ABOUT THE BAND
“Heartland Americana, Roots-Rock Swagger, Folk-Pop Luster.”
–– Creative Loafing
Mercy McCoy is an Indie Americana-Rock band FROM SAINT PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, known for genre stretching song craft and GRITTY musicianship.
The band was founded by songwriter/producer, Stefan Scheuermann, and life-long friend and bandmate, Collin Ryan, in 2012. Their first band parted ways following a run of shows that included opening for The North Mississippi All Stars and performing as the backing band for Col. Bruce Hampton. No longer a supporting player, Stef soon began finding his writing voice and Mercy McCoy started taking shape.
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Raised on a healthy mix of music ––The Band, Petty, Jackson Browne, The Allman Brothers, Willy Nelson, The Beatles ––and drawing on material they’ve come to on their own, they have developed a sound that draws comparisons to modern artists; Dawes, Wilco, Lukas Nelson, and Jacob Dylan.
Their debut album, “Brighter In The Dark” (2016), is an earthy mix of folky song styling, with earnest and engaging writing that doesn’t shy away from catchy melodies or driving guitars. The record has been best described as “heartland Americana, roots-rock swagger, and folk pop luster” (Creative Loafing). Listeners could be convinced they are hearing the intro to a Black Crowes album in one track, with slide guitar and fuzz, and the next track happily wonder if Norah Jones is about to start singing.
“Brighter In The Dark” was featured by American Songwriter, and the folk-pop title track won acclaim as a finalist in one of the publication’s national songwriting contests. In the years following the release of their first record the band has continued receiving accolades for their songwriting and live sound, landing them supporting performances for the likes of Willie Nelson, Wilco, Jason Isbell, and Ray Lamontagne.
In the time between their own releases Stef has made a name for himself as a writer, earning an invite to the famed writer’s round at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, and the group has earned a reputation as the go-to backing band and studio musicians for some of the southeast’s best Americana and Indie songwriters, including Joshua Reilly and Roc Helton. Juggling their own projects and contributions to other artist’s releases, the group continues to put on great performances; Opening for acts like the Wallflowers and Robert Earl Keene, and joining on as as the centerpiece of the annual Summer-long Folk Rock Revival Concert Series on Florida’s gulf coast, backing several artists and headlining their own night.
Their upcoming releases showcase Scheuermann’s growth as a songwriter and the band’s evolution in the studio. They take bigger and more creative risks with arrangements that are a pleasant departure from the band’s early days, but stay true to their sound.
Stef and Collin don’t get all the credit; Pianist Eddie Entreken and decorated songwriter Ed Woltil, are also founding members and regular contributors to Mercy McCoy’s studio and live lineup. Drummer, Justin Stoddard, bassist Mark Cunnigham, and vocalist Tanner Boyle round out the core group.
Mercy McCoy is in the studio working on their follow up LP with single releases slated throughout the year.
