Mercury and The Backfires take over Houston

On Saturday, February 22nd, 2025, Mercury and The Backfires brought their talents to the Bronze Peacock at House of Blues Houston. The evening kicked off with Mercury gracing the stage. The setup felt very intimate as they came out and sat on stools next to each other. Lead singer Maddie Kerr captivated the room with her sweet presence and beautiful voice, delivering an acoustic set that really reflected the emotion of the music. It was the band’s first time in Houston; with the acoustic arrangement of the songs really complementing the rainy night. Maddie’s vocals and lyrics on “I don’t Know You Like I Used To” and “Special” were raw and moving, Baily on bass and Justin and Chris on guitar brought exactly what was needed to make one feel present in the set. I was amazed by how Justin played guitar effortlessly, diving into a solo. Between songs Maddie even mentioned how she had been making little fishes to sell at the shows, but had run out the night before, and you could tell that she really cared about connecting with the audience. She gave a backstory to each song she introduced, taking the audience on a journey with her. Maddie’s artistry shone through in all aspects of the night.

Mercury also performed a new song “Faster” that releases today. “Faster is about being stuck in your head about anything and everything,” adds Mercury’s frontperson Maddie Kerr. “I often try to make sense of everything that I’ve ever experienced and sometimes that’s more overwhelming than the actual experience. It’s about not being able to let go.” Be sure to give it a listen and watch the visualizer on Youtube along with the rest of their music. They made for the perfect openers to ease the crowd into a night of fun.

Shortly after The Backfires took the stage to give fans a taste of their debut album This Is Not An Exit. They started with “Matador,” a personal favorite of mine, and dedicated fans in the front row were jumping and cheering the minute they came on. A couple of songs in, lead singer Alex asked for recommendations as it was their first time in Texas too. Fans shouted Bucee’s, a Texas road trip staple, and Whatburger as well. He recounted their time here and mentioned that Texas will always be in their hearts, a sweet sentiment for all Texas Backfires fans.

The band from both sides of the Atlantic didn’t disappoint. Their songs brought a lively energy to the room. They were natural rockstars and had fans singing along to favorites like “Aphrodite”, while some had even dressed in all black to match the lyrics of “Dressed For A Funeral.”

They also performed some of their previous music including “Joyride,” “Preoccupied,” and “Song 55.” It was an electrifying performance. The Backfires still have a handful of North American tour dates to go, and will even be performing at The Governors Ball music festival in New York this summer. They are definitely a band to look out for in 2025 so be sure to try and make it to one of their gigs! It’s guaranteed to be a good time. The Backfires are just getting started, and we can’t wait for them to make their way back to Texas again.