Onstage Injury at SxSW Sidelines AEON STATION’s Kevin Whelan

ONSTAGE INJURY AT SxSW SIDELINES 
AEON STATION’s KEVIN WHELAN

March 19, 2022 (AUSTIN, TX) — Last night (Friday, March 18th), New Jersey’s AEON STATION was sidelined with a knee injury at Austin, TX’s South by Southwest® (SXSW®).  Headlining the Jumpstart 14‘s Saturday afternoon showcase to a packed to the gills crowd, frontman Kevin Whelan suffered a tear in his patellar tendon during the second song.  Known for his all-or-nothing dynamic live performances as one of the frontmen of mythic indie rock band The Wrens, Whelan was in the midst of the single “Fade” from their debut album Observatory (Sub Pop) when his injury occurred, sending him toppling on the stage.  Immediately rushed to a local hospital, the band’s set was unfortunately cut short.

Bummed out but recovering peacefully from his injury, Whelan said:
“It is such a joy to be back at SXSW and back on stage playing music. I always give it my all during performances, and shortly after starting our fourth show, my knee just gave out. It turns out that I tore my patellar tendon while jumping around on stage. With a little surgical repair, I’ll be back on stage before you know it.

“We were all looking forward to playing with old friends, so I am heartbroken Aeon Station couldn’t finish the Jumpstart 14 party and we had to cancel our last show at Peculiar Works. I will find a way to make it up in the near future. 

Thanks to SXSW and all the people who attended our shows. Regardless of my injury, it’s been a wonderful experience connecting (and re-connecting) with so many you.”

After a massively successful return to the stage after a dozen years, Aeon Station played momentous debut show on March 11th at NYC’s TV Eye. Sold out weeks in advance, Whelan with two of his Wrens bandmates Jerry MacDonald (drums) and brother Greg  Whelan (guitar) along with producer Tom Beaujour (guitar) and old friend Lysa Opfer (bass, keyboards) of Gramercy Arms and Big Lake played a twelve song set that included a bulk of Observatory plus three songs off of celebrated Wrens album The Meadowlands (“The House That Guilt Built”, “Happy”, “Hopeless”).  

With full band in tow at SxSW, Aeon Station had already performed three shows on Thursday and Friday – Hipster Robot @ Side Bar, their official showcase at Elysium, and Brooklyn Vegan at Cheer Up Charlie’s, but unfortunately their fourth for Jumpstart 14 would be their last for their Austin run.  Their fifth and final set (for Peculiar Works at Soundspace) had to be canceled.

Whelan is currently in Austin but will be returning to New Jersey shortly to recover at home.  Aeon Station is scheduled to broadcast live from Seattle’s legendary public radio station KEXP on April 29th with more live dates to be announced soon.

“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

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

“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