Gersey
Alternative / Indie Rock
Gersey was formed in 1997 by Matt Davis and Craig Jackson and began playing around Melbourne, Australia shortly thereafter. They recorded their debut EP Bewilderment is a Blessing, released on Way Over There Records in early 1999, to a welcoming public and curious music press. Danny Tulen and Daryl Bradie joined the band at the time of the release and thus began the transformation into a great live band... A band that plays sprawling, layered, introspective, 'noodley' guitar and keyboard pop music. Most of 1999 was spent on the road touring with acts like Mogwai, June of 44, Pollyanna and Gaslight Radio, which established a loyal following around the country. Some eighteen months after the EP, Gersey signed with local label Trifekta Records and released their debut album Hope Springs to rave reviews.
In early 2001, Gersey embarked on their first international tour to the U.S. They were invited to play at SXSW in Austin, Texas and took the opportunity to perform in other cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Toronto, San Diego, and Nashville, playing with Black Heart Procession, Preston School of Industry (ex-Pavement) and performing on the opening night of the Canadian Music Week. The band continued to receive glowing reviews for their live gigs and the song "The Beautiful Look City Today" gained airplay on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, in Los Angeles.
Upon return from the U.S., Gersey hit the road to support the single "Then There's Sirens". Launch shows were sold out and the song was supported by national broadcaster JJJ. In addition, a low-budget music video for the single was also played regularly on programs Rage and Ground Zero.
After securing North American management in the Unites States and new management in Australia, the band supported Madator Records' Preston School of Industry on a nationwide sold-out tour of Australia, before completing the recording of their new album and follow-up to the critically acclaimed Hope Springs. The album, entitled Storms Dressed as Stars, was again recorded, produced and mixed by esteemed producer Tim Whitten (Powderfinger, Art of Fighting, Smiths) at Megaphon and Paradise Studios in Sydney. The album continues Gersey's sprawling cinematic dynamics, celebrating their love of being a band, playing shows and being on the road together. Once again, they've combined layered noodley guitar and thought-provoking pop sensibilities but with Storms Dressed as Stars, the band forges a new confidence and desire to be worldly, while still retaining the personalized content and expression familiar to the band's experience. The songs yearn for quiet and personal revolution, be it a sea-change journey abroad or just quitting your day job for a better place.
New member and keyboardist Drew Pearse previously played solo around Melbourne throughout 2001 under the name Slowville. Influenced by the songwriting of Nick Drake, Sparklehorse and the Flaming Lips, Slowville is a curious mix of folk songwriting, cut-and-paste sampling and lo-fi electronica. Drew played support to Gersey on a couple of occasions after meeting drummer Danny Tulen. He was invited to join the band in August 2002 after the recording of 'Storms'.
Storms Dressed as Stars is scheduled for release on September 30th in Australia on Trifekta Records. The first single, "Look to the Sun", is scheduled to hit radio in early September. And with the date for the new album release fast approaching, the band is gearing up to perform at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York in late October and early November. Gersey will play multiple shows in New York as well as Los Angeles, performing at such venues as CBGB's, Spaceland and The Troubadour. The band has also secured a date to perform live and in the studio at KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic with Nic Harcourt.
Gersey is managed in North America by Bumper Reeve and Mike Sarkissian of Lunatic Entertainment in Los Angeles and Danny Rogers in Australia.
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