie ID) - KDNK (Carbondale, CO - KDUP (Portland, OR) - KFAI (Minneapolis, MN) - KNBA (Anchorage, AK) - KOTO (Telluride, CO) - KRCX (Denver, CO) CMJ - KRTU (San Antonio, TX) - KRVS (Lafayette, LA) - KSAU (Nacogdoches, TX) - KSMC (Moraga, CA) - KSMF (Ashland, OR) - KSVR (Mt. Vernon, WA) - KSYM (San Antonio, TX) - KTEK (Soccoro, NM) - KURA (Ouray, CO) - KWCW (Walla Walla, WA) - WBZC (Pemberton, NJ) - WERW (Syracuse, NY) - WGCC (Batavia, NY) - WHRV (Norfolk, VA) - WHRW (Binghamton, NY) - WLUR (Lexington, VA) - WMSV (Millersville, MS) - WORT (Madison, WI) - WSFR (Boston, MA) - WSND (Notre Dame, IN) - WUSB (Centereach, NY) - WVYC (York, PA) - WWEC (Elizabethtown, PA) - WYCE (Grand Rapids, MI) - WZLY (Wellesley, MA)
Don't forget! 3/13/05 Mercy Creek in studio performance on The BOB 93.7 FM Norfolk, Va with Hunter Hughes on "Sunrise". Time - Sunday Morning @ 9:15 am.
1/29/05 Digital Distribution Deal: Mercy Creek has entered a digital distribution deal with Redeye Distribution, placing the entire Mercy Creek catalogue on many major web digital download sites. The partial list follows: Itunes, and iTunes international, Napster and Napster international, MusicMatch, Real/Rhapsody, MusicNet (AOL, Virgin), MusicNow (Circuit City), EMusic, Audio Lunchbox, MSN, Sony Connect, Loudeye (ATT wireless, OD2 Europe), Puretracks(Canada), and Download Punk. We're looking forward to having our music accessible for the digital age. Sites will begin to carry our music for downloading with March 22nd as the digital "Street date".
2/12/05 Airing from Reading England Mark Watkins Music Show at Blast 1386 www.blast1386.com - click on the listen button.
New Double CD "Bonfire of Vanities"
Mercy Creek's 4th recording "Bonfire of Vanities" is now available. The double Cd features the first ever recording of the band as a 2 piece in addition to a new studio album. The studio album features 10 new Mercy Creek songs, recorded in Bloomington, In. and produced by Paul Mahern. The live cd was recorded on July 19, 2004 at Echo Park Studios. We are excited to be able to create an album that features both our live sound and our more formal produced sound in the form a double cd set.
Featuring 10 new fully produced songs, including Born to Rock, Ready or Not, Turn to Rain, Summer, and more, studio tracks were recorded during the first few months of 2004. The 2nd Cd of live in studio tracks features Mercy Creek favorites Match and Conversation, Sparked Fire, Shadow Dance, Hill of Fools, Almost and more. You can get pre-release samples of music on the "Bonfire of Vanities" release by downloading "Summer" from the 'Free MP3's' page on this web site, or by purchasing the 3 song EP, "Before the Fire" (only available at shows).
Working with PaulMahern at the wonderfully vibed Echo Park Studios, the double cd release "Bonfire of Vanities" explores some of the best songs we feel we've ever written, combined with our hardest hitting recording. This record offers the first recording of what Mercy Creek does as a live act on one cd, and explores the music of a new studio album with another. Groove to the stripped down guitar/drums road hardened sound that Mercy Creek has developed from years of touring, and also enjoy what we feel will be our best studio album to date.
"Bonfire of Vanities" will be released nationally to radio and press in 2005.
July 12, 2004 Mercy Creek performs for WNKU's Studio 89, syndicated for both radio and TV on Kentucky Educational TV, and WNKU streaming. What a great opportunity and pleasure to work with the folks at WNKU to help bring Mercy Creek to audiences live in Cincinnati and across the state of Kentucky. The show was broadcast live on air during the evening of July 12th, and streamed on the Internet. The show was also filmed to be broadcast on Kentucky Educational TV later this Fall across the state.
