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New gigs, new music: FCtM’s hitting the States harder than ever.
With a new concert announced for this Saturday, including all-new music and even the promise of a new band member, punk band Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey is hitting the States harder than ever.
I step into the Creepy Crawl, Ferry’s own music venue and practice area, and immediately am hit with the raw energy the band brings to New Versailles. In a state obsessed with blues and jazz, for those of the alternative crowd it’s more than refreshing, and that might be part of what makes the band really stand out here. Hailing from London, England, New Versailles is like their second home base, since two out of the three band members are exchange students at NVU.
Greg, or Scooter as his bandmates call him, is dressed in jeans and a stylish jacket. His pristine white guitar is slung over his shoulders, and his smile is devilish and charming. Adney, or Hack as he’s known to everyone, is wearing jeans, a t-shirt with an authentic-looking Godzilla and Domo logo on it, and some vibrant green chucks. From the holes in his jeans, I can tell he’s wearing some kneehigh socks, a bright blue that almost matches his hair.
“It’s going to be epic! So much stuff is going to happen,” remarks Scooter after he makes himself comfortable on the couch nestled in the corner of the rigged-up warehouse.
He’s referring to the concert that will take place this Saturday. One day after his birthday, not only is it going to introduce some new Ferry music that the band has been working on, it will also serve as his birthday celebration. Last year, Hack and Pax wished him a good year by pantsing him on-stage; this year, Scooter is determined on getting the both of them back. Of course, he’s keeping his mouth shut on just what his own plans are.
Another thing they’re remaining tight-lipped about is the new band member they’ve hired. Last year they were looking for a part-time keyboardist to fill in at some gigs, but their search was unsuccessful. Maybe they’ve finally found the magic girl. According to Scooter, she’s a ‘proper diva’; have they hired a celebrity? They will say nothing on who this mystery member is, but they do state that the grand reveal will be at their concert this Saturday.
(Insert pretend picture here!!)
There’s a bit of punk in everyone: Hack and Scooter pose in front of their tourbus, which was painted with help from the people of New Versailles.
They also mention their upcoming gigs in Las Vegas, slated for summer of this year. It’s remarkable: the punk scene in New Versailles, and in Louisiana, as a whole can’t be too big. Still, they seem to be making a ripple here, enough to try and branch out to play in other states.
“There’s a little bit of punk in everyone,” Scooter remarks. “So people, they listen to our music, and it brings it out in them.”
Hack pipes up. “I feel like a lot of people today haven’t heard a lot of punk, so they think they don’t really like it, until they come to our shows. You have to come, they’re dead good!”
Ferry’s shows are notoriously a bit crazy- people throwing water balloons, paint, and underwear is just the tip of the iceberg. Remarkably, fights occur only rarely, and the shows are open to all ages. It goes to show that punk music really is the music of the people.
“Everyone has to deal with the stuff in our songs at some point,” Scooter points out, the main reason why their songs are so memorable.
And it’s true. Despite the fact that they’re ‘across the pond’, their music resonates with more than just other Londoners. It speaks of the times of youth -good and bad-, working class struggles, and political injustices that transcend cultural boundaries and speak for the people as a whole. Punk is definitely not dead; it takes one look at this band to see that.
Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey is playing this Saturday, April 2nd, at 7 p.m. over at the Creepy Crawl. Tickets are available at the door, for $10.00 per person. Their Vegas tour is scheduled for the summer of this year, and vlogs will be posted on the band’s official website.
Author: Tyler Calder
