Christie DuPree of Merriment mesmerizes the crowd during a recent show in Tyler, TX. Deanna Mendoza / www.sevensixtyeight.com
Remember when Ashlee Simpson came out with her debut album and her first single was mega-heavy, with resentment toward her older sister’s music career as she sang of “living in the shadows of someone else’s dream?”
Well, that is something Christie and Collin DuPree know nothing about. Their siblings, and cousin, make up the popular Texas indie-rock band, Eisley that has gained an even bigger following since releasing its third full-length record The Valley last year.
Instead of relegating them to the shadows, Eisley has pushed Christie, 21, and Collin, 17, into the spotlight, slotting them as openers for various tours under the moniker Christie DuPree. For Eisley’s latest Deep Space tour however, the two youngest DuPrees decided to tour as Merriment.
The name change wasn’t a calculated move, but a more spontaneous act for Christie, as well as out of respect for her brother.
“As soon as Collin started playing with me I felt like it was unfair to consider it a solo artist thing, when he was just as involved as I was,” Christie said.
Despite no longer touring under her family name, she made it clear she still takes pride in being a DuPree.
“(The name change) was never to establish our own identity apart from being ‘DuPrees,’ because that’s who we are. And we’re very proud of that,” Christie said. “We love our family.”
But she doesn’t mind the inevitable comparisons that arise once people realize her sisters are the vocalists of Eisley.
“Usually people just say that our voices sound similar, but that our music is very different,” Christie said. “And, so far, nobody has complained or called us Eisley clones, so I’m thankful for that!”
They’re no clones, but the creative genes are strong in the members of Merriment. Christie writes all the lyrics as well as structure and melodies for their songs. From there the songs are passed on to Collin who writes his own guitar parts.
It’s true, when you hear her voice there’s no mistaking it’s a DuPree singing, but Christie has her own distinct sound. And it’s just as heavenly. For the most part the duo is much more folk than rock, but they still got the Warehouse Live crowd going during their stop in Houston last week.
For the tour, Merriment borrowed fellow tour openers Tallhart’s drummer and bassist, which is a rich change from the sparse accompaniment with which they usually perform. This was the first time the two added that addition to their band, but it hopefully won’t be the last as Christie said they would like to make those positions permanent in the future.
Merriment played the entirety of their debut EP, Through the Rough. The EP, released last month, debuted at number four on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts, an accomplishment that took the duo by surprise.
“That might not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it was cool for us because our expectations for the EP were basically just to release it and… see what happens,” Christie said.
Their music plays at a different pace from Eisley, or even Tallhart, but the concert goers were still feeling it by clapping and singing along, and even giving it up for Collin’s guitar solo on “Rewind.” The song served as Merriment’s send off, but before that the duo served up a Houston-friendly tune. Smack in the middle of their setlist, with a country music, almost bluegrass vibe, “Blessed Soul” was the perfect song for the Texas crowd. The added percussion and bass elevating it to sound very similar to the actual EP track.
A common theme of love is central in Merriment’s songs, which are catchy and will get your foot tapping. But some hit you right in the chest, like “I Give Up,” a song about letting go of the hope that someday it will work out, “I can’t trust you with something so important as my heart,” she sings “it’s been two years now you still don’t love me/ but someday, you might/ well, someday, yeah right.”
Operating as an unsigned band, Christie is feeling no pressure when it comes to the topics or genre of her songwriting; it’s very much a free-flowing process for her.
“As far as our songwriting goes, I just write whatever comes out of my heart and that’s that,” Christie said. “I don’t try to sound any certain way.”
Merriment will play support for Eisley once again this summer in a short tour leading up to their show at Cornerstone festival, but in the in-between time Christie will continue working to get closer to Merriment’s goal of releasing a full-length record.
“I’m planning on writing a lot during that time,” Christie said “and just hoping that something will work out for us to record soon… early next year maybe? Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”
Great review. Wish I could’ve seen them live