A new band from Vancouver will be coming to Olds this week, bringing with it a local Didsbury flavour.
MERGE, a melodic four-piece rock band, will be playing at Tracks Pub on Friday, Nov. 11.
The band is currently getting airplay for its new single “Wreckage” in Olds on radio station ROCK 104.
MERGE consists of lead singer David Anthony, drummer Mac White, bassist Warren Stecaly, and former Didsbury resident and lead guitarist and backup vocalist Steve McMullen.
McMullen was born in Red Deer, but grew up in Didsbury, living there for 21 years before pursuing a career in music more actively in Vancouver.
“As a kid, I always had an interest in music, I was embedded in rock,” said McMullen. “Vancouver tends to be a more vibrant music community in general, with good music and great feeling out here. I felt that it was a good move in trying to pursue a music career.”
McMullen was first hired by Anthony to join Anthony's former band, the David Anthony Project, and the two hit it off.
“There was really good energy writing together, there was chemistry right away,” said Anthony.
White and Stecaly later joined the new musical endeavour, and MERGE was born.
The band name comes from the blend of rock music styles, Anthony said. Both he and McMullen share different rock influences, with Anthony very much inspired by the Beatles and McMullen having grown up with Metallica and the influence of late '90s heavy and rap-rock sounds.
As a four-piece group, Anthony said, the chemistry is great and playing together has been a blast.
“It's always fun – why would you be doing it if you're not having fun?” he said. “It's about having as much fun as possible, it's the energy of life. We do get down and dirty and work hard too, but music is an exciting part of life and we're living it.”
Their new radio single is the first for the band, and has been receiving good response so far, according to McMullen.
“When I started writing the song, a female friend of mine had gone through a breakup,” said Anthony. “Everyone's had their heart broken after a while by something. It's about going out and trying to forget that stinky stuff.”
McMullen and Anthony hope that MERGE's shows continue, hopefully across Canada, to large or small venues to get a taste for the country and provinces and their various music scenes.
“Radio play takes us where we need to go,” said Anthony.
After living in Vancouver for more than five years, McMullen said is anticipating the trip home.
“A lot of friends I haven't seen since graduation – it will be a neat opportunity for me to see them again,” he said.
For more information about MERGE, visit www.facebook.com/mergeband
