Philadelphia, PA’s Mercury Girls features Sarah Schimineck, Kevin Attics, Andrew Hagiwara, Chris Schackerman, and Kevin O’Halloran. Schimineck, formerly of NYC Popfest alums Pet Milk is flanked by the shimmery and adventurous guitar interplay of Attics (Literature, former Pitchfork Media) and O’Halloran (of indie heroes Little Big League, Run For Cover Records). Hagiwara and Schackerman provide a sturdy rhythmic base, creating a sound that’s equally lush and driving, using Sarah Records-inspired pop as a basis for  savvy de-/reconstruction and sonic experimentation. Despite having only started in March of 2015, the group has achieved a lot. They’ve collected many endorsements, including those from Chickfactor Magazine, Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s Kip Berman and NPR,  they’ve shared the stage with bands such as Expert Alterations, Joanna Gruesome, Beverly, TEEN, Eternal Summers, and their 2016 SxSW visit was a head-turning, mind-melting blast.

Now they cap off their first year with the release of their debut single, Ariana.  While their sound uses classic indiepop as a jumping-off point, there are bits of shoegaze, post-punk and DIY punk in the mix that recall like-minded bands like Veronica Falls, Makthaverskan, Fear of Men and Frankie Rose. “Ariana” is gorgeous tangle of chorused, jangling guitars and Sarah’s dreamlike vocals. A marvelous two and a half minutes of perfect, forward-thinking pop.
Here we find the band sharing the AA-side and it forms a marvelous counterpoint to “Ariana.” “All That Heaven Allows” leans more on the band’s post-punk inspirations, marked by a careening rhythm and a huge chorus that will stick in your head for days.
The spring is looking to be fully scheduled with shows up and down the east coast, keeping the band busy while they write and record their highly-anticipated debut album, slated for release on Slumberland this fall.
Purchase it here: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/300
Upcoming shows:
June 11 – New York, New York at Cake Shop (with Flowers, Expert Alterations, DJs Kip Berman, Drew Citron, Bill Pearis)
June 14 – Philadelphia, PA at Johnny Brenda’s (with Flowers, Beverly)
July 01 – Philadelphia, PA at Johnny Brenda’s (with Fear of Men)
August 12 – Athens, GA (Athens Popfest)