The Feelies have reunied to perform three shows over the next four days in New York, including two at Maxwells (technically in Hoboken) and one opening for Sonic Youth on the Fourth of July. It's a welcome return, one made all the more welcome for the reported fact that co-leaders Glenn Mercer and Bill Million are writing songs again.

According to a piece by Jon Pareles in the New York Times (which has a great photo mimicking the cover of Crazy Rhythms), "They have learned three dozen songs and are writing more, with the goal of recording again." Of course, they do so with "no manager, no recording contract and no tour dates planned beyond Independence Day."

I interviewed Mercer last fall, a piece about his fantastic 2007 solo debut, Wheels in Motion, that includes this exchange about his old band:

You recruited many fellow Feelies for the recording of the record, but decided not to issue it under the band's name. Is that due to the absence of Bill Million? Do you foresee making music with him again?

While recording the demo tapes, I began to notice how much the material sounded "Feelie-ish" and it was easy to imagine what the songs might sound like played by the Feelies. That's when I started to consider getting involved with my old band mates. At one point, I even considered making it a Feelies record, so I approached Bill with the idea. His response was that he'd love to re-unite the band to perform and record, but that the time wasn't right just now. It just didn't seem right to call it a Feelies record without Bill's involvement.

Good to know we'll get some more "Feelie-ish" music in the near future.

Labels: music