Tunes Tuesday: The Whelks
The Americana trio is set to release their final album which will be marked by a live show at Myrtle on June 28th.
The Whelks. Photo by: Jarrod Rory McCabe.
Where’d the name The Whelks come from?
You know those cool looking spirally shells on the beach from which you can hear the ocean when held to your ear? Those are whelks! They come in two flavors, channeled and knobby, and are indigenous to Rhode Island. They are weird little carnivorous sea snails that crawl around the seabed hunting quahogs, as are we; hence the name.
Is this your final album?
We recorded this album during our final show as a band at Myrtle in September, but we’re going to be releasing it at a show at Myrtle in June, which we are also going to record for release at another show that will then also be recorded! ‘Is this our final album?’ is actually an impossible philosophical question; a zen koan, if you will. It’s like looking into two mirrors and seeing yourself reflected into infinity. No, really, this is in fact the final Whelks record.
How was it making a live album? Scary?
Most everything besides quahogs are scary to whelks, so yeah! Every wrong, flat, or indecisive note, as well as every awkward piece of stage banter feels like you’re ruining the record when you’re in the throes of it. It feels like being part of a two-hour long car crash. That goes for me anyways (and maybe Peri, too). Erin generally seems to be having fun. When you mix the record, you have to stare all of those accumulated mistakes right in the face for hours on end and listen to them in shockingly high fidelity. But then you put some distance between yourselves and the recording and when you go back and listen it all seems slightly less horrifying. As the decades pass you may even come to like it. That’s the hope anyways. So yes, a bit scary.
What have been some highlights of being a band?
Passing the time playing music you like with people you like for people who seem to like it in a place that feels comfortable and wants to have you back was the perpetual highlight of being in the band. We turn again for guidance to the whelk, who is not the center of attention in Narragansett Bay, but is nonetheless an integral and respected member of the ecosystem. If folks were feeling chatty, we were happy to underscore it with music. If they were paying close attention, we would put on a little more of a show. We always felt like the bar/venue being happy with us and the crowd having a nice time were our first two objectives, and once they were satisfied, we could stretch out musically and experiment and entertain ourselves.
What are the plans for the remainder band members?
Erin is now living in Saratoga Springs making incredible art and music as she always has and always will. Mark and Peri are doing much the same, except still here in Rhode Island and minus the art. Uh-oh, is this turning into one of those omniscient narrator Christmas card things? I don’t know where we went wrong, but let’s get out of here! Little Bobby has started volleyball but no longer has as much time for flute lessons. Yeah, but why aren’t you mentioning the dog who was in last year’s picture!!?? What happened to that dog????
Is there anything you’d like to say to the fans and people who have supported The Whelks on this journey?
See you in the funny papers!
Get tickets to the record release and reunion show here.
