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The Mermen

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The Mermen
OriginSan Francisco, Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
GenresPsychedelic rock, surf rock
Years active1989–present
LabelsMesa Blue Moon (Atlantic), Kelptone
MembersJim Thomas (guitar)
Jennifer Burnes (bass)
Martyn Jones (drums)
Past membersVince Littleton, 2000-2002

Prairie Prince, 1998–present (alt)
Randy Clark, 1999-2000
Mike Silverman, 1999-2000

Allen Whitman, 1989-1998, 2004-2014
Websitemermen.net

The Mermen are an American instrumental rock band from San Francisco, California formed in 1989.[1][2][3] They have since moved to Santa Cruz, California.

The group's sound was originally rooted in surf and psychedelic rock music of the 1960s, although they have made "sincere attempts to get away from the surf music label"[4] and currently delve into many genres, mainly driven by the melodic visions of the band's founder, songwriter, and guitarist Jim Thomas. The band's music is entirely instrumental and "does a good job of defying description".[4] The Mermen perform as a power trio: electric guitar, electric bass, and drums, with occasional guests for live concerts. They were featured in the soundtrack of the Sony PlayStation video game Road Rash 3D and have contributed music for films as well.

The 2010 album, In God We Trust, was their first release in a decade. It was followed in December 2012 by their first full-length Christmas release, "Do You Hear What I Hear - A Very MERMEN Christmas".

Thomas also fronts The Shitones, an associated band that features some of the same personnel (Jennifer Burnes on bass, and Shigemi Komiyama on drums prior to his 2014 death.[5]) While Mermen feature Thomas's original compositions almost exclusively, the Shitones are a cover band that emphasizes instrumental rock hits of the 1950s and '60s by the likes of Link Wray and The Ventures, along with instrumental versions of songs by Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and others.

Albums

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  • Krill Slippin' (1989)
  • Food for Other Fish (1994)
  • Live at the Haunted House (1995)
  • A Glorious Lethal Euphoria (1995)
  • Songs of the Cows (1996)
  • Only You (1997)
  • Sunken Treasure (1999)
  • The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show (2000)
  • In God We Trust (2010)
  • Blues of Elsewhere (Jim Thomas solo) (2011)
  • Do You Hear What I Hear - A Very MERMEN Christmas (2012)
  • We Could See it in the Distance (2017)
  • The Magic Swirling Ship (2017)
  • A Murmurous Sirenic Delirium (2019)
  • Splendeurs Et Miseres (2021)

References

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  1. ^ Roos, John (1996-05-02). "O.C. LIVE; Riding the Next Wage?; Mermen add a spacey guitar psychedelia and an aggressive, punkish tone to venerable surf music". Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.). p. F2. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  2. ^ "The Amazing California Health and Happiness Road Show" Pop Matters. Retrieved 2015-8-8.
  3. ^ Presswire, EIN (November 7, 2023). "Joe Satriani Bass Sideman and Mermen Co-founder Allen Whitman Releases New Ambient Soundtrack "Monogatari no Fūkei"". FOX40. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b McDonald, Steven. "Biography of Mermen". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  5. ^ RIP: Shigemi Komiyama, Halu owner and Shitones drummer, Paolo Lucchesi (2014) SFGAte.com, accessed 29 November 2017
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Live shows

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