Experience the raw reality of life through cathartic rock as Mr Chrisy Mertas unveils ‘Happy Days’
Mr Chrisy Mertas proves quality’s worth with ‘Happy Days’, their third single in three years. Echoing punk greats like early Green Day and Rancid, this Arnhem Land surf-punk trio delves into ‘dropkicks’ and surfing realities
They’ve now returned to wax lyrical on the concept of holidaying away from financial pressures. To Thailand, specifically.
Within Mr Chrisy Mertas, there radiates a form of modest charm, stemming from their authentic nature and the relatable essence ingrained in their lyrics. These verses, sung with an unmistakable Aussie drawl, enhance their music with an additional coating of sincerity.
Mr Chrisy Mertas has seamlessly joined the ranks of Aussie indie rock acts who skillfully spin the ordinary fabric of daily existence into their music, finding artistry in the mundane like Violent Soho, Dune Rats, Skeggs, Pist Idiots, Dumb Punts, and Drunk Mums, to name a few.
In a nutshell, their authenticity shines through – what you see is undeniably what you get. This sentiment is beautifully encapsulated in the ‘Happy Days’ music video and single cover, where the hi-vis vests harken back to the visual aesthetics of Frenzal Rhomb’s Hi-Vis High Tea album tour, which kicked off in 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAXDNbCfQN4
“Let’s go to Thailand, when you claim your tax back”, suggests frontman Matt ‘Aris’ McLean in ‘Happy Days’. In verse two, he verbalises his reaction to the tedium of the everyday working world by singing, “I wish I was on the pension…I should break my legs to get medicine”. The chorus is topped off by a statement of sarcasm which I’m pretty sure is, “Endone…happy days”.
To address the music itself, it’s definitely energetic. The track erupts with a rollicking downbeat groove that continues through its three choruses, with an exciting climax up to the third chorus to demonstrate exciting dynamics.
However, this youthful fire is interestingly subverted by a stoner-rock swampiness that lingers over the whole track like the muggy heat of the top end. Further creative details in the song evoke more natural elements of Australia’s far north. Its gritty guitar tones are reminiscent of NT’s red dirt, the lingering guitar notes match views of long coastlines, and the amp tones are as murky as being underneath a kayak in Kakadu.
The levels of contrast between the music and lyrics of ‘Happy Days’ work to elevate each other in an ultimate statement of wanting to break away from the mundane while still being anchored to it. The reliability of this concept is sure to attract new fans for Mr Chrisy Mertas, (although no human results have come up for that name yet).
Review By Corin Shearston
