Thirsty Merc

Named for a gas-guzzling Mercedes Benz owned by frontman Rai Thistlethwayte, Thirsty Merc made a strong case for radio-friendly Australian rock early into the new millennium. Arriving around the same time as kindred spirits Wolfmother, the Sydney band loaded 2004’s platinum-selling self-titled debut with the epic earnestness of heartland rock and the bluesy flourishes of The Black Crowes. Observe the rousing nostalgia of “In The Summertime”—punctuated by then-guitarist Matt Baker’s grizzled licks—and the pining romance of 2007’s skyscraping power ballad “20 Good Reasons.” Thistlethwayte leaned on his college-level study of piano for 2010’s “Tommy and Krista” while advancing his character-driven storytelling, and he continues to moonlight as a respected jazz player. But accessible, romantic rock remains Thirsty Merc’s speciality, as proven by 2015’s polished Shifting Gears.