Music

Art Rock History 101 with New Jersey’s The Feelies

The band that shaped the indie sound is back, and playing better than ever

by Laura Scott   |   Sep 17, 2008

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A Feelies show always ignites a sense of restless, uneasy anticipation. Perhaps that’s because the Feelies, formed in 1976, have played very few live gigs. (Hailing from Haledon, New Jersey, the band did often perform at the small Hoboken venue Maxwell’s in the ’80s.)

Their first album, Crazy Rhythms, went down in rock history despite an initially tepid reception. The record made Rolling Stone and Spin Magazine best-of lists, and the Feelies influenced many that followed, most famously REM. But no one has replicated the anxious beats of The Feelies; no voice compares to Glenn Mercer’s ghostly intonations.

The band reformed this year to play a few select gigs in New York City and Boston. These guys are veterans, and it shows—not in their age, but in the intensity and quality of their performance. Don’t miss this chance to witness a little alt-rock history reborn.