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December 27, 2024, marks the release of Heavyweight, the first album by Omaha Americana band Jeremy Mercy and the Rapture Orphans. Recorded variously at Omaha’s ARC, Make Believe Studios, and the Omaha Conservatory of music, all tracks were produced and mixed by Ian Aeillo and mastered by Doug VanSloun.
Mercy’s work with the Rapture Orphans has marked a departure from his earlier project Travelling Mercies (2009 -2019) in scope and sound. “My work with the new band on Heavyweight has been less focused on character sketches amidst a stylistic free-for-all. This is more about dealing honestly with my inner life and expressing it through a more coherent sound,” says Mercy. “The title Heavyweight absolutely evokes some macho, tough-guy bullshit, but is really about struggling with the weight of my own heart. The two of us have been going at it for years. It’s definitely the most I’ve shown of myself emotionally in my writing and performance.”
The Heavyweight cast features an Omaha music scene dream team: GeorgeAnne Prescott on banjo and lap steel, Danny Burns on bass, Lee Gambrel on drums, and Kate Williams on accordion and keys (Clayton Goliath Pace now serves as the group’s bass player). The album also features the work of Nate Fowler, Scott Johnson, and Eric Elworth. Oliver Bates Craven of the Stray Birds and Sierra Ferrell’s band also makes an unforgettable appearance with his fiddle solo on “The Contender.”
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Scott Severin redefines eclectic. Born “sometime during the Kennedy administration,” this songwriter/performance artist has been a folkie, punk rocker, actor and street performer. He incorporates musical styles from Folk, Punk, Country & Western and Americana, as well as traditional Rock & Roll. A native New Yorker, he relocated to Nebraska about two decades ago.
Produced by legendary musician Steve Burgh, his debut album “Unknown Rider” was released in 2004, followed by “Birdhouse Obbligato”, recorded in Nebraska in 2010 with noted keyboardist Joe Delia. In 2022, Scott and his partner, Stateleigh Holmes, contributed their cover of Eric Andersen’s song “Woman, She Was Gentle” to a three CD Tribute of Eric’s songs “Tribute To A Songpoet”.
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Stateleigh Homes began her music career playing solo at the historic Caffe Lena in 1975. Her two-woman duo, Mechanical Servants, had an NME-charting EP in the UK and an indy hit in Japan in 1980. Stateleigh then moved to London where she worked with Barry Adamson, Dave Formula and John Davidson of the iconic British band, Magazine. While still living in the UK, Stateleigh recorded an EP for Bomp Records in LA that was produced by Earl Mankey, an original member of Sparks. Stateleigh also sang on and toured in support of Howard Devoto’s solo album, Jerky Versions Of The Dream. Miss Holmes has written and collaborated on recordings with Jerry Dammers of The Specials as well. Stateleigh has worked with the legendary producers Pete Anderson, Richard Gottehrer, Adrian Sherwood and Earle Mankey. Upon returning to the US, Stateleigh played with storied NYC rock band, Big Iron, before decamping to Nashville. Somewhere in there, our Miss Holmes decided she’d like a normal life but now she’s back and bringing all this and more to you! xxooxxx
