With eight critically-acclaimed studio albums to their credit, Mercury Rev formed in Buffalo in the late 1980s. Two of Mercury Rev’s original members – three, if you count founding bassist Dave Fridmann, who still acts as the band’s producer – are still in the fold all these years later, Jonathan Donahue and Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak. In turn, Jonathan and Grasshopper have been there for all of the expected music industry peaks and valleys, including three full-length releases for V2; one of the V2 titles, 1998’s Deserter’s Songs, was deemed the best album of the year by NME.
2015’s The Light In You is Mercury Rev’s first new album in seven years. In support of The Light In You, Mercury Rev will be in town for an October 15th performance at Le Poisson Rouge as part of CMJ. Naturally, this isn’t the band’s first, second or third CMJ outing, and I was able to ask Grasshopper – whose becoming a father last year contributed to the long time between albums – about why Mercury Rev pops up so frequently during CMJ season within our Q&A.
How would you describe The Light In You to a long-time fan of your band?
Grasshopper: The Light In You is a cinematic psychedelic road trip that illuminates the child inside of all of us.
For someone who has never seen Mercury Rev in concert, what should they expect at Le Poisson Rouge?
G: They should expect to smile while crying as they are bathed in a kaleidoscopic myriad of sound, light, color and cosmic American music.
What do you remember about your first New York City concert?
G: The first time we played New York City was at Irving Plaza in 1993 with Ween. I remember it being very loud and being extremely nervous. I was pretty high back then, I don’t remember much, other than we were pretty happy with the show.
Any idea how many CMJ appearances the band has at this point? What is it about CMJ that keeps Mercury Rev so loyal?
G: I remember playing CMJ in 1995 at the Mercury Lounge with Gary Young Band [Editor’s Note: A band fronted by Gary Young from Pavement]. It was a real freak show! CMJ was always a great atmosphere. I remember seeing one of the first Superchunk shows in New York at CMJ and one of the first Teenage Fanclub shows also! Good times!
All of your albums have been recorded with Dave Fridmann at the helm. How was it discovered that you had a studio genius in your band?
G: I played in bands with Dave Fridmann before we were in Mercury Rev. We learned our way around the studio together. I introduced him to Jonathan [Donahue] and The Flaming Lips.
Mercury Rev has generally been a critic’s band in the States, while the band has legitimate chart hits in Europe and Australia. Is this discouraging? Or has that never even been a concern for you?
G: It has never been a real concern for us. Many of our favorite artists and musicians – like Captain Beefheart, Eric Dolphy, Miles Davis, and Alex Chilton — were more popular outside of the USA. It would be nice to be recognized here, but time will tell. In America, they love you when you’re dead.
When you’re not occupied with band activity, what do you like to do with yourself?
G: When not in Mercury Rev, I paint, I take photos, I play in a few instrumental bands, study Sicilian cooking, study esoteric philosophy, watch Harry Smith films, and read Beat writers.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
G: Kids, the light is in you, you just have to find the right switch to turn it on!
-by Darren Paltrowitz
