INTERVIEW with THE WRENS
by
Kristine Howard | Age: 26
Hudson Valley, NY
If youíre reading this, youíve probably heard of The Wrens. In fact, you probably first heard of them when they appeared as #18 of Pitchforkís Top 50 Albums of 2003. The truth is that theyíve been around for about 14 years. Thatís double the lifespan of Google, people. During their lifetime, The Wrens have had their share of corporate turmoil, most publicly seen with their former labelís burying of an album and subsequent signingóand viciously popularizingóof the ìbandî Creed.
So that youíre up to snuff on all the witty inside jokes and super-intellectual innuendoes that run rampant in the following interview, you should probably review some of The Wrens history with me. The Wrens are Kevin Whelan, Greg Whelan, Charles Bissell, and Jerry MacDonald. They are men in their 30s and 40s, some of whom are married, one even with three kids. Even crazier is that Jerry lives in PA while the rest of the band resides in smelly NJ. Somehow these crazy cats make things work. Theyíre even the subjects of a documentary-in-progress. Despite these obstacles, they still tour, they still get records out, and they still rock out with their... well, you know. Plus, kids, The Wrens do it all on their own terms. A band like this is a damn Jackalope these days, and we are all thoroughly impressed.
(After again sending a pathetic request full of empty promises of debauchery, Greg Whelan of The Wrens agreed to answer some of my questions. He even thinks I rock. Take that, Brian Pearl.)
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Let's start with the big question, shall we? I need to know how you feel about Windex. Not as a cleanser, but as an aromatic, blue substance.
Windex, how timely. Just got a puppy and she is trying to master the potty training thing... she is almost there. During the first few days we were unprepared to battle the mess & related smell... Windex is for more than just cleaning glass!
Any thoughts or concerns about the disbanding of Creed?
Hmm... besides not being soon enough? The unfortunate thing is now the general public must be subjected to solo projects!
More on that, if you could describe the frustrations of being dropped "unceremoniously" by your label with a single metaphor, what would it be?
Actually, clarification is needed. The story has seemed to take on a life of its own but we were never dropped. It was our decision not to resign with the label. It is true however, that the label buried the Secaucus record.
Do you think that living well is the best revenge, or would you still like to kick someone's ass over there at the corporate office?
A bit of both. We are all now in a great place as a band and as people. We are now happy making & playing music and not so wrapped up in the label stuff. However, there is nothing wrong with a little ass kicking... it is good for the soul. But the fact that we made a pretty good record and we are still doing it is revenge in itself. We proved we could do it on our own and by our own terms.
You're in the midst of being filmed for a Little Quill documentary. Do you feel like you can relate to Ashley and Jessica Simpson now?
Maybe more like Bobby Brown & Whitney Houston... have you seen that show... oh my!
How did this project come into fruition?
The project was started by a few folks who either liked the music, our story or both. They are all such great peeps and have become part of the family. They are doing a great job trying to make us look cool & interesting... tough job.
Let's dig back to that span of time between the mid-nineties and the date of your highly acclaimed album, The Meadowlands. (Grab a tissue if you'd like.) Did you contemplate dissolution? What kept things together for you, as a group?
Honestly, I don't think we ever truly considered breaking up the band. We knew we at least had to finish the record regardless of the outcome. Even when times were bleak, we still loved making music together. So really, we needed to do it for the four of us.
Aside from the new record deal, what contributed to this revival? Was the timing better? The market less saturated?
Definitely not less market saturation. Big labels will always be putting out endless streams of crappy, redundant music. It was definitely a timing thing for us and a very fortunate one for us. The biggest thing for us was the internet explosion. We could now get our stuff out there without having to depend on a major label... of course, the scale is much smaller but it is real. The biggest tide-turner for us was Pitchfork... they have been such big supporters and so many people tune in. Also, we have a really great team: label, booking agent, publicist.
Do you think Garden State was a fair portrayal of your mother land? Do you find yourself irritated by the "New Jersey smells!" stereotype?
Yes. Unfortunately, most people only experience flying into the Newark Airport and get to smell Elizabeth. We all grew up in South Jersey at the beach (no syringes). You go an hour west and it is all farmlands or mountains. Lovely place, New Jersey.
Are all of you still working full-time jobs to supplement the band, or has this recent revival helped you wean off of corporate America?
Three of us still have day jobs. Charles is the only full time Wren, although I may be joining him soon... corporate downsizing... in other words, the guys at the top have fucked up so badly that they need to start killing off the worker bees. We probably all could do it full time and I think we will with the release of the next record. Also, things are looking really good for us in Europe so who knows.
Two of you are married, one with three children. How does this alter the band's dynamic?
Actually, it really hasn't. Our wives, etc. all realize that the band is a top priority for us and it makes us who we are as people so they are all real supportive. My hat comes off to Jerry & Bridget because with 3 kids it must be crazy but Jerry still makes almost every show which is just so cool... he is the heart & soul of our band!
Where do you see yourselves, collectively, in the next five to ten years? (Please say "still making sweet, sweet music")
Ten years, collecting Social Security and getting into movies at a discounted rate. We think the next 5 years for us will be the most productive making music and touring... after that... reissued box sets.
Do you think that the United States is going to take over the world?
With Bush behind the wheel, I highly doubt it. I think he needs to start focusing on what is going on here and leave the rest of the world to deal with their own problems. Not that I am an isolationist but if the foundation is weak... McDonalds for all it's bad stuff has provided a solution to the oil thing [editorís note: Greg is referring to those vehicles that run on recycled restaurant frying-fat. You may have known that without this parenthetical insert, but Kristine had no effing clue.] ...so instead of safeguarding the Iraqi oil fields, secure the McDonald's fryers!
What do you think of "emo kids" and what music should they really be listening to?
Funny but we have never really been into scenes or types or hype. For us there are only two types of music: good / bad (well, maybe 3 ...Creed). So, the "emo kids" are all cool and are passionate about the music they like but like any other "group" as long as they keep their minds open and can appreciate other styles that is cool. There is nothing wrong with enjoying both Goth & Hair Metal... it is what it is and enjoy it for just that. For us, we just write about what we are experiencing and if others can relate that is cool but we are not preachers. Plus, all music is emotional and therefore, all = emo.
You are considered an "indie band." What does this title mean to you, if anything?
"Indie" ...this term has been so bastardized over the years. So I think we are more Do It Yourself. It is just the four of us and a limited few. We record at home, write & perform the type of music we like. We use our own resources to fund our projects and are not beholden to anyone or thing.
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And there you have it. The Wrens are kickiní ass and taking names. Whatever the hell that means, anyway. The Wrens are going to start their next album in a few weeks and are hoping for a Spring/Summer release. Watch for their next album and their documentary making its way through festivals, both within the next year.