Their self-released CD Downfall of an Empire is one of those rare gems: catchy at the start, and the more you listen to it, the more you love it.

Obviously, I don't blog very much. I don't Facebook. I don't Twitter.

I don't much care what you are doing at this very moment, and I don't expect you to care about me. I mean, for reals...if I gave even half a shit, I would call you and ask, right? I'm not calling. Phone's not ringing.

Still, sometimes I have a moment or two free, and in this moment, I want to mention something. It's not so much what I'm doing but what I think you might like.

I'm liistening to a Chicago band called Holding Mercury. Their self-released CD Downfall of an Empire is one of those rare gems: catchy at the start, and the more you listen to it, the more you love it.

You may or may not know I work at Cicero's now. Yeah, I do the booking. It's kind of a dream job, except for those times when I really, really, really don't like musicians. Ah well, price you must pay and all that.

Anyway, in my infinite wisdom, I have booked Holding Mercury to play my club next weekend. This will be the third (or fourth?) time they've been here since I took over; each time, their crowd grows, and each time, I love their music even more.

Get the album and listen. Or better yet, get the album, learn and the songs, then come out and sing them with me February 27. I promise it will be a night well worth your $6. | Laura Hamlett

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