"Big Dog" Mercer

Big Dog Mercer
Thanks to my editor Karen, I had the opportunity to listen to a nice stack of new promo material.
This CD grabbed me on the first listen and wouldn't let go.
In this day of mostly faceless, talent-challenged pretenders,
it's nice to know that there are still real aftists working their butts off hoping for some exposure and maybe even a big break.
With the release of the self-titled Big Dog Mercer, the Joliet-based southpaw guitarist and blues shouter presents an album of powerful vocals
and fiery guitar and slide work. Clean and focused riffs over a gr€at rhythm section and excellent keyboard work by Bobby Scumaci give these guys a
tight, cohesive sound.
"Big Dog" Mercer (AKA Marty Mercer) has spent the last ten years prowling and growling his way through the tough Chicago blues scene.
At first the Big Dog started showing up at local jam nights at bars.
His incendiary original style earned him a rabid following, and soon the word spread on the street about the big man from Joliet Jake's hometown.
This is Big Dog's third full-length album, and he knows how to open with a wild burst of energy and some excellent guitar work on "Big Dog Blues,"
an autobiographical story of how Big Dog got his nickname.
Some nice touches of humor to the lyrics, also. Next comes one of Big Dog's most angry: hard hitting songs called "Some Other Fool.”
The first time I heard this song I was hooked. The man plays every note with so much passion and style.
Big Dog credits blues legend Lonnie Brooks for teaching him to play every note, In every song, like it might be his last.
Another powerful tale follows with "Drinkin' Blues," where Big Dog expresses the pain and hard dues he paid during his drinking days.
Thankfully he listened to the "lil voice inside his head" and got off his self destructive path and wrote some real smokin’ blues about it.
On "Big Dog Will Treat You Right" we are treated to some awesome slide licks . One of my favorites from the album, though, is "Stickin' Pins Into Me."
Danger and evil come in many forms, and here Big Dog wonders if some woman is using a Voodoo doll on him because it keeps hurting like hell over and over.
Great blues song!
Big Dog and his band have shared the stage with blues superstars such as Kim Wilson and The Fabulous T:Birds, Lonnie and Ronnie Baker Brooks,
Larry McCray, Billy Branch & S.O.B’s, Mud Morganfield, and many others.
All of them are quick to shower praise and respect on the burly blues man.
Big Dog likes to quote the old blues adage, "The musician doesn't pick the blues,. the blues picks the musician." Big Dog captures the
soul of what real blues is about.
Whether it's the growl in his big voice or the nasty, aggressive slide licks he tosses around like candy, I've found this is one
big dog you should adopt and take home with you.
Like the man said: "Big Dog Will Treat You Right
–
Bruce Weber. Missippi Valley Blues Society
Oct. 2012 - Missippi Valley Blues Society

One of the fun things abut reviewing music is that you get a lot of stuff from guys and gals you have never heard of to review. On the surface that could sound like it was a bad thing. What I have found is that more often than not it is a local artist who is working their craft, trying to get some exposure. For good, bad or indifferent, I have also found that there are a lot of pretty damn good guitar players, musicians and singers out there and some of them can write pretty good original songs. Marty Mercereau (aka Big Dog Mercer) is one of them.

A Wisconsin boy schooled in Chicago blues, Marty has won accolades in Chicago and its' south suburban areas for his guitar play, vocals and band. The CD is on a growing label and for the most part was recorded live in the studio with no over dubs, so what you hear is what they've got. He proudly claims to have only used Delay and Wah pedals only on one tracks and that he plugged directly into the amp and played.

Big Dog is on guitar and vocals, Bobby Scumaci is on B3 and piano, John Huet and Doug Horan share the bass duties and Larry "The Animal" Ortega is on drums. The band is focused and tight throughout and the songs are all original and written by Mercer. The band seems to have done their time together and work as a team. The sound is big and driving but not overpowering. Clean riffs and leads, really good backline stuff, and (when featured) the organ and keys are savory and sweet.

Mercer starts with the semi-biographical "Big Dog's Blues", a hot and romping track with nice piano and guitar solos. He's "been in the doghouse so long" that they now "call me the big dog" won't win him any Pulitzer prizes, but it sure is fun. He bemoans being plagued by a voodoo doll in "Stickin' Pins Into Me," another driving and rocking track with good guitar. The Delay and Wah are not overdone on "Wimmen Trouble" and his vocals also sell this one. "Some Other Fool" gives us some more driving beat and throbbing guitar with some gutsy vocals that remind me a bit of a gruffer styled Warren Haynes. Mercer adds a stinging guitar solo, too. Slow and real down and dirty blues are what we get with "Drinkin' Blues;"nice opening guitar work and we finally get to hear the B3. He sings of the life in taverns and quitting drinking. Well done.

Marty then rocks out a bit with "Prelude", a nice instrumental more in the rock vein. "Helpless" is a bluesy southern rock sounding testimonial where Mercer describes he s helpless and asks God's assistance. The slide reminds me a little of Dickey Betts on this one. He picks up the pace on "It's Because of You, " a somewhat frantic and rocking blues. "Big Dog Will Treat You Right" is more gutsy vocals and driving guitar, and he describes his Big Dog prowess with the "wimmen." Closing up is "Thank You, Jesus," classic slow blues where we get to hear the B3 again where this time they send us to Church. He thanks the Savior for what he's done for the Big Dog. I especially love the big organ solo followed by the guitar solo here.

This is a good CD and a fun listen over all. No bad songs, some really good ones and a nice overall sound. I loved the vocals and guitar and the keys/B3 on 3 tracks were excellent. I enjoyed a taste of the Big Dog's music and I hope to see him live- !
Reviewer Steve Jones is president of the Crossroads Blues Society - Blues Blast Magazine

Marty “Big Dog” Mercer has been playing around Chicago for over ten years and has recently released his latest, self-titled, CD. The majority of the record was recorded live in the studio and it certainly captures that feel in an incredibly unique way. Mercer, who wrote the entire ten songs, adeptly handles all the guitar and vocal duties along with Bobby Scumaci on keyboards, Larry Ortega on drums and both John Huet and Doug Horan sharing the bass chores.

The album opens rapidly enough with Big Dog’s Blues complimented by some boogie woogie piano and is followed by one of the standout tracks, Stickin’ Pins Into Me. Mercer switches up his bluesy mode into a quick funk style which succeeds on that level as does the next tune, Wimmen Trouble, in which he slows things down with a tough feel and some very nice wah-wah pedal work on the first solo.

A little over midway through the record, we find the band running through the lone instrumental, Prelude. This song reflects Mercer’s vocals which are very much like his guitar playing, melodic, yet appropriately gruff at the opportune moments.

The record completes a fine journey with the gospel influenced Thank You, Jesus, complete with Scumaci’s Hammond B3 and more of Mercer’s contemplative solos.

Big Dog’s Blues is an unyielding endeavor from start to finish. It is primarily a heavy album, without being heavy-handed. Mercer and his more than capable band have put together a piece of work that ought to be noted as one of the top local blues records of the past year. It should be interesting to see what they come up with next.

Geoff Trubow
Chicago Blues Guide
2/14/12 - Chicago Blues Guide