The Wicked Mercy

Sometimes it’s hard to pick a show. There’s never a shortage of live acts playing around town, but I have to tell you that this Saturday night presents a serious conundrum for a musical generalist such as myself.

Do I recommend you go see the intense, sweaty blues-rock of The Wicked Mercy (Irene’s Pub), or does my more mellow-and-arty side tell you to check out the orchestral folk of Her Harbour (St. Luke’s Church)? - ottawa citizen

Ottawa Valley music lovers will be among the first to hear live tracks from the self-titled debut album of an Ottawa-based blues/rock band that recently added a local drummer to the mix.

After a year of playing shows around Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, The Wicked Mercy is releasing its first album – The Wicked Mercy. The band is celebrating the accomplishment with a CD launch party at Westside Tap and Grill April 26.

The show is the beginning of what promises to be a busy summer for the up and coming band which features Case Bronson on vocals, Red Bronson and Dave Nado on guitar, Mark Sudiacal on bass and the newest addition Pembroke's own Corey Zadorozny on drums.

Because the CD was recorded in Pembroke at French Kiss Studios and produced and mixed by Jordan Zadorozny, the group thought it was only fitting to launch the CD locally. The Wicked Mercy is also holding a second launch event April 27 at Irene's Pub.

The band began recording the album last fall and finished by the end of 2012. Corey met the band through his brother. He was just finishing up another project when he learned The Wicked Mercy's previous drummer was moving onto other things, so the timing was perfect. He got to play on the final track of the album, which features nine original songs, some of which the band members wrote together and others where they wrote their own parts and worked on the arrangements as a group.

“We like to write tunes that we love to hear and love playing,” Case said. “The album has nine songs and we think it sounds pretty damn good. Our sound is pretty rockin' and up beat with some blues in there too.”

Zadorozny has already played four shows with the band, including a successful gig headlining at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, Que.

“It's getting a lot more fun as I learn the material, so I can relax a bit,” said the drummer who's had previous stints with The Sam Roberts Band, Searson, CYR and Daydreams for Dollars.

Zadorozny's new bandmates are also enjoying the addition.

“We love playing with Corey, he brings new life to the band,” Nado said. “He's also bringing some wisdom about experiences with other groups, so that's helpful.”

Since getting together the band has rehearsed in LaPasse at the cottage of Zadorozny's father Peter Dawson and Case Bronson also has connections to the area as he spent summers in LaPasse with family and he has family scattered throughout the Ottawa Valley, including his grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. Bronson is looking forward to having some of them at the show.

“Playing in front of family and friends is always a fun time,” he said.

The CD launch begins at 9 p.m. with opening acts AM Radio, JJ Staley and Cody Labombard. It is a free show.

The Wicked Mercy, which is often compared to the sounds of The Sheepdogs and Black Keys, is looking forward to a busy summer and spring. They are currently scheduled to play at The Silver Dollar in Toronto May 9, in St. Catharines May 11, at Shackapalooza 2013 in CFB Petawawa June 22 and RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest in Ottawa July 13.

The Wicked Mercy's self-titled album will be available from the band's online sites, Itunes, and select independent retailers Tuesday April 23.

Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist

Twitter: @TPeplinskieOBS

tina.peplinskie@sunmedia.ca
- Sun Media