Music Review: Merrick Reunites at Bordello

I spent last Tuesday and Wednesday evening at Bordello in downtown Los Angeles soaking up the reunion of Merrick, a loved and local band whose official first run lasted from about 1998 to 2003. After lying somewhat dormant during the stretch of time from then to now, they seem to be reanimating.

Merrick’s overall instrumentation is Bryony Atkinson (vocals, bass guitar) and Inara George (vocals, guitar) leading the charge at the front of the stage. Scott Seiver holds down the drums while Joe Karnes plays upright bass (notably with a bow), Amir Yaghmai plays violin and Tim Aaron plays an additional guitar.

(For YouTube video of the performance continue to the bottom of the article…)

One of the major draws of this band is Bryony and Inara singing in tandem, alternating lines within single verses, backing each other up, and taking harmonies. Their voices are very complimentary, and the material sophisticated, leaving ample space for every instrument and idea.

The stage was set with chairs for all the members to make full. A single table stood at the center of the stage where the two leading ladies set their matching stemmed glasses of white wine.

Merrick opened the doors to both past and future with Ladders to Fire, the first song from their first release. It’s about climbing towards greatness & intensity: fire, while swimming through the muck of one’s internal contradictions. Poignant lyrics illustrate both stillness and ascent in the verse as the girls sing in monotone, “lifting her skirt like a Mormon hooked on junk, like a two hour day, like a monkey like a monk,” and in a beautifully melodic B-section, they go further and get more specific by singing, “you’re weak, coming on strong.” Already the drama is dark and thick while Amir paints his weeping violin in broad strokes across the entirety of the song.

The girls thanked the crowd in unison, lifted their wine glasses, interlocked elbows like newlyweds, and took sips. They then slid into Automatic, another offering from their debut. This song has multiple hooks in every department. Even if you had never heard Merrick before you could begin to understand what makes them such a beloved sensation, even after a few years’ hiatus.

Sugar Tooth has been in my head for days now. Lyrically, the song opens with Inara singing the words, “My synthetic life…” and Bryony finishing her sentence with, “Baby aspirin moon over Echo Park….”. Their lyrics had once again succeeded at puncturing holes in the floor of my depth to expand it. This band’s view of the world is so unique that it adds new expressions to one’s vocabulary. I had never compared the moon to an aspirin, but Merrick is mind altering! When this song was performed on the second night it gave me chills all the way through.

Merrick have 2 albums – the first is self titled and the follow up is “Drive Around A Lot Hard and Fast Driving Club.” Both are available on iTunes, and I highly recommend that you do your soul a favor and download them. Every single song is truly accomplished, emotionally evocative, and will spark an “I wish I wrote that!” sense of envy in many a songwriter.

It may also be of interest to some that all of these musicians are equally gifted, play in popular bands, and that Merrick’s song Infinity has been featured on Grey’s Anatomy.

In closing, dear readers, always remember that there are white-hot talents on all of the small stages in Los Angeles. This is no one star town, folks, that is most certain. It’s highly advisable (by me!!) to get out there and become a live music fan. You will not be disappointed.

Flick

Shell Shocked Lizzie