AEON STATION Announces Debut Gig at NYC’s TV EYE

“The greatest indie rock record of 2021 is the long-lost follow-up to a cult album 20 years previous.” – The Independent

AEON STATION
Featuring Kevin, Jerry and Greg of The Wrens Announces Debut Live Show
Friday, March 11th at NYC’s TV EYE
Tickets On Sale Friday, Jan. 21st at 10:00am ET

“Whelan is as equally expressive and in command on the minimalist piano ballads as on the full-blown rockers… the best music Whelan has ever made.” – New York Times

“This is exciting, dynamic, hooky indie rock and if it’s not quite a Wrens song, that doesn’t make it any less great.” – Brooklyn Vegan

“… a refreshing essence of ’90s alt-rock of self-enduring trials and defeat that a vulnerable Whelan sings with passion and questioning.” – SPIN

“… a heartening return to form from Whelan.” – Consequence of Sound

“an impressive collection of indie rock.” – The Aquarian

JANUARY 19, 2022 (New York, NY) — “Maybe the most important aspect to making music is playing music live. Only then does music come to life, change and grow,” says Kevin Whelan of Sub Pop recording artist Aeon Station.  It is this philosophy that Whelan (who is also co-songwriter/co-vocalist of mythic indie stalwarts The Wrens) holds closely to his chest and with which he is excited to announce the live debut of his new album Observatory (released on December 10, 2021 via Sub Pop), which New York Times lovingly calls “the best music Whelan has ever made.”  Aeon Station will play TV Eye (1647 Weirfield St., Ridgewood, NY 11385) on Friday, March 11th.

Joined by his Wrens bandmates drummer Jerry MacDonald and guitarist Greg Whelan (both of whom also play on the album), Aeon Station is rounded out with NYC/NJ indie rock veteran Lysa Opfer (Gramercy Arms, Big Lake) and guitarist/producer/author Tom Beaujour.

“This is a new start for us…it’s energizing,” says Jerry about the upcoming show.  “I’m so incredibly excited to have music back in my life… and to do this with Kevin and Greg feels right.”

Absent from the stage since their last full show together in Dec. 2009 at Hoboken’s legendary Maxwell’s (The Wrens had played a benefit for Haiti in Jan. 2010 at Brooklyn’s The Bell House), Kevin, Greg and Jerry are ecstatic to be reunited.  “I’m really excited about the show at TV Eye,” says Greg, who is also Kevin’s biological older brother. “Our last Wrens shows were for Todd [Abramson, talent booker] at Maxwell’s, so it’s cool to be starting up again with Todd at another of his venues.”

“It seems that my signature move is to insinuate myself into the live lineups of the bands that I work with in the studio,” laughs Tom who produced Observatory at his Nuthouse Recording studio in Union City, NJ. “I’m absolutely thrilled to have been invited to have pulled that off with Aeon Station.”  Adds Lysa, “I am so excited for Kevin, and being able to support him this way is an absolute dream.”

Tracklisting
Hold On
Leaves
Fade
Everything at Once
Move
Queens
Empty Rooms
Air
Better Love
Alpine Drive  

Surprising an unsuspecting public last Summer with the news of Observatory’s release (this was the first new music from any of The Wrens since 2008’s critically-adored album Meadowlands), Observatory’s effect was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Pitchfork lauded, “Whelan’s instincts are exquisite. His melodies are sweet, but never overstated. His songs rise and swell, but it’s never too much, always just enough.” Referencing The Wrens’ long-awaited follow up, SPIN proclaimed, “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.” Calling the album “arresting,” Wall Street Journal contributes their praise, “The album’s essential idea, embodied in both the words and Mr. Whelan’s gesture to form this band and get his songs out there, is that endurance matters above all.”

Truly a family affair, the live component of Aeon Station brings much needed cohesion to the stop-start nature of The Wrens’ storied past, with an eye to the future of more music more frequently (it’s been 14 years since Meadowlands’ release).  “There’s a lot of nervous excitement to step on stage again,” says Jerry, “but to have our families see this part of our lives makes it all that much more special. My kids were so young during Meadowlands, and to have them do this with us…Kevin and Greg’s families too….it’s special.”

Concludes Kevin, “After so many years, especially the last few years due to COVID, the chance to get out of the house and enjoy music with friends is a true gift.”

Aeon Station plays TV EYE (1647 Weirfield St., Ridgewood, NY 11385) on Friday, March 11th.  Tickets go on sale this Friday, January 21st at 10:00am ET and can be purchased here: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/Aeon-Station/463615?afflky=TVEye.