The guy I remember from an album that boasted of being a 30-something “best 17-year old ever” making about $13,000 a year greets me showered and blue-blazered, sporting a white oxford and an equally bright smile. Kevin Whelan calls his Zoom profile picture his “LinkedIn look,” and it betrays an unexpected quirk of a Google search I conducted just prior to my conversation with the Aeon Station frontman: “Kevin Whelan Johnson and Johnson” pops up ahead of “Kevin Whelan Wrens.” Whelan’s official job title is Global Head of R&D Strategic Initiatives and Operations, and he manages about 400 employees. Since 2003, it’s been far more likely that Whelan could give someone a job than a new Wrens song. More disturbing is that the third entry is “Kevin Whelan Obituary.” “Work, rock and then death...
Kevin Whelan of The Wrens announced his newest project Aeon Station last month. Aeon Station just released another track off their upcoming debut Observatory, “Leaves.” While the first track released last month, “Queens,” captures a refreshing essence of ’90s alt-rock, “Leaves” is a heart-wrenching ballad of self-enduring trials and defeat that a vulnerable Whelan sings with passion and questioning. “I took what little ground I could find to start again / And by the time you will realize I’m gone / It will all be over just a hard-won memory.” The closing lyric, “Off to find a better life,” mirrors Whelan’s new leap with Aeon Station, and the beginning of his journey innovating a new sound and carrying on his heart for making music. “‘Leaves’ is about finding the courage to leave negative p...
Kevin Whelan of The Wrens has formed a new band called Aeon Station. The group will release their debut album Observatory on December 10. Observatory is a 10-track record, consisting of over 14 years worth of demos and sketches from Whelan. The album is now available for preorder on CD/LP/DSPs from Sub Pop. Though this isn’t a Wrens album, which is what many of their extremely patient fans had hoped for, it’s certainly a great consolation prize. Largely assembled and recorded by Whelan himself, Aeon Station is composed of Wren bandmates Jerry MacDonald and Greg Whelan, and musicians Tom Beaujour and his wife Mary Ann. Aeon Station released their debut single “Queens,” filled with bashing drums and monster guitars. “This song was inspired by one of my all-time favorite songs, ‘The Winner Ta...