Jesse Ahern - Mercy
“Rabble-rousing troubadour Jesse Ahern has earned an international following for his politically charged working-class roots rock — unsurprisingly he’s a favorite of fellow Bostonians the Dropkick Murphys, who’ve brought him on their tours and released his music on their label. “Mercy” finds Ahern adding a soul music setting to some of his anthems, revealing a songwriter who can be as passionate and pointed about his inner life as he is about the world at large. These times are perfectly captured in “Someday,” where Ahern admits that he’s “scared too,” but promises that “things will change/not today, but someday.”” – WBUR
Jesse Ahern Announces “Mercy” – A Bold Rocking Full length record set for Release on January 17, 2025
When Jesse Ahern walks on stage he looks like a regular guy-albeit one with a six string strapped across his body and an anchor tattoo under his right eye. As he tears through his set, easily rousing brand new crowds to shout his choruses back in his face, it’s clear Jesse could be everybody’s friend.
Ahern has spent the last few years touring, sharing stages with Dropkick Murphys, Rancid, Chuck Ragan, Frank Turner, Violent Femmes, X, Jaime Wyatt and The Record Company. While on the road Jesse was inspired to write “Mercy” and self-release it via Roots Rock Rebel Music.
Following his previous record, Roots Rock Rebel, mainly stripped down folk, Ahern takes a confident leap forward with a full-band rock sound on Mercy. Recorded at Rare Signals in Cambridge, Massachusetts and produced by Brian Charles, a longtime friend and producer of some of Ahern’s prior work, Charles brings a fresh energy to Ahern’s songwriting, resulting in a record that is both emotionally charged and sonically rich.
Fans of Ahern’s earlier work will recognize his signature storytelling style, but with Mercy, Ahern explores themes of everyday life, redemption, and personal transformation. “From the first guitar riff to the last note, we set out to make something that felt big but still true to the heart of the songs,” Ahern says. The album opens with “Someday”a defiant yet soulful reflection on the complexities of life and change. “The World” showcases Ahern’s knack for poetic lyricism and one of the album’s standout singles, “Sunshine” has already generated buzz. Madelyn Dawson of Spin Magazine recently wrote, “Sunshine a rocker: roaring out of the gates with a fast, punchy riff and billowing horns. Ahern’s strong and gravelly voice has something in common with The Boss’s, packing enough power to go blow-for-blow with the heavier arrangement.” Dawson continues “Despite its ruggedness, “Sunshine” is a deeply optimistic song, reminding listeners that even in the most desperate times, the enterprise of looking for a silver lining is always worthwhile. “Show me the light,” Ahern sings, “On my darkest days.”
Mercy marks a pivotal chapter in Ahern’s musical journey, as a natural evolution of his sound, it’s both a continuation and a reinvention— Ahern hopes to hit the road in support of Mercy throughout 2025, with upcoming tour dates to be announced soon. For more information about the album and ways to purchase, visit www.jesseahern.com