Small Mercies
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Small Mercies was an alternative rock group originating from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, established in 1997. The band initially performed under the names Seventh Avenue and Blaik before adopting the Small Mercies moniker in 2004. The final roster featured Steve Blaik (lead vocals, guitar), Marty O'Brien (drums), Danny Procopis (lead guitar), and Jeff Reeves (bass guitar). Their discography includes two EPs: Is This Life? (2003) and Off the Record (2004), along with a full-length studio album, Beautiful Hum, released in May 2008. Their track "Innocent," released in May 2007, entered the ARIA Singles Chart Top 40 and received a nomination for the ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Single during the ARIA Music Awards of 2007. The band ceased activity by December 2010.
1997–2003: Origins and early recordings as Blaik
The band formed in Brisbane in 1997 with Steve Blaik (also known as Steve Martin) handling lead vocals and later guitar, Marty O'Brien on drums, and Danny Procopis on lead guitar—all of whom attended St. Laurence's College and Padua College. Initially called Psybin Trip, then Blaik (stylized as blaik), by 1999 they had changed their name to Seventh Avenue, incorporating Simon O'Connor (rhythm guitar) and Shaun Spooner (bass, backing vocals), both Padua College alumni and former members of Nobenn.
In 2001, Seventh Avenue reached the finals of the Brisbane Rock Award, performing at Queen Street Mall Basement, which increased their visibility. This exposure led to their management under Greg Shaw of Shawthing Entertainment. They worked with producers such as Stuart Stuart (The Veronicas), Dave Nicholas (INXS, Sting), Trey Bruce (Faith Hill), and Randy Staub (Nickelback, Metallica). After hearing their demos, manager John Woodruff (known for Savage Garden and Evermore) secured them a deal with Sony BMG in 2001.
By 2002, the group reverted to the name Blaik and began releasing material online, including the four-track Blaik Sampler in December 2002 featuring an early iteration of "Innocent." In June 2003, they recorded sessions at Rockinghorse Studios in Byron Bay with producer Trey Bruce. Later that year, November saw the release of their five-track EP Is This Life? under the Blaik name.
2004–2006: Transition to Small Mercies and Off the Record
Adopting the name Small Mercies in May 2004, the band signed with Modern Music. On 10 September 2004, they launched a five-track EP titled Off the Record through Sony BMG and Modern Music, produced by Dave Nicholas. The single "Pellet Gun," co-written by Blaik, O'Brien, O'Connor, Procopis, and Spooner, was added to Triple J’s playlist and later included on the 2007 compilation Power On – Rock Hits 2007. By 2005, the lineup consisted of Blaik, Procopis, O'Brien, and Jeff Reeves on bass guitar.
2007–2010: Beautiful Hum
Small Mercies established a connection with producer Matt Wallace after he contacted them through their MySpace profile. He was their preferred collaborator. The band spent eight weeks in late 2006 recording their first album, Beautiful Hum, at The Pass and Sound City Studios located in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Tim Palmer, recognized for his work with Pearl Jam and U2, handled the mixing. Released on 24 May 2008, the album entered the top 60 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
Their debut single, "Innocent" (May 2007), co-written by Blaik, Procopis, and Stuart, climbed into the ARIA Singles Chart top 40 and received a nomination for Breakthrough Artist – Single at the ARIA Music Awards of 2007. It also secured a spot on the ARIA End of Year Charts: Top 50 Australian Artist Singles 2007 and was used in a promotional campaign for the US television series Prison Break.
The follow-up single, "Sorry" (November 2007), reached the top 60. That same month, Small Mercies performed at Sydney’s Bourbon Fest alongside acts such as Spiderbait and After the Fall. They also supported tours for Hinder in October 2007, as well as Nickelback and Daughtry in May 2008. In April 2008, the band toured the United States, appearing at events like the Tribeca Film Festival, Musexpo, and opening for the Goo Goo Dolls at the Rose Bowl. Throughout 2008, they continued touring across Australia to promote their album.
By December 2010, Small Mercies had officially disbanded. Frontman Blaik embarked on a solo career in June 2014 after previously performing as part of the duo the Associates with Stuart McLean.
Musical styles and influences
Small Mercies and their earlier formations drew inspiration from bands such as Live, Counting Crows, and Pearl Jam. In 2001, Blaik described their sound as moderately light rock with mostly cover songs infused with their own style. He cited favorite albums including Counting Crows' August and Everything After, Live's Throwing Copper, and U2's The Joshua Tree. By 2003, their official website characterized their music as "emotional folk pop."
Blaik described recording Off the Record as simply "five guys in a room playing rock music," reflecting influences from U2, Counting Crows, Aerosmith, and Pearl Jam. Jacqui Curtis of The Program commended the EP for its engaging melodic rock tracks, particularly noting "Pellet Gun" for its impactful lyrics and memorable guitar work.
In an interview with Australian Music Online, Blaik identified significant Australian influences including INXS’s emotional intensity, Powderfinger’s distinctive style exemplified by Odyssey Number Five, Crowded House’s songwriting prowess—especially Neil Finn’s contributions—Silverchair’s Diorama, The Cruel Sea’s energetic live performances, and End of Fashion’s debut album as an aspirational benchmark. He also acknowledged AC/DC's Back in Black as a widely respected source of inspiration among musicians.
For the creation of Beautiful Hum, approximately 50 tracks were developed; Wallace described it as a "best of" collection due to the abundance of strong material. Blaik told The Sydney Morning Herald that some compositions dated back four to five years but had evolved to reflect the band's current artistic vision. A live review from 2007 highlighted their emotionally resonant melodies and dynamic stage presence.
According to ASCAP, critics likened Small Mercies’ sound to that of Matchbox 20, Maroon 5, Bon Jovi, and Nickelback, emphasizing Blaik's sincere vocal delivery alongside his songwriting collaboration with guitarist Danny Procopis. Elisa Scarton of Mediasearch praised their distinctly global sound on the album, commending Blaik’s unique voice and robust rock arrangements. TheDwarf.com.au lauded the grand ballad "Innocent" but noted that some later tracks lacked diversity.
In an interview with Cairns Bulletin, O'Brien described their musical spectrum ranging from harder rock elements to softer tones while underscoring the band’s intuitive interplay during performances.
Members
- Steve Blaik – vocals (lead), guitar (1997–2010)
- Marty O'Brien – percussion, drums (1997–2010)
- Danny Procopis – lead guitar (1997–2010)
- Simon O'Connor – rhythm guitar (1999–2004)
- Shaun Spooner – bass guitar, backing vocals (1999–2004)
- Jeff Reeves – bass guitar, backing vocals (2005–2010)
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Chart Peak Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ||
| Beautiful Hum |
|
54 |
Extended plays
| Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| Off the Record |
|
Singles
| Year | Single Title | Highest Chart Position | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Pellet Gun" | — | Off the Record |
| 2007 | "Innocent" | 38 | Beautiful Hum |
| "Sorry" | 54 | ||
| 2008 | "Don't You Know Who I Am?" | — |
ARIA Music Awards
Since 1987, the ARIA Music Awards have annually honored outstanding accomplishments, creativity, and excellence across all categories of Australian music.
! |- | 2007 | "Innocent" | Breakthrough Artist - Single | | |-
See also
External links
- Official Blaik Website. Archived 23 December 2003. Accessed 30 August 2015.
- Official Small Mercies Website. Archived 27 June 2009. Accessed 29 August 2015.