arts culture
Who is Terry Ohms?
Wes McDonald heeds the voices and channels his inner goof
music feature Sam George
Terry Ohms is about to release his very first full-
length album, and he doesn’t exist. That is to say, he
exists only in some dusty corner of Vulture Whale
frontman Wes Mcdonald’s brain, waiting patiently
for his moment in the sun. Well, that moment is
now, and the result is the confident and slightly silly
album “What Do You Mean, What Do I Mean?”
(WDYMWDIM).
Though he’s donned a moniker for this project,
McDonald indicates that it wasn’t really an attempt
to assume a new identity. “I was in a band in Ath-
ens, Georgia called The Ohms. As a joke we all had
Ohms names. I was Terry Ohms. We had Guilty
Glen Ohms, Ron Ohms and Lance Ohms. Then,
I got to the point where I didn’t want to put out
Wes McDonald albums anymore. I just got bored,
and it kind of gets weird with your name out there.
We had [Wes McDonald] and The Plan and Wes
McDonald and the Fizz, never anything felt really
good, so I said if I did anymore solo stuff i was just
going to be Terry Ohms. It’s a lot more fun.”
McDonald doesn’t get to spend much time
playing with his alternate identities, because Vulture
22 n o v e m b e r 1 1 - n o v e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 0
Whale, his primary focus, has been more than a
little successful. In fact, they will be returning to
record another album shortly after the Terry Ohms
release. In many ways, Terry is a reaction to the
environment of Vulture Whale.
“In Vulture Whale,” McDonald says, “every-
thing is done with four guys doing what bands
do—consulting with each other, bouncing off each
other—and that’s a totally different energy than
someone doing a solo project where one person is
calling all the shots. So, with Terry Ohms it’s just
me and I can do whatever I want, and it’s the total
opposite. I play everything on the album.”
And he really does mean everything. WDYM-
WDIM has a very full sound with plenty of layers,
and it’s a testament to Wes McDonald that he’s
solely responsible, especially since the songs were
written in stolen moments and over a long period
of time.
“It’s really, truly a side project,” says McDonald,
“that I do in my spare time. I try to do songs that
don’t fit the Vulture Whale thing. Vulture Whale
is sort of a straight ahead, let’s see what we can do
LIVE MUSIC
game day menu
B I R M I N G H A M W E E K LY
with four guys—it’s kind of a gang mentality. Terry
is just some other part of the brain. [Vulture Whale]
is more of a rock band and Terry Ohms is more of
a goof.”
That he is, and though some of WDYMWDIM’s
kind of an outlet for that as well. That’s another big
difference between Vulture Whale and Terry, is the
drumming. Jake [from Vulture Whale] is a rock
drummer. He can pull out all the stops and I can
pull out only a couple.”
more eccentric moments are just downright weird, That may be so, but it doesn’t stop WDYM-
they give it zany charm. Anyway, I’m willing to WDIM from being a thoroughly enjoyable album,
forgive any weirdness, because at its core, this is a and it won’t stop the November 12 release show
really fun rock album. It’s got just enough dance to from being a good time.
get your toes tapping, and just enough familiarity to The show starts at 9 p.m. and costs $8. To purchase
make you comfortable without boring you. tickets, visit www.bottletree.com. For more info on
If all this is sounding like your cup of tea, then Terry Ohms, visit www.terryohms.com.
you can do something about it. The Terry Ohms Sam George is the managing editor of Birming-
CD Release show is this Friday, November 12 at ham Weekly. Please send your comments to editor@
Bottletree, and according to McDonald the lineup bhamweekly.com.
is really out there. “Hank Lazard is doing his puppet
thing and you got [local chip-tuner] HROM. It
should be a really weird night at the Bottletree. I’ll
be singing and playing drums at the same time. I’m
playing drums, and Les Nuby is playing guitar and
Drew Davis is playing bass. James Brangle from
Through the Sparks is playing keys and guitar.
Drums were my first instrument and singing was
my last instrument. So, I’m going to be doing both,
and I have this helmet, the Terry Helmet, because I
don’t want to look like an operator or Garth Brooks
or Celine Dion.”
Though he’s only just released his first full-length,
McDonald is already looking forward to the next
one. “I’ve got a bunch of songs to do another one;
I’ll probably do that one with the band. I really
like the band I got going with those guys, and I
love to play drums, but I never really get to, so it’s Horse power: Wes McDonald, commanding
horses as his quirky alter-ego Terry Ohms.
2312 2nd Ave North, Birmingham, AL 35203
FAX: 205-202-4152
Thursday - Full Moon
Mon: 11am til, Tues-Fri: 11am to 2am, Sat: 5pm to 2am
Blanket and the suite c
Friday - angie aparo
Saturday - ms virginias
birthday party with frankie velvet
Loaded waffle fries ($3.50)
Topped with melted cheese, apple smoked bacon and sour cream
TEL: 205-202-4151
Bratwurst ($6.00)
Slightly grilled then boiled in beer with caramelized onions
topped with a spicy mustard
Our Chicago dog ($5.00)
A jumbo hotdog topped with yellow mustard, pickle spear, fresh
tomatoes, and spicy peppers
Wings ($9.99)
A trio of wings Served 3 ways Guinness barbeque, jerk and Asian
Fried platter ($10.99)
Chicken fingers, fried olives, jalapeno caps, fried bleu cheese