Here is the official word from the Mermenlist:
Greeting Merfriends,
Very BigThanks to all our fans for our SOLD OUT show at the
INDEPENDENT in San Fracisco Friday, August 11.
NEWS: ALLEN WHITMAN, the MERMEN's original bassist will be returning
for performances on a regular basis. The first show with Allen will be
at 19 Broadway in Fairfax,CA 9/9/06. The MERMEN will be playing this
Saturday (Jennifer Burnes on bass) 9-11PM outdoors in Nevada City, CA
at RIDGESTOCK at the Shady Creek Family Camp & Conference
Center- located 11 miles north of Nevada City on Hwy 49. Turn right onto
Tyler Foote Road and continue for another 1 mile.
Turn right on Pathfinder Rd. and follow the signs. more info:
www.ridgestock.org

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Wish I could be there, Brodway 19 is close to home, and the Merms only do one, maybe 2 shows there a year.
Where is your show in Napa, tom?
--fd

Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
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Pool Boys on Spotify
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DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio

So I 'm a bit confused, whats with then on again off again of the bass players now?

Not that we don't have our fair share of musical chairs down here in
So. Cal. with bands.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Jeff(bigtikidude)

I have to say that I never saw them back before Alan left.
But I did see the recent reunion show at the Phil Dirt retirement show. I agree he is great, but I thought was a bit over the top in his stage antics.
I am used to seeing them with Jen about 10 to 15 times, and am always satisfied to watch them just play. But Alan was jumping all over the stage like a flea on a hot brick, which is weird compared to Jim's sullen standing like a wall playing.
I think Jen is really good. most of the time, but have caught a couple off nights.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Jeff(bigtikidude)

Last edited: Aug 28, 2006 17:37:38

I find this a bit odd. I had a conversation with Allen maybe 5 weeks ago and he seemed to still harbor quite the grudge against Jim, and spoke with disdain in his voice. Hopefully, they were able to bury the hatchet and reconcile their differences.

I do want to say that I've seen Jennifer play many times myself, mostly with the Shitones, and she's a very strong and inventive player, and any band would be very lucky to have her.

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

I love Jenifers playing! really, and she is fun to talk to as well. I just felt like Alan had a way of proding Jim into a much livelier show, part of it could be the jumping around, raising the energy level. I think it is mostly that he is not intimidated by Jim, and the strange thing is we just might benifit from a level of animosity between them. Did Lennon and McCartney get along?

THe NEpTuNeS

I have seen Alan "sub" twice for the Merms over the past few years and he always seems to be enjoying himself. Let's face it, its hard to keep a group of artists or musicians together, always fragile egos and different paths of creative growth. If you can come together onstage for an hour or two and agree to collaborate, that is good enough.

As for Jennifer, she needs no defense. She may have been wobbly early on (can you imagine jumping into Allen's shoes?) but she is nothing less than a kick ass bass player.

--ferenc

Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio

Jennifer is doubtless a great bass player and I don't think her presence had any direct effect in sabotaging the band's sound. I've personally never seen them live, but from what I've heard on archive.org it sounds like as a whole the band's sounds, tones, and general presence have sorta diminished. If Allen is in fact a dynamic stage presence I hope his return, wether spiteful or cooperative or whatever, can act as a kind of new beginning. Maybe the gang will be inspired to kick it up a notch and maybe even start working on NEW MATERIAL. :oops2:

How long did the "Amazing California...." album take? I am glad to hear that JIm is doing soundtracks, I wonder if that pays the bills better than album sales?

The debate over there inclussion in the genre is moot in my opinion. if the hard-core trads knew how deep Jim was in surf-music history, they would call him visionary. Not fringe.

THe NEpTuNeS