Mercy Creek places 2nd in Virginia Music Awards for "Acoustic
Folk Artist of the Year". Many thanks to the readers of Ninevolt magazine in eastern and central Virginia who honored us with this award. Thanks for the recognition of our music and in pushing the big picture of music in the state of Virginia!
The enlightened concept Ninevolt lays out is that Virginia Music is
a resource and treasure for our state and it's residents. It's
something that the people, the businesses, and the state government
should recognize as a valuable resource. Many thanks to all of you
who already do exactly that, and to Ninevolt for the support of
Virginia music.
see
the feb 04 issue of Ninevolt or nivevoltmag.com on the web for more
details and all the winners/categories.
Airwaves Across the Country
Radio Folks! Look for the single "Leave the Light On" from the upcoming Mercy Creek album "Bonfire of Vanities" Track 1 on Triplearadio Sampler 11, on your desks April 15, 2004!
Triplearadio Sampler 8 "Match and A Conversation" at radio Jan 30, 2004!
Triplearadio Sampler 4 Hypnotized" at radio September 28, 2003!
MD's who need product for radio service please contact us at mercycrk@aol.com. Are you playing Mercy Creek and not listed here? Please let us know.
WNKU Studio 89 July 2004 Live performance on WNKU's Studio 89. Big Fun! Soon to be broadcast on Kentucky Educational TV.
KPND Sandpoint, Idaho Thanks to commercial AAA KPND for adding Mercy Creek's "Hypnotized" in rotation, February 2004. Now hold the honor of being the first commercial AAA station to add Mercy Creek to rotation.
WKZE 98.1 FM Sharon. CT "Off the Beaten Track Radio" reaching counties in the NY/CT/MASS
Reallymusicradio.com On the Internet
WMSV-FM Starkville, Mississippi thanks for adding "Match and a Conversation" Feb 04!
Mercy Creek on Television 2004
The following television stations will air Mercy Creek live at the Canal Club Richmond, Va, taped by our good Virginia supporters, WCVE "The Community Idea Station". Look for "The Music Scene" in 2004 on ARKA Conway, AR. - KBDI Denver, CO. - KCWC Riverton, WY. - KRSC Claremore, Ok. - KSPS Spokane, WA. - KVCR San Bernardino, CA. - KWBU Waco, TX. - KWSU Pullman, WA. WBGU Bowling Green, Oh. - WCVE Richmond, Va. - WDCQ University Center, MI. - WEIU Charlston, Il. - WGTE Poledo, Oh. - WHRO Norfolk, Va. - WLVT Bethlehem, Pa. - WNED Bullalo, Ny. - WNMU Marquette, Mi. - WNPT Nashville, Tenn. - WNVC Falls Church, Va. WPBA Atlanta, Ga. WPBS Watertown, NY. - WQED Pittsburg, Pa. - WTCI Chattanooga, Tenn. - WTVI Chrlotte, NC. - WTVS Detriot,Mi.- WUSF Tampa, Fla. - WYCC Chicago, Il.
A special thank you to WCVE(the Community Idea Stations), Mason Mills, Plan 9 Records, The Canal Club, Starr Hill Music Hall, and the Community of Virginia for helping us spread the word about Mercy Creek to others across the country!
Radio Supporters of "Storm Has Blown Over" 2003/2004
www.Radioio.com
Streams good music to you based on your tastes. This company is breaking ground as a unique radio Internet force, creating a new trend in the music industry. Recently have added Mercy Creek to their playlist as a featured artist under folk! Listen and join www.radioio.com
XM Radio: on the web at xmradio.com
Thanks to the XM folks for 2 years of support! Coming to new cars, old cars, homes and more by the million. Check out Billy Zero on channel 52, Unsigned, and Channel 45, XM Cafe.
