The Mermen

[Jim S]

Nobody sounds as unique and beautiful as Jim Thomas' composition and playing. I've listened to and been inspired by Thomas for years.

Finally they showed up to Tahoe and gave a free show last night (and will repeat it tonight) at the Crystal Bay Club, a small venue with a great sound system. Jim Thomas and crew were fantastic. Tight band, great playing, fantastic tones, loud enough for you to feel but not too loud.

Jim had a slew of red knobbed 'Twin Reverb' heads, various cabinets, more volume pedals than an octupus could handle, a siver Roland effects board on the floor, and full mixing stand to his right. He played mostly one candy apple red strat (? American Standard) with a Duncan rails-type pup in the middle position.

Bass player was on a maple necked P most of the night with some time given to a Rickenbacker; an Ampeg SVT and 8x10 cab handle the low end.

I love these guys! They played some of my favorite songs including Scalp Salad, The Curve, With No Definite Future and No Purpose Other Than to Prevail Somehow, Soul Surfin'.


:aok

[paulg]

I'll be there tonight! thanks for the review. I haven't seen them for about ten years (a guess).

[Bobby D]

"A Glorious Lethal Euphoria"

it truly IS!

i love The Mermen, and i HATE surf.........but Jimi was WRONG about the Mermen

[snarkle]

Nice to know they're still kicking...a great band.

(The one time I heard them live they were loud beyond reason, but that's why we have CDs...)

I don't think it's out yet, but I've heard the rough mixes of an album Jim Thomas recently did with Henry Kaiser and Nels Cline...free-improvised art-rock that splits the difference between the Mermen, the Magic Band, and Red-era King Crimson...it's quite something.

[Phil M]

Love them.

[Bryan T]

I've been following the Mermen since "A Glorious Lethal Euphoria" came out. It got a good write-up in one of the guitar mags, so I had my local CD shop order it for me. What a great album.

I tried to see them once 10 or 12 years ago, but they canceled without informing the fans. I wasted about 3 hours driving to that show. I got my money back for the tickets, but it still bugs me and I haven't tried to see them again.


I don't think it's out yet, but I've heard the rough mixes of an album Jim Thomas recently did with Henry Kaiser and Nels Cline...free-improvised art-rock that splits the difference between the Mermen, the Magic Band, and Red-era King Crimson...it's quite something.

That sounds like a great album!

[Jim S]

BTW, last night's and tonight's show are FREE.


:)

[snarkle]

BTW, last night's and tonight's show are FREE.


:)

Loud or not, I wish I could be there!

Tech-heads who don't know the Mermen might be interested to know a little bit more about Jim Thomas's set-up: he uses Strats which have been customized so that each pickup has its own output. And then each pickup gets its own amp and effects, with Thomas constantly working the aforementioned volume pedals to create a constantly shifting array of tones...it's the biggest sound imaginable.

[Jim S]

/\

Wow, that is so cool. And it explains the sound which was gorgeous and ranging from s*rf twang to muscular ovedriven Fender BF tones.

[Thor]

I really dig the Mermen - really doing their own thing and doing it well!

Just another reason I wish I was in Tahoe right now!

[daveS]

Cool. The Mermen are awesome and uncompromising.

[seiko]

Has the album with Jim Jones, Nels Cline and henry Kaiser come out yet? that's on my radar.

[Bobby D]

I really dig the Mermen - really doing their own thing and doing it well!

Just another reason I wish I was in Tahoe right now!

me too.....because after the show, i would talk Jim S into letting me come to his place and play his bowling ball sadowsky ;)

[Jim S]

me too.....because after the show, i would talk Jim S into letting me come to his place and play his bowling ball sadowsky ;)
No talking needed. Door is open. No bull.
The show is about 25 minutes from my guitar/house.

[jgyn]

Once saw them open for Nancy Sinatra- a great double bill!

[Shane S]

Great band. I have been a fan of them for 15 years but still have never had a chance to see them.

[paulg]

I saw the Tuesday show, it was awesome. He had six red knob twin heads. Some weren't fired up, as far as I could tell he was using one 2-12" Fender cabinet. There were half a dozen Starts laying about the stage. For the second set he pulled a blue American Strat out of a garbage can behind the drummer! His tone was fantastic. Surf music meets orange sunshine! The drummer and bass player deserve mucho credit. At times I thought they sounded like Cream. The guitar sounded like Pink Floyd, all playing surf music. Crazy stuff, check it out!

[Danny_Snyder]

"A Glorious Lethal Euphoria"

it truly IS!

i love The Mermen, and i HATE surf.........but Jimi was WRONG about the Mermen

Fortunately I live in the SF Bay area and get to see them regularly along with their more trad surf alter egos The Shi-tones. As for hating surf, well surf music is a big tent these days, it's not just Dick Dale acolytes. If you love guitars and gear then how can you dismiss a genre that is the ultimate in guitar music? If you're open to giving the genre another chance, check out these bands: The Madiera, The Bambi Molesters, Slacktone and Pollo Del Mar.

[Gretsch47]

My wife and I were pretty honored to have the Mermen play our wedding near Mavericks (HMB - Princeton) five years ago. Jim, Martin and Jennifer were rockin' out the old folks, it was very cool. Unlike most surf musicians, Jim is also a long time surfer and a very nice person as well. Long live the Mermen!

[chrissh]

If you're open to giving the genre another chance, check out these bands: The Madiera, The Bambi Molesters, Slacktone and Pollo Del Mar.

To add to your list, Diminished Men make a wonderful sound(and their name is a nice play on words).

Mermen music has been comforting to me for many years. I'm excited to hear the collaboration mentioned above.