THE MERCY ALLIANCE

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Powell

“Watchin’ the Dancers” is the 2022 follow up record to 2016’s “Some Kind of Beautiful Story” (Beverly Martel Music) recorded in Los Angeles with producer Thomas Ross Johansen at “Strawhorse” studios. Johansen originally from Denmark and Joe Rathbone a native of Philadelphia met in 2014 in Washington DC and used drummer Steve Bowman (ex Counting Crows) and Nashville’s renowned bassist/producer Brad Jones (Jill Sobule,Matthew Sweet) to fashion a brand new sound for Rathbone and The Mercy Alliance.
Johansen spent many years in the UK working with labels like Communion Records before moving to the US east coast, eventually settling in Los Angeles where he does everything from working with the likes of John Mayall and Clem Burke to recording movie soundtracks. Joe, a seasoned songwriter, singer, and guitar player now based in Washington, D.C. has garnered a reputation for his lyrically rich, musically layered, song-driven studio albums.
The band has brought their image-filled songs and evocative melodies to audiences all over the US. Sirius XM and AAA stations like New York's WFUV and Charlotte's WNCW have championed the band and live radio performances have included WFUV's "Words and Music" and public radio's Mountain Stage. The band has shared stages with artists like Shawn Colvin, Tim Finn, Al Stewart,Drivin' and Cryin, Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express, Steve Forbert and many more.The live band includes drummer John Cunningham & bassist Anne Rogers.
Look for them on tour nationwide in support of the new record.
“The Mercy Alliance displays a natural feel for neoclassic folk rock on an album suffused with melody and melancholy. Motorik like drumming, humming synths and churning organ bring heft and gravitas .. not unlike The War on Drug’s “Lost in a Dream” Uncut Magazine www.facebook.com/themercyalliance