WTMD 89.7 FM on the web www.towson.edu/wtmd
Washington, DC area: www.towson.edu/wtmd on the web. This is a great station, reminding more than a few people of the good old days of radio in Washington DC area with the original WHFS. Upper Washington, Dc. up thru Baltimore this station comes to your car at 89.7 FM and has a nice 60 mile plus coverage area. Picked as one of the "best new things about the Washington, Dc area".
KXCI 91.3 FM on the web at www.KXCI.ORG
Tuscon, Arizona area: KXCI 91.3 FM and on the Web. Great station with @ a 60 mile coverage.
KAXE 91.7 FM on the web at www.KAXE.ORG
Grand Rapids, MN area hits @ 60 mile radius with great Triple-A format.
WNKU 89.7 FM on the Web WWW.WNKU.ORG(streams)
Kentucky/Ohio Cincinnati area: This Triple-A station delivers great music and Mercy Creek is especially grateful to them, as this station became the 1st Non-Comm station to officially add us to rotation! Thanks Guys! We also had the pleasure of performing in studio for these folks. Another great station to hear real music and new artists. Streams to your home and office!
WNCW 88.7 FM on the web WWW.WNCW.ORG (streams)
Asheville, NC area: Another breath of fresh air in a very cool and artistic area of the country. Available to your home and office by streaming.
WYSO FM on the web WWW.WYSO.ORG(streams)
Dayton, Ohio area: @ 50 miles of FM Triple-A music. Great Triple-A format that streams to your home and office.
*WKOC 93.7 FM www.theCoast.com sadly this station has been axed, much to the dismay of many many folks we meet from Nags Head to Norfolk, Va. beach, and beyond. Thanks to the Coast and staff for many great years of music in the coast of Va. and Nc. Good news is that a new AAA station will begin broadcasting soon in the area...so stay tuned for updates. Our thanks to The Coast and to Hunter Hughes for supporting us on "Sunrise on the Coast", where we had the pleasure of performing recently on a bright Sunday morning overlooking the harbor in Norfolk, Va. A nice range from Norfolk, Va. to the Outer Banks, and as far west as Richmond, Va.
WYCE FM WWW.WYCE.ORG(streams)
Grand Rapids, MN area, great Triple-A music and streaming to home and office.
WMFO 91.5 FM and on the web WWW.WMFO.ORG(streams)
Boston, Ma area covering the city with Triple-A and college music. Streams to the home and office.
KDNK FM 90.5 - 88.3 - 100.1 on the web at www.kdnk.org
Carbondale, Colorado area, this cool station is close to Aspen and hooked up to solar power!...really.. Thanks to Dr. Naft and DJ Flash. Mercy Creek had the pleasure of performing for these folks in studio.
WMKY FM on the web at www.wmkyradio.com
Moorehead, Ky area, great music and long tradition of supporting breaking artists.
KUWR FM on the web www.uwyo.edu/wpr(streams)
Laramie/Cheyenne, WY area helping spread Mercy Creek to the Rockies.
KVNF FM on the web at www.kvnf.org(streams)
Paonia, Colorado area, west of Denver in the beautiful Rockies.
WVOD 99.1 FM on the web at www.wvod.com
Thanks to "The Sound" for their support. A great triple a station reaching the Outer Banks thru Elizabeth City, NC.
WOBR 95.3 FM
Thanks to Frankie and Studio C for having us at the station and playing us! Check her out on Sundays at 10:00 Pm on the Outer Banks, NC.
102.1 FM The X on the web at www.1021thex.com
Thanks to Richmond, Va. and Jay Smack at The X for his support for Mercy Creek on Studio B
KSER 90.7 FM
Seattle, Washington, our thanks to Jennifer for the play on the west coast on The Sunlit Room!
WCVE
Thanks to George for play on The Electric Croude in Richmond, Va.
PBS WCVE TVand WCVE FM , The Community Idea Station
Our thanks to Mason and the crew at WCVE TV Richmond for continued support of Virginia music, and for featuring Mercy Creek live at Canal Club on PBS TV "The Music Scene"!
The Fox 99.3 FM
Broadcasting out of Winchester, Va. our thanks to Elwood for the Sunday night spins!
