Mercy Union kommen aus New Jersey und bestehen aus Jared Hart (Leadgesang & Rhytmusgitarre), Rocly Catanese (Leadgitarre & Vox) und Nick Jprgensen (Bass). Die Musiker kombinieren ihre individuellen Stile zu einem einzigartigen Sound, der bewegt. Nach ihrem Debüt Album „The Quarry“ (2018) erschien im August 2022 das aktuelle Album „White Tiger“. Im April geht’s auf Tour durch Deutschland und die Schweiz. Anlässlich dessen hatten wir die Gelegenheit Jared ein paar Fragen über das Album und die Tour zu stellen.
Frontstage Magazine: A few months ago, your album „White Tiger“ was released. For the people who don’t know it yet – how would you describe it with only 3 words?
Jared Hart: Nineteen Ninety Eight
Frontstage Magazine: What is your favourite song from this album and why?
Jared: That’s kind of like asking someone who their favorite kid is and let’s be honest; everyone has a favorite. I’d say my tracks from ‘White Tiger’ are tied between ‘The Void’, ‘Redeye’, and ‘Janeway’. The Void because that song just rips, Redeye because we did things on that track that I never thought we could pull off, and Janeway because it was the first time in our 10+ year musical friendship that Rocky and I sang on a song like that together.
Frontstage Magazine: Which song are you most looking forward to playing live (again)?
Jared: I love playing ‘The Weekend’ live, especially if people haven’t heard it before. It’s a great transition because it starts out a little sleepy and relaxed and by the end you’re on another planet. Other than that, this Failure cover that we’re working on…
Frontstage Magazine: In April your tour starts across Germany (and with a gig in Switzerland). What are you looking forward to the most?
Jared: Watching Inception on the plane while trying to see how many free drinks it takes to get cut off, eating entirely too much bread, seeing all of our old friends, keeping track of how much ice cream Rocky eats, making Gunnar buy me a kebab after the show, playing songs, wiping the bar out of feffi, driving Hage insane, the list goes on.
Frontstage Magazine: What can the audience look forward to?
Jared: The audience can look forward to the four of us leaving it all out there every night. We’re really excited to have a longer set to play a lot of songs we normally wouldn’t be able to.
Frontstage Magazine: How do you prepare for a show? Do you have „rituals“?
Jared: I think we all have different ones. I try to get a good walk in before the doors open. Mostly just try to keep the afternoon as easy and stress-free as possible.
Frontstage Magazine: You will be travelling in Germany for quite a while now? Have you learned a little German?
Jared: The tiniest bit, and unfortunately mostly bad words. It’s a priority of mine to start taking the time and getting a bit of conversational German under my belt. When I first came over in 2014, I had this idea that it could be my only time. Fast forward almost a decade and I need to step my game up.
Frontstage Magazine: To what extent is the audience in Germany different from the audience in the US?
Jared: The audience in Germany are some of the most respectful audience members you can ever play in front of. They have an amazing read on the artists and other patrons around them and I’ve rarely come across an issue in the crowd of a German show. They’ll stay for the whole set, give valid and honest feedback, and if they liked it you might see them show up to one or two more shows on the tour. They’re an audience that knows how to make a band feel appreciated, and I hope we can give some of that same love and respect back when we play.
Frontstage Magazine: Are there big differences between touring in Germany (and Europe) and touring in the U.S.?
Jared: Of course. The obvious is not having to worry about how you’re going to eat or where you’re going to sleep. People come out to shows on week nights. The drives are way shorter and don’t suck the life out of whoever is driving. The vegan fast food options are abundant. I can walk down the street and buy a beer at midnight if I want one. I don’t love the fact that you can bet behind someone who is playing Blackjack, but if that’s my biggest complaint then that’s a good thing.
Frontstage Magazine: Is there a place (festival/venue, etc) where you would definitely like to play at some point?
Jared: We’re excited to play anywhere. Bars, venues, arcades, back alley casinos, speakeasy’s, libraries, museums, airports, shoe stores, vegetable farms, Weserstadion, dog rescues, and everywhere in between. What about your living room?
And finally: is there one more thing you absolutely had to say in an interview?
Jared: Take care of each other. It’s really not that difficult to be decent. Also, listen to White Tiger.
Wir präsentieren euch die Tour in Zusammenarbeit mit Spider Promotion.
18.04.23 Leipzig Werk 2
19.04.23 Hamburg Astra Stube
20.04.23 Braunschweig B58
21.04.23 Langenberg KGB
22.04.23 Saarbrücken Studio 30
23.04.23 Hannover Béi Chéz Heinz
25.04.23 Konstanz Kulturladen
26.04.23 Solothurn (CH) Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
27.04.23 Karlsruhe Alte Hackerei
28.04.23 Oberhausen Druckluft
29.04.23 Wiesbaden Kreativfabrik
30.04.23 Köln MTC
Tickets DE: spider-promotion.de/tickets
Tickets CH: ticketcorner.ch
Fotocredit: David Patiño
