Thirsty Merc ‘stoked to be back'

Thirst Merc perform at the Crowbar.

Craig Warhurst

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On-stage at the National Music Muster 2010

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• Troy Cassar-Daley thrills at Muster
• On-stage at the Muster 2010
• Optus National Music Muster 2010
• Muster 2010 line-up

FITTING the Gympie Muster in between back-to-back Australian tours was no sweat for hardworking rock band Thirsty Merc, who said they were “stoked” to be invited back to play at this year's music festival.

Speaking after the show, Merc's front-man Rai Thistlethwayte said it was good to be back playing “under the bigtop”, two years after their first Muster experience.

“It was great to be invited the first time, but we're even more stoked to be asked back,” Thistlethwayte said over the noise of excited fans waiting for his autograph.

“Last time we played it was a mud bath - it was still heaps of fun but this year the sun is out and there's an awesome atmosphere.”

The Sydney-based group hit the stage with a new sound and a new single from their latest album Mousetrap Heart, but it was the music that shot them onto the Australian scene that got the crowd going.

Emancipate Myself, In the Summertime, 20 Good Reasons and Someday, Someday, were belted out by the crowd in true Muster style, with Thistlethwayte obviously enjoying the chorus of voices singing back at him.

“Standing here on this stage again - it feels good to be back,” he told them.

The Aussie rock band, which originated in 2002 in Dubbo, drew a good crowd to the “Under the Bigtop” rock afternoon in the Crow Bar.

With a new guitarist, the band exploded back on stage with a tighter and funkier sound and an unmistakable bounce in their step.

Thislethwayte took over the stage, swapping his guitar to play piano for a number of electric performances that accompanied his snappy vocals.

If you missed the Muster show, catch them at Joe's Waterhole at Eumundi on November 4 when they head up for the Queensland leg of their national tour. Tickets can be purchased from the venue, 5442 8144.