Sometime in the mid-aughts, I found myself in a shed on Sumter Street screaming into a microphone at a Mercy Mercy Me rehearsal. Afterwards, the music moseyed into a long night, then an early morning spent playing quarters at Tripp and Zach’s house. I had known them for years, but I groggily went home floored after realizing how talented, kind, hospitable, and fun they are. A few years later, they recorded the songs for the “Another Place, Another Time” single, and the newly official Fork & Spoon Records label jumped at the chance to bring it into the world.
Shortly before the release party, Zach had the accident. I don’t know that any of us knew how severe it was because Zach is just always even-keeled and cool. He never let anyone worry. “Zach got hurt. He’ll get better.” If only things worked that way. Seeing the GoFundMe was the first time I realized how serious the fall was.
The heart of Fork & Spoon has always been the collective, the community. When someone we love needs help, we rally. We are brainstorming more ways to help (as I am sure others are too – reach out!), but in the meantime, we are reviving what was formerly known as Aaron’s Bin at Papa Jazz Record Shoppe in Columbia, South Carolina. Let’s call it Zach’s Bin now. Go buy some records from this bin, and 100% of the proceeds will go to Zach’s GoFundMe.
I wish we could point you to the Mercy Mercy Me songs on streaming platforms, but no one knows where the masters went. So instead, go buy the 7” from Papa Jazz and check out this film:
Also, go listen to Say Brother to hear more of Zach’s guitar wizardry.
More announcements soon!
Love,
Jordan / F&S
