JOSE AYERVE, ALISHA GOLDBLATT, NAOMI HAMBY, KEN MAIURI, DON MCAULAY, MICHAEL MERENDA, JJ O'CONNELL, KEVIN O'ROURKE, DAN POLLARD, MARK SCHWABER
Influences
[These are some of my main influences, as I can't begin to list those of my innumerable band mates - J.A.] Flesh For Lulu (btw - they're back!), Pixies, Swervedriver, Pavement, Fobia (from Mexico), The Cure, New Radiant Storm King, The Cult, The Clash, Adorable, Duran Duran, U2 (but please stop with the Bono voice comparisons), Chavela Vargas, Slept, and a ton of other bands you may and may not have heard of.
Sounds Like
Click on the album cover to purchase. (Disclaimer: Some titles might be out of print, but each is available as a digital download.)
Spouse is a band that has taken on many forms since its inception in Brunswick, Maine circa 1995. Founding member, José Ayerve, has consistently found himself collaborating with some of the most creative and inspired musicians around. (*See list below) The group has managed to release two 7” singles, one maxi-ep, and four full-length albums on their own collective label, Pigeon Records.
Whether it’s a momentary blur of sonic influences, or a distinct yet subtle nod to classic Indie records from yesteryear, or even an obvious play on themes and lyrics explored by their contemporaries, the band has established it’s relevance in today’s music world. Deservedly so, Spouse enjoys a fair amount of admiration, primarily from fellow musicians who make up a large percentage of the group’s audience. Critical acclaim greets their live performances just as serious artistic consideration defines their recorded body of work.
The sound of Ayerve’s voice, described as both ‘feather smooth’ and ‘sandpaper rough’ blends effortlessly with a rewarding batch of harmony vocals and is as much a branding feature of Spouse’s sound as are the ratcheting interplay of guitars, the melodic rush of bass, and the freight train strength and steadiness of drums. Often the subtle or obvious presence of a Casio SK-5 sampling keyboard, a glockenspiel, or a Prophet V synthesizer sweetens the deal.
* Spouse members...
[••• indicates a frequent live performer, •• regular live performer • occasional live performer]
José Ayerve ••• – founding member, co-writer: N, LCSTL, K/W?, RT (v, g, b, k, d)
Liz Bustamante • – 1998-2001, 2007->, co-writer: N, LCSTL (k, d, v)
John Cowden – founding member, co-writer: N, LCSTL (d, b, g, v)
Alisha Goldblatt – founding member, co-writer: N, LCSTL, RT (d, b, g, v)
Naomi Hamby • – since 2000, co-writer: LCSTL, K/W?, RT (g, k, v)
Ken Maiuri •• – since 1998, co-writer: N, K/W?, RT (k, g, b, d, v)
Don McAulay •• – since 2004, co-writer: K/W?, RT (d)
Michael Merenda • – original member, co-writer: N, LCSTL, K/W?, RT (d, g, v)
JJ O’Connell ••• – since 2001, co-writer: K/W?, RT (d, v)
Kevin O’Rourke ••• – since 2004, performer: RT (b, g, v)
Dan Pollard •• – original member, co-writer: N, LCSTL, K/W?, RT (b, g, k, d, v)
Mark Schwaber ••• – 2003-2008, co-writer: RT (g, b, d, v)
[key: d = drums, b = bass, g = guitar, k = keys, v = vocals; albums: N = Nozomi, LCSTL = Love Can’t Save This Love, K/W? = Are You Gonna Kiss or Wave Goodbye?, RT = Relocation Tactics]
Producers / Engineers...
Adam Lasus – LCSTL, RT
Mark Alan Miller – N, LCSTL, K/W?, RT
Thom Monahan – N, LCSTL
John Truscinski – LCSTL
Elisha Wiesner – K/W?
Extended Family (past or occasional live or recording players/vocalists):
Bart D’Alauro, Nick Lamberto, Gabe McElwain, Erin McKeown, Ruth Ungar Merenda, John Nunan, Henning Ohlenbusch, Anne Pinkerton, Peyton Pinkerton, Philip Price, Flora Reed, Jeremy Smith, Robert Voyer, and many others...
SPOUSE CONTACT INFORMATION:
MANAGEMENT: Christen Greene/Faux Pas Productions - christen (at) fauxpasproductions.com
BOOKING: spousebooking (at) gmail.com
LABEL PR COORDINATOR: Sigrid von Wendel/Pigeon Records - sigrid (at) pigeonrecords.com
Spouse Video: In 2007, Spouse released a video for their single, "Hangover Cure For Humanity". The video was produced by MetroSpace Media, a Chicago-based video production company, featuring the talents of Genevieve Wolff and Jerry Donahue.
Preliminary band selections for Rockfest will