MERCURY DELIVERS A CELESTIAL AND MEMORABLE NIGHT AT NEWPORT MUSIC HALL
NEWPORT MUSIC HALL - COLUMBUS, OH
Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio, was crowded with music lovers wearing all black on a perfect Monday night in Autumn, all gathered to see HolyWatr perform on their 2026 headlining tour DEO GRATIAS. The tour, named for their latest album Deo Gratias, began in September of this year, with Nashville-based alternative rock band Mercury joining HolyWatr as their supporting act. The band’s ethereal, grungy, shoegaze sound serves as the perfect complementary opener.
Mercury began their set with “Born In Early May,” the first track of their 2024 EP Together We are One, You and I. With the first strum of the dense and hazy guitar, the foggy spotlight began to shine on lead singer Maddie Kerr.
Her hauntingly delicate vocals echoed against walls of the venue, and the crowd’s eyes immediately locked in to fully capture the moment. Kerr finds a way to sing with a floaty type of strength that seems effortless, and her vocals especially stood out in the bands’ track “Crick.”
As the set progressed, Mercury continued to build on their beautiful balance between grittiness and vulnerability. The chorus from Mercury’s most popular track, “Special,” rang true to the crowd:
“Cause, I wanna be something to you, I wanna be special too.”
As I glanced to the front row, I saw someone’s hands clasped at their heart, mouthing the lyrics in time.
Despite serving as the opening act, Mercury definitely stood out with a distinct atmosphere of their own.
Throughout the show, Kerr’s long luscious locks were draped over her face, her eyes barely peeking through. I thought this was a beautiful nod to the fragility of the music, juxtaposing perfectly with her powerful and attention-grabbing vocals. The show came to an end with “Heaven,” one of their more dream-like singles released in late 2025.
The DEO GRATIAS TOUR wraps up in Los Angeles on November 22nd, and Mercury is definitely a supporting act worth seeing. Indie rock has been on the rise as of late, and their performances prove why. You can catch them live through the rest of October/November in New York, North Carolina, Florida, or Texas before their final show in LA.
