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Riding the ‘cerebral surf’ wave:
How Santa Cruz’s epic
surf-rock trio The Mermen keep on shredding
by Wallace Baine

WHY THE MERMEN ARE
SANTA CRUZ’S
GREATEST CULT BAND 
by Wallace Baine

“The best Rock and Roll is poetry in motion, with or without words – and some of the best records of 1995 came without. The Mermen play an extreme brand of surf music, and black minor-chord moods of guitarist Jim Thomas are like a rough ride on the icy seas of the mid- Atlantic. Hints of Dick Dale filter through the cracked-sidewalk  wave forms of Sonic You. But on long hauls like the nine minute “Obsession for Men” Thomas sounds more like Neil Young at the wheel of Crazy Horse. “

David Fricke, ROLLING STONE

“…ferocious and haunting instrumentals of an almost orchestral density…. roaring through mesmerizing waves of feedback and melody …. the Mermen never collapse into surf kitsch or fall back on the genres beloved but overfamiliar cliches… the burbling underwater atmospherics…and the shimmering riffs…disguise intricate arrangements, and the muted arpeggios and grandiose leanings are a long way from Wipe Out….”

David Dudley, NEW TIMES

20220903 The Mermen at Golden Gate Park Bandshell SF-4271_r3_2200px

Upcoming Shows

THE MERMEN

The Mermen will perform their groundbreaking album
FOOD FOR OTHER FISH

In celebration of 
its release 30 years ago
Read about the album here

Sunday
April 7, 2024
Doors 3:00PM
Show 4:00PM

Great American
Music Hall

859 O’Farrell St
San Francisco, CA

BUY TICKETS

streetfairlogo2024

Pleasure Point
Street Fair

The Mermen

Saturday
June 22, 2024

Free Admission

Portola Drive
between 41st and 38th Ave
Santa Curz, CA

1631398191312

The Mermen
with
Flamin’ Groovies


Saturday
July 13, 2024


The Chapel
 777 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA

SURF GUITAR 101 FESTIVAL 2024

THE MERMEN
3 hour show
8:00pm-11:30PM
Friday
July 26h, 2024

Golden Sails Hotel 
Long Beach, CA

BUY TICKETS

Past Shows

2023-MERMEN-NYE3

NEW YEAR’S EVE

THE MERMEN
THE JOES
PRAIRIE PRINCE

Sunday

Dec 31, 2023
Doors 8PM
Show 9PM

Park Chalet
1000 Great Highway
San Francisco, CA

2023 The Mermen Fairfax Denice

Live Water Surf Fairfax presents
SURF NITE with THE MERMEN!


Saturday
Nov 4, 2023
Show 9PM

Peri’s Tavern
29 Broadway
Fairfax, CA

2023 HALLOWEEN MERMEN

Halloween

The Shitones
(The Mermen) 
With The Joes,
Plus The Dunes

Tarzan Call Contest!
Guitar Giveaway!

Tuesday
Oct 31, 2023
Music starts 7PM

Park Chalet
1000 Great Highway
San Francisco, CA

The Mermen

Doors 3pm
Show 4pm
Sunday
Sep 24, 2023


Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA

The Mermen at
Pleasure Point Outdoors

Show 4pm
Sunday
Sep 3, 2023


East Cliff Drive
Between 37th and 38th Ave
Santa Cruz, CA

Night of Idea logo

THE MERMEN LIVE

NIGHT OF IDEAS

Saturday
March 4th, 2023

San Francisco Library Atrium

Presented by KQED, 
San Francisco Public Library,
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
and Villa Albertine.

The Mermen
close out the event
at 11:30 PM

nightofideas.org

Click a year below to see past shows
Click eye icon to see more

2022.12.19 THE MERMEN – JAMES BOND THEME at The Junction Mill Valley CA

2022.9.22 THE MERMEN – Little Stinky Kitty at Taros Essaouira Morocco

Popular Songs

THE MERMEN - SPLENDEURS ET MISERES - cover front. Photos by Jim Thomas. Cover design by Sienna Digital.

SPLENDEURS ET MISERES
(2021)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

A MURMUROUS
SIRENIC DELIRIUM

(2019)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

THE MAGIC SWIRLING SHIP
(2017)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

WE COULD SEE IT
IN THE DISTANCE
(2017)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

BLUES OF ELSEWHERE
JIM THOMAS SOLO
(2011)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR
(2012)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

SINGER OF THE SEA 

JIM THOMAS SOLO
Film Music (2013)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

IN GOD WE TRUST
(2009)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

VINYL (2LP) SOLD OUT

THE AMAZING CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND HAPPINESS ROADSHOW
(2000)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

SUNKEN TREASURE
(1996)

CD SOLD OUT

ONLY YOU
(1996)

CD SOLD OUT

MERMEN AT
THE HAUNTED HOUSE
(1995)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

SONGS OF THE COWS
(1996)

CD SOLD OUT

A GLORIOUS LETHAL EUPHORIA
(1994)
CD SOLD OUT

FOOD FOR OTHER FISH
(1994)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

KRILL SLIPPIN’
(1989)

CD $20
(shipping + tax included)

Buy CD

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