Mere

Mere originated in Denver, Colorado, during 2000, coalescing around guitarist-keyboardist Brian Bason, bassist Tony Burke, and vocalist Cory Tenbrink. The trio immediately began showcasing its highly melodic adult alternative style in local venues, and released its first recording, A Mere Nine Songs, shortly after assembling. Regional attention soon earned the group support slots alongside established acts such as INXS and Seven Mary Three, while its follow-up independent album, The Standing That Was, drew favorable coverage from area publications. In July 2002 the band secured a $25,000 scholarship awarded by the Music for Youth Foundation, a nonprofit established to advance the careers of musicians between the ages of 13 and 25. Around the same time Tenbrink departed, with Christian Brucculeri stepping in as the new vocalist. Although the ensemble kept performing regularly in Denver, its focus shifted toward wider exposure after reaching the finals of the third annual Coca-Cola New Music competition in September 2003. Matched against two competing acts, Mere was slated to appear that October at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, where the winner would earn a slot performing before a national television audience at the American Music Awards the following November.