Hey Mercedes' first release was a Self Titled EP on Polyvinyl Records. Soon after its release, they signed to Vagrant Records and started touring for support of their upcoming Vagrant full length. In 2001 alone, they performed 114 shows. After the release of the band's first full length at the end of 2001, Dawursk left the band and was replaced with Mike Shumaker. With 2 full lengths, 3 EP's and 358 shows under their belt, Hey Mercedes called it quits. Their final show (#359) was at the Metro in Chicago on April 23rd of 2005.
In a 2007 e-mail campaign, Threadless Tees reported that Hey Mercedes would play at the Metro, to celebrate the grand opening of the company's Chicago store.
Spread Eagle, Wisconsin is a place best known for water, wilderness and paintings of the local ducks. Now it can take credit for LOSES CONTROL, the long-awaited second album from Hey Mercedes. As powerful as it is melodic, the follow-up to 2001's "Everynight Fire Works" finds the midwestern foursome's sharp, wounded songs crackling in a guitar-driven bonfire set by producers Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Dinosaur Jr., Mighty Mighty Bosstones).
From the instantly catchy anthem "Quality Revenge At Last" to the more insinuating closer "Go Drone," LOSES CONTROL is remarkably tight and accomplished for a sophomore effort -- though not without good reason. Prior to forming Hey Mercedes guitarist/vocalist Robert Nanna, bassist Todd Bell and drummer Damon Atkinson played together in Braid, a band often referred to as "emo pioneers," though you probably won't find the trio pleading guilty to either description. Nanna and Bell have been musical compadres since 1993, coming together at the University of Illinois as fans of Chicago punk bands like Naked Raygun and Screeching Weasel, while Atkinson joined them in 1997. Braid broke up two years later with five studio albums and several hundred shows behind them, "but it was just so obvious that we needed to keep playing," Nanna says.
The trick was to go down a different path, not just in terms of music, but logistics -- having done everything themselves for years and years, they wanted to stay connected to that grass roots ethic while cutting down on both genuine despair and "Spinal Tap"-like moments. "It's hard to focus on writing honest music when you're 3000 dollars in debt or have three more shows to book, or the show just got cancelled 'cause the cops came," Nanna says.
This time, there'd be a record label and a more patient approach. Joined by guitarist Mark Dawursk, Hey Mercedes played their first show in August of 2000, put out an EP on Polyvinyl and spent the next year touring and developing their sound. Vagrant released "Everynight Fire Works," produced and engineered by old friend J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines), in April 2001. It earned rave reviews, including Audio Galaxy's Album of the Year and a Top 5 position on the CMJ chart. Along the way, the band racked up their usual 200-plus shows per annum, including the sold-out Vagrant America tour and bills with Jimmy Eat World, New End Original and Saves the Day. They also found the time to share themselves with fans on a regular basis via "Are You Wearing A Wire?" a collectively written "blog" that can be found on the band's web site.
2002 saw the release of "The Weekend EP," as well as a personnel change - Clevelander Michael Shumaker stepped in for Dawursk, adding an enthusiasm for AC/DC and an eagerness to merely play guitar after fronting his own band Sheilbound.
LOSES CONTROL was recorded at Slade and Kolderie's studio in Cambridge, MA. The band went into the session’s half-afraid the unfamiliar knob-twirlers would impose a different style, but the veteran duo made sure Hey Mercedes' particular quirks and uniqueness were always at the fore. They broke down every part of every song in pre-production, built an amazing set of drums for Damon and gave Robert and Michael access to some three dozen guitars. "Because they knew our songs so well they knew which guitars would sound good on different parts of every song," Nanna says. "The guitars are awesome, really layered -- they just sound big and fat.
"I think overall LOSES CONTROL is just more of a rockin' record than Fire Works," he adds. "It's really loud and in your face. Though lyrically, it's pretty bleak and desolate."
Nanna's vocals bridge the gap between those poles, whether he's locked into "Boy Destroyers"' riff-o-rama or bringing a melancholy overtone to the textured spaciness of "Absolute Zero Drive" (a song the band had earmarked as B-side until Slade and Kolderie convinced them otherwise). Another highlight is "Lashing Out," angry/catchy pop-punk that unexpectedly mutates into a sweet lyrical homage to Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" - a couplet Bob sang while the song was being written, then couldn't bring himself to drop.
And what of Spread Eagle? The band - three-quarters of whom currently reside in Atkinson's hometown of Milwaukee, with Nanna two hours away in suburban Chicago -- wrote much of LOSES CONTROL at a friend's home there, just a few miles from Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
"It was probably a drunk moment," Nanna says. "We were like, 'y'know, what we should do is find someone with a cabin or a trailer someplace far away in the woods, where we can be as loud as we want for as long as we want, in total seclusion." So they dragged all their gear and a little bit of soundproofing up to Spread Eagle for two weeks of playing, writing, cooking and canoeing. "And we didn't go crazy," he marvels. "It wasn't like 'The Shining.'"
Except maybe for this: Whether you're talking King or Kubrick, "The Shining" stands the test of time. LOSES CONTROL is a dynamite rock'n'roll record that's bound to do the same.
