in if it is

IN IF IT IS was un-officially formed back in ’97 when guitarist/vocalist Marc Mercier and drummer/vocalist Darren Mercier began writing songs simply for their own enjoyment, after the demise of their previous band, and, a long hiatus from music. Endless jam sessions next to the ‘shoe-box ghetto’ spawned song after song after song. Their bare- bones, big-riff, busy style, gave them the sound of a two-piece sounding like a 4 piece. They tried bassists, vocalists, keyboardists, but, the hunt for another member, or members, was going nowhere. Despite this, they kept on writing songs. Even playing a few gigs as a two- piece, that were very well received.

The band’s name came from several attempts to define the band’s style or genre. “ We know what it isn’t, but, what is it? Rock? Blues? Funk? Metal? Jazz?” Marc put it simply:” It’s IN IF IT IS!” It stuck.

A few years went by, the project on the shelf, when one day at the dentist, Darren runs into bassist Terry Marchuk. Coincidently, the last time he had seen him, was in ’98, when Marc joined them for an impromptu jam session in a mutual friends basement. Little did they know at the time, that this would be the lineup for IN IF IT IS.

2004, finally, they had the missing piece. Or did they? For years, they were certain that they would be an instrumental band. However with the addition of Terry, it opened up many possibilities. The pressure was off the two cousins to fill the void of a third instrument, and it changed the songs, for the better. It was decided then to add a vocalist. Marc, an accomplished vocalist and lyricist, began writing words to the songs with the intent of having someone else sing them, freeing him up to concentrate on the guitar. In the waiting for a vocalist to come along, he began singing the words during rehearsals, coming up with vocal lines. It was the easiest decision they had to make as a band. They’d had their vocalist all along.

The band now complete, and armed with their own recording studio, (In studios) are now anxious to share their unique brand of music with anyone who will listen. What can you expect from an IN IF IT IS live show? The un-expected. A very dynamic, high- energy band, who love what they do. ALL their influences are represented, and they’re known to pay homage to them. Their songs have been described as: ‘different but familiar’, “intense’, and ‘very original’.
Keep your peepers peeled for the full-length album: “The movie”, coming out this summer!