By TANIA PHILLIPS
IT’S hard not to know Thirsty Merc are touring – or maybe it is.
A month ago the band were in the news for all the wrong reasons with an accident claiming the life of their stage manager Shane Cooper and putting their drummer Mick Skelton in hospital.
And while it would be trite to say “the show must go on”, Thirsty Merc are soldiering on and according to lead vocalist Rai Thistlewayte “musically very strong”.
“There is a lot of love in the room from the crowd it’s been amazing – the support has been a bit overwhelming it has been amazing from everyone,” Rai Thistlethwayte said.
The music community has banded behind them – with a drummer, due to play on some of the gigs already, stepping in to help.
And while their friends are never far from their thoughts it seems like being on stage is the best medicine for the band.
Thirsty burst onto the Australian music landscape 12 years ago – an intoxicating blend of intelligent lyrics and foot-tapping music in a world of sometimes over-written inane words and samey rhythms.
They were a musical breath of fresh air and their catchy music and the rather heart-felt lyrics of lead vocalist Rai Thistlethwayte struck a chord. Since then they’ve produced radio staples like 20 Good Reasons, Someday Someday, Mousetrap Heart and In The Summertime.
Fast forward to 2015 and after selling over 200,000 records with Warner Music, this time around the band tackled the recording and release of their fourth studio album – Shifting Gears – and first new material in five years, independently, and very differently.
And then they headed out on tour and while The Good Life Tour hasn’t been what Rai, Phil Stack (bass) and Matt Smith (guitar) expected it has taught them a lot.
Thirsty Merc will play Saturday 24 October at Villa Noosa, Noosa. Tickets available from www.villanoosa.com.au/whats_on
