Music / Reviews
Review: MRCY, Strange Brew – ‘Smooth, soulful and effortlessly joyful’
A MRCY performance feels like cruising with the windows down on a summer’s day. Smooth, soulful and effortlessly joyful.
First meeting online back in 2021, the duo – formed of Barney Lister and Kojo Degraft-Johnson – share a unique ability to craft classic sounds with a modern edge.
A busy year leads them to their performance at Strange Brew – releasing their debut album, VOLUME 1, performing at a slew of festivals including Bristol’s Forwards, and refining and finally publishing their sophomore project, VOLUME 2, this week.
Kicking off their tour in Bristol – followed by a UK-wide run and yet more festival appearances this year – it’s clear the project has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
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The crowd still relatively sparse, supporting act Olive Jones emerges front-and-centre of the stage. Sparing immediate conversation Jones wasted no time, delving straight into a series of sumptuously soulful tracks.
Simultaneously commanding and subdued, her performance showcased the quiet force of restraint while battling with the bar’s nearby chatter.
Relying on nothing but her guitar and raw talent, Jones welcomed the second “member” of her band with a playful smile. “I’d like to introduce you to my bandmate,” she exclaimed, before kicking off a loop on her drum machine and easing into songs from her debut EP Three More Nights.
Strong without trying too hard, her set gave the sense of someone beginning to carve out something of her own.
A short while later, with the crowd more bulged, MRCY arrived. With three band members in tow, the duo took their place at the heart of the stage, assuming a commanding presence.
Opening with a newly released track, Wandering Attention, the duo set the tone for the evening ahead – silky, uplifting vocals, sharp instrumentation and effortless charm.
Brimming with charisma, lead vocalist Kojo would interject to converse with the crowd, sharing his excitement at the duo’s first headline gig in Bristol. Hailing from London, he expressed gratitude and pride that their music has reached beyond the local scene.
The ‘effortlessly charming’ duo are touring the UK with a full live band
Without hesitation, they moved into fan-favourite from their debut album, RLM – a sun-soaked, dream-like anthem with a timeless sound.
The duo’s excitement about their new album was unmistakable. With the show taking place just two days before its release, the set felt like both a celebration and a preview.
Questioning whether the crowd had listened to many of the singles from the new project, Kojo received a rather muted reaction. That being said, the energy in the room when the band debuted new tracks such as Angels, Man and Flicker showed that these newer cuts won’t stay under the radar long.
Tunes from the new album were well received despite unfamiliarity
Weaving between these newer tracks and MRCY classics such as Flowers in Mourning and California, the duo approached the end of their set.
Before giving thanks to the supportive Bristol crowd, they launched into Lorelei – a delicately psychedelic piece of modern soul, with fervent vocals and love-infused lyricism.
Performed with a captivating intensity, the track held the room in a spellbinding balance of euphoria and calm.
It was a sun-drenched show of psychelic soulful sounds
The duo closed out their set with Sierra, a lush, dynamic track of soaring melodies before asking the crowd if they wanted to hear one more. After a resounding ‘yes’, the night was finished with a performance of Days Like This, wrapping the show on a high-note.
Closing with that energy, MRCY proved they’re building momentum fast — a name you’ll doubtless be hearing a lot more of.
All images: Josh Templeman
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