Wake Ooloo

Wake Ooloo was less a <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">Feelies</a> spin-off band and more of a temporary sequel. <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">The Feelies</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4F3BpLmlJ7cA7cHVvrpiOc">Glenn Mercer</a> and Bill Million's on-again/off-again proto-indie pop outfit, broke up seemingly for good in late 1991, when Million moved to Florida. Though the two had led bands under that name since 1976 -- arguably the most underrated members of CBGB's class of '77 -- both were far more part of a music scene around their native Haledon, New Jersey. <a href="spotify:artist:4F3BpLmlJ7cA7cHVvrpiOc">Mercer</a>'s musical partnership with drummer Dave Weckerman, a sometimes-uncredited <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">Feelies</a> percussionist who joined the band officially in 1983, actually stretched back even further than his collaboration with Million. Both <a href="spotify:artist:4F3BpLmlJ7cA7cHVvrpiOc">Mercer</a> and Weckerman had played together as early as a high school band called the Outkids, and -- when <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">the Feelies</a> broke up -- had no thoughts but to continue playing together.

The previous two <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">Feelies</a> albums had been released by the major-label-affiliated <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22A%26M%22">A&M</a>, and -- despite the newly indie-friendly grunge era -- neither <a href="spotify:artist:4F3BpLmlJ7cA7cHVvrpiOc">Mercer</a> nor Weckerman had any desire to pursue that kind of success again, nor had any desire to tour. As with the Willies, <a href="spotify:artist:6cQKkHH34tQ7N4mV34BYrb">the Trypes</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5zvsPbC7ouYPyXSme9DLEA">Yung Wu</a>, and other <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">Feelies</a> spin-offs, they were content simply to play music as often as possible. They were joined by another high school friend, Russell Gambino, as well as <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">Feelies</a> roadie Troy Weiss. Following <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">the Feelies</a>' increasingly polished efforts for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22A%26M%22">A&M</a>, Wake Ooloo continued in <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">the Feelies</a>' tradition of jangling guitars, atmospheric percussion, and a deep <a href="spotify:artist:1nJvji2KIlWSseXRSlNYsC">Velvet Underground</a> streak, but took a far looser approach -- a direct result of the meticulous Million's absence. Released three years after <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">the Feelies</a>' Time for a Witness, Wake Ooloo's Hear No Evil felt similar in spirit to the anarchic joy of early <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">Feelies</a> live bootlegs, though the sound would grow tempered with successive albums. While <a href="spotify:artist:4F3BpLmlJ7cA7cHVvrpiOc">Mercer</a> wrote the majority of the band's material, Weckerman, Gambino, and others contributed original songs, as well. For fans of <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">the Feelies</a>, Wake Ooloo are as worth exploring as <a href="spotify:artist:6cQKkHH34tQ7N4mV34BYrb">the Trypes</a> or <a href="spotify:artist:5zvsPbC7ouYPyXSme9DLEA">Yung Wu</a> -- or more, given that they were <a href="spotify:artist:4F3BpLmlJ7cA7cHVvrpiOc">Mercer</a>'s primary outlet for three albums.

The band split in 1998, when Gambino could no longer make time for it. <a href="spotify:artist:4F3BpLmlJ7cA7cHVvrpiOc">Mercer</a> and Weckerman continued to make music together, pairing with <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">Feelies</a> drummer Stan Demeski for a time in Sunburst, as well as a <a href="spotify:artist:4F3BpLmlJ7cA7cHVvrpiOc">Mercer</a> solo album, and an eventual <a href="spotify:artist:4UETUdF77BfyJ7fEFVztr3">Feelies</a> reunion in 2008. ~ Jesse Jarnow, Rovi