The Mermen

One of my good friends moved back to Salt Lake from San Francisco a while ago. When he came back he brought with him a shit load of music from the thriving music scene in SFO. One of the bands he turned me on to were The Mermen, three guys that play original, instrumental surf music.

Jim Thomas is the guitarist and master-mind behind the The Mermen. When you listen to The Mermen, you hear Thomas’s creations. The ebbing and flowing rhythm is created by Thomas, along with freshly cropped Allen Whitman on bass and Martyn Jones on drums, percussion and cardio workout. Out of a pure love of writing and performing music The Mermen have, practically single-handedly, shifted the human consciousness of modern surf music and literally created their own niche and following. And get this, because this is important… WITHOUT ANY MAJOR NATION WIDE RADIO AIRPLAY OR BACKING!!! You and I both can count on one hand how many bands have done that. Yeah, they are as impressive as hell and a lot of fun to listen to.

I happened to miss them when they played in our great city, back in April at the Zephyr Club. I was way bummed until I heard what a fiasco it turned out to be. Two weeks later I found myself down in Southern California on business. Going through a local concert guide, what does my little eye spy? You got it, not 15 minutes from my hotel in Dana Point, but The Mermen playing at a club called the Coach House. So I cruised over and checked out their 90 minute-plus show, after their totally ripping performance I met Allen and told him I missed them in Utah and I flew down there just to check them out. He saw right through my lies and granted me a telephone interview the following week. (Note: This interview took place during the second week of May after The Mermen just wrapped up a tour.)

SLUG: How did the tour go?

Allen Whitman: It was a good tour. It was our second time through a bunch of different markets. People have begun to know us, which is nice. And that’s good, it’s nice to be welcomed and to have friends in all these different cities.

SLUG: Back in 1986 through 1989, when your first release came out, what was the concept behind that? Because there was no scene as far as original surf music goes nor was there a big demand for surf music.

AW: We never had a concept, honestly. Jim was sort of naturally gravitating to this particular style of music that just came out of his head, without a thought of style or anything. He never really thought in terms of “I am going to make surf music now,” he just sort of played what came naturally. What he would do is put it in this little four-track music recorder. We used to work together at this music store and I just said “Hey let me listen to what the hell you’re doing,” because he had been working pretty hard at it, during store hours too, which made me really proud of him. You gotta get what you can! And so I listened to it and I said, “I like this. Let me lay some bass tracks down over it.” And he said, “O.K, whatever, whatever you want to do.” So I did this and this became the basis for the CD, Krill Slippin’ which was recorded in ’89, after Jim found Martin. So it never really tried to be anything specific, it was just the music that came out of our heads.

SLUG: So there was never a conscious decision to play surf music?

AW: No.

SLUG: It was like, let’s just play what comes naturally to us.

AW: Yep, exactly.

SLUG: Very cool, how long have you been playing bass?

AW: For 25 years. I’ve played in every type of band with every type of music, you name it, I’ve played it or some form of it.

SLUG: Out of that varied, eclectic experience, musically, with an instrument, what type of music do you enjoy playing the most?

AW: It’s got to be the Mermen’s music, definitely, definitely. The Mermen’s music is very rewarding to play, in and of itself, even with no audience I enjoy playing the music. The three of us communicate the best when we are playing music.

SLUG: Yea, it seems like that, now that you mention it, because when I saw you play there really is no audience interaction and you guys seem to perform in a sort-of triangle, all facing each other.

AW: Yea, I don’t face the audience because Jim goes to a lot of places. Our stuff is becoming more improvisational. I tend to face Jim a lot to keep myself aware with what’s going on because he’ll just invent shit on the spot. Man, every night is different and we never have a set list.

SLUG: Really?

AW: Oh yeah, never. We’ve never had one.

The Mermen have only played in SLC once. But, I do think they plan on coming back sometime in the next year. Their CDs are available throughout the state, if you can’t find them at your favorite CD store, call my friend Nick at Graywhale in Layton. He’s the man with the connections. Check out the Mermen’s home page and updated Mermen info at http://www.mermen.com on the net. Allen will be happy to hear from you.

Read more interviews with musicians of the 90s from the SLUG Archives:
Jawbox
Julian Cope

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