A Clothes Horse With Mercy Arms

Some say that clothes maketh the man. Similarly, an outfit can maketh the musician. When you cast your minds back over the different periods in music, from the fifties to today, each era conjures up a distinctive look, with the rocker alongside the hippy; the punk versus the glam-rocker; and let’s not forget the purveyors of grunge and emo. Yet one item of clothing is fairly common to each of the aforementioned times and genres, the humble pair of jeans. That thing synonymous with youthful rebellion has allowed Levis to vertically integrate with the music industry by setting up a new record label, Levity. The Dwarf spoke to Thom Moore, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the Mercy Arms, Levity’s newest signing.

Some musicians may have been weary about signing with what most would consider a fashion label, but Thom offers us a mature perspective, far beyond his twenty-one years. “We were a little bit apprehensive before we’d met them, because obviously it’s owned by, and is an initiative of Levi. We didn’t really want to be brand whores (pause), band brand whores! It sort of worked out well because we’re ready to release our first EP here and they seem to be doing good things. And it is not so much us saying, or endorsing their product, as it is them endorsing our music. They were lovely people and when it comes to wearing jeans, Levis aren’t a bad choice”.

A fine, subliminal plug, but you do have to hand it to Thom when he argues that both Madonna and Iggy Pop wore Levis, even if we both agree that Messer Pop would have soiled his pair many times over the years. Yet, has laundry or other domestic chores ever been considered by the populace to be synonymous with rock n’ roll? “Not very. Although I do like a fresh-pressed shirt…I don’t personally do it. I generally hand it over to a drycleaner, because if it’s my washing it gets out of the wash and onto the floor.” Poor Thom found he couldn’t get his mum to perform this task recently. “(Instead) she’ll say, ‘Now come and watch.’ I think I’ve watched a shirt being pressed about fifty times, it’s not very entertaining”.

Thankfully a more amusing subject is the band’s debut EP, Kept Low. Recorded over a space of a year and a half in Thom’s Sydney home, a studio in Adelaide and Big Jesus Burger Studios in Sydney, it plays more like diary about what the band has achieved in that time. Also, this unique recording provides a more entertaining experience than more conventionally produced recordings. The band utilised the sporadic recording process because they had inadequate funds and at the time, felt they were not yet ready to record an album. Despite this, the band have not wasted any time, as most articles boast the fact that the average age of the group is twenty-one, meaning they are only at the start of what will hopefully be long and industrious music careers. Nevertheless, Thom mentions what other options he had considered before deciding to pursue his current vocation.

“I’d like to be a Med student…I was enrolled to go to university before the band. I’ve only been out (of high school) since 2004. I’m young and youthful, a mere twenty-one. I was enrolled to do Arts/Law, (despite being) a little bit boring. I liked working and studying. I’ve always read a lot and I did a lot of history in school in my final year. So that was the Art and the Law was just to make some money”.

When prompted about his favourite era in history, Thom replies, “I have a bit of fascination with the Mediterranean, for some reason. I love Italy and the lifestyle, the culture, the language, everything. So I was extremely interested during high school in European history. (It’s) a bit nerdy (and) scholarly”. While this may not fit rock’s rough image, Thom adds, “You just have to be willing to douse it in alcohol”.

Not a bad suggestion for a guy who prefers a good red wine after dinner than other stronger beverages. Another desire of Thom’s is to emulate Morrisey’s path to riches. Thom explains, “Well you end up in Italy. You have the fanatical fan; that would be pretty fun. But I dunno, the whole homosexuality thing is not really my bag. But I can keep to a tee on most of the other things, the arrogance and all of the other sort of things”. Putting on his most pompous tone he adds, “So are we DONE here?”

Not quite, as the conversation turns to the group’s sound and in particular, their unique approach to playing guitar. Why did they choose this direction? “Because that’s what we like in a band and what we wanted. Which is a sort of sincere, melodic vocal but juxtaposed by heavy industrial-like noise that you can get from a guitar. And that’s always been what Kirin (Callinan, guitars) does on guitar. He’s more interested in the havoc he can make with a combination of different box effects. Whereas, I’ve been interested in the pretty melody I can write. And that’s what our strengths have become, I think”.

In addition, Kirin is in part responsible for the band’s upcoming co-headline tour with the young, Sydney quartet, Ghostwood. The latter group introduced themselves to Kirin after seeing the Mercy Arms perform a few shows. And the combination seems like a reasonable one, with both bands on the verge of releasing debut EPs and having members of comparable ages.

After this tour, the Mercy Arms will be basing themselves in East London, England for six months. “We’re going to show them what an Australian band’s like, besides like Wolfmother and The Presets. We will fill another void”.

The English sabbatical can be a fruitful experience, albeit a slightly tough one. Has Thom got any secrets to help the band survive in England? “Rich Girlfriends. I think an aristocrat girlfriend could take me a long way”.

This begs the question of whether the record companies provide them. In an outraged tone he replies, “They don’t! It’s not part of the contract. You’ve got to go out and find your own, but I have confidence that I will succeed”.

Thom plans to achieve this by wearing a Panama hat. “I’m more a Panama-man than a Trilby. The Panama is sort of summery, it suggests a warmer climate…it’s also a bit more wanky”.

So does it pay to be wanky in rock n roll?
“I think it is certainly more acceptable than in other areas. So take from that what you will…(Remember) no one likes a boring rock star”.

Before closing I must direct our rich, English readers to keep your eyes pealed for the debonair Thom and his Panama, because he’ll be in town soon, to do some courting. So some say that clothes maketh the man? Make that, hats maketh the man and milliners better beware a new influx of rock devotees.

Mercy Arms Play

30 Aug 2007- Rocket Room Perth, Western Australia
31 Aug 2007- Rocket Room Perth, Western Australia
1 Sep 2007- Globe Theatre Brisbane, Queensland

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