The Mere

Formed in Denver, Colorado during 2000, the group Mere centered on guitarist and keyboardist Brian Bason, bassist Tony Burke, and vocalist Cory Tenbrink. The trio quickly began showcasing its melodic adult alternative style at local venues and soon released the debut album A Mere Nine Songs. Early attention brought support slots alongside acts such as INXS and Seven Mary Three, while the independently issued follow-up The Standing That Was earned favorable notices in the regional press. In July 2002 the band secured a $25,000 scholarship from the Music for Youth Foundation, a nonprofit established to advance artists between the ages of 13 and 25. Around the same time Cory Tenbrink departed, with Christian Brucculeri stepping in as the new vocalist. Although the members kept performing around Denver, they looked toward wider exposure after reaching the finals of the third annual Coca-Cola New Music competition in September 2003. Selected alongside two other finalists, Mere was slated to appear that October at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, where the winner would earn a slot on the nationally televised American Music Awards the following November.