Album Notes

Known for it's steadfast ability to produce cutting-edge artists by the likes of Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins, and Ministry, Chicago, IL has long had a reputation for creating the "next big music scene." In early 2001, four musician's adopted this philosophy and began writing and rehearsing music that would be a dichotomy of what all of these artists represented.

The name Holding Mercury was given to this project for all the right reasons. Symbolically speaking, it is not possible to physically hold the element mercury - just as it is not possible to identify a single word to label the band. There is no equation to the sound that was created - but what was to ensue was a catalog, a jet-set if you will, of songs with high-energy melodic and memorable hooks. To label the music rock or Emo-alternative is insignificant, instead, comments often heard that flow through the buzz that follows Holding Mercury wherever they go do not tie Holding Mercury to a specific musical genre. What is most memorable to those who have witnessed a Holding Mercury performance, is the potent vocal harmonies, driving guitars, and uncompromising live energy that make it not just another rock and roll show, but a live experience.

As members of a scene in which local talent is in abundance, Holding Mercury has been able to accelerate through ranks in just under two years. After touring numerous recording studio's during the winter of 2001, Holding Mercury chose to record their six-song EP at Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago. Owned and operated by Steve Albini (Nirvana, Bush, and Page/Plant), Electrical Audio offered a superb blend of modern and vintage production capabilities, that engineer Robert Marshall was able to maximize during the recording and mixing phase. These capabilities, along with high-energy musicianship proved to produce a product that most cannot stop listening to.

Since the release of their self-titled EP in May of 2002, Holding Mercury has been featured on 94.7 the Zone, WXRT and 107.1 The Planet in Champaign, IL. They were also part of the 2002 MOBfest music industry show case that featured Chicago's best talent at well-known area venues. These positive accolades are just the beginning in a string of success yet to come for this dynamic group. Bottom line is there is a lot about Holding Mercury to like, and a lot of promise for HM to make Chicago proud.