Oh Penny
Hey Mercedes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's about to begin
So write do it on your wrist and dig in
Cold cold Chicago
Go-go dance out the door
Before your party gets bored and ignores you
It's getting harder now to move all your dreams
And all the things that you need wave as they leave
Makes a mess of this man
If there's a simpler plan than please speak
Cause we're in trouble now
Our underground
We're in trouble now
And I don't believe you
We're in trouble now
Dear underground
We're in trouble now
And I don't believe
Oh penny
Will you cease to exist
Without the faintest of fists
The amuse me
I got a honey
In the sun of CA
And I am happy to say that it's working
We've been sailing through unthinkable kinks
But now I think it will sink
If I'm staying
Oh penny
You put me through hell
And I've got nothing to sell
That will save you
Cause we're in trouble now
Our underground
We're in trouble now
And I don't believe you
We're in trouble now
Dear underground
We're in trouble now
And I don't believe
Past is the laughable and
Hardly passable as background
Artist's apartment will be looted and hollowed in the now
So overmedicate in any state
Ain't it great
Certain fate
And my dear old Sharona
Keeps em on the floor and wanting more
Oh penny
We're about to dig in
So won't you find me a friend and give in
Oh penny
Will the fun never end
Or will it ever begin without you
Cause we're in trouble now
Our underground
We're in trouble now
And I don't believe you
We're in trouble now
Dear underground
We're in trouble now
And I don't believe
The song "Oh Penny" by Hey Mercedes is a melancholic pop-punk tune that speaks to the doubts and uncertainties of coming of age. The song begins with a call of action to the titular character, Penny, to brace herself and "write do it on your wrist and dig in," implying that there are tough times ahead. The lyrics highlight the pressures of growing up and pursuing dreams in a city like Chicago. The line "It's getting harder now to move all your dreams" speaks to the difficult reality of maintaining aspirations as one becomes bogged down by life's demands. The song's chorus confronts the uncertainty that comes along with growing up and taking chances, with the lyrics "We're in trouble now, our underground, and I don't believe you," implying that the singer is uncertain whether their choices will pay off.
The second verse takes a more introspective tone, with the singer reflecting on the hardships they've faced as they pursue their dreams. Alluding to the lyrics "We've been sailing through unthinkable kinks, but now I think it will sink, if I'm staying," the singer grapples with whether or not to give up on their dreams or continue to pursue them. Ultimately, the song ends on a somewhat hopeful note, with lyrics that ask if the fun will ever really begin without the help of Penny.
Overall, "Oh Penny" is a poignant and relatable song that speaks to the insecurity and uncertainty that often accompanies the transition from adolescence to young adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh penny
The song addresses a character named Penny, whose significance and role is yet to be determined.
It's about to begin
Something important or significant is about to happen.
So write do it on your wrist and dig in
A call to action, to do whatever it takes to be ready for what is coming.
Cold cold Chicago
The setting of the story is in Chicago, a city known for its cold winters and tough environment.
Go-go dance out the door
To leave or exit a situation in a lively or energetic manner.
Before your party gets bored and ignores you
To avoid being ignored or forgotten by those around you, you need to be engaging and entertaining.
It's getting harder now to move all your dreams
As time goes on, it becomes more difficult to achieve your goals or pursue your dreams.
And all the things that you need wave as they leave
Everything that you thought was necessary for your success or happiness seems to disappear or become unattainable.
Oh penny
The character Penny is addressed again and questioned about her role and importance.
Makes a mess of this man
Penny's actions or influence are causing chaos or confusion for the artist of the story.
If there's a simpler plan than please speak
If there is a better or easier solution to the current problems, the singer is open to suggestions.
Cause we're in trouble now
The situation is becoming more serious or difficult for everyone involved.
Our underground
A reference to a subculture or hidden community within society.
And I don't believe you
The singer is skeptical of Penny's intentions or ability to help solve the problems at hand.
Will you cease to exist
Penny's existence or importance is being questioned once again.
Without the faintest of fists
Without any real effort or impact.
The amuse me
Penny's actions or words are seen as an attempt to entertain or distract the artist.
I got a honey
The singer has someone special in his life, possibly a romantic partner.
In the sun of CA
The singer's current location is in the sunny state of California.
And I am happy to say that it's working
The artist is pleased with the current state of his life and relationship.
We've been sailing through unthinkable kinks
Despite facing unexpected difficulties or obstacles, the artist and his partner have managed to navigate through them.
But now I think it will sink
The artist believes that the relationship or situation is going to fail or come to an end.
If I'm staying
If the singer chooses to remain in the current situation or location.
You put me through hell
Penny's actions have caused great pain or hardship for the artist.
And I've got nothing to sell
The singer has no way to benefit or profit from the current situation.
Cause we're in trouble now
The situation is becoming even more difficult and potentially dangerous.
Dear underground
A reference to the subculture or hidden community once again.
Past is the laughable and
The artist acknowledges that the past is now something to be laughed at or dismissed.
Hardly passable as background
It is now impossible to ignore or downplay the impact of the past on the current situation.
Artist's apartment will be looted and hollowed in the now
A warning that the artist's living space or place of work is now in danger of being robbed or destroyed.
So overmedicate in any state
To deal with the stress or pain, the singer suggests taking a large amount of medication regardless of the consequences.
Ain't it great
An ironic statement acknowledging that the current situation is anything but great.
Certain fate
The artist believes that the outcome of the situation is predetermined or inevitable.
And my dear old Sharona
A reference to the 1970s song My Sharona by The Knack.
Keeps em on the floor and wanting more
A comparison to the effect the song has on its listeners, keeping them dancing and eager to hear more.
We're about to dig in
The characters are about to face a difficult challenge head-on.
So won't you find me a friend and give in
A plea to Penny to help the singer find support or allies in the upcoming battle.
Will the fun never end
A sarcastic or ironic comment on the current situation, which has been far from enjoyable or fun.
Or will it ever begin without you
The singer questions whether the situation or challenge can even begin to be tackled without Penny's involvement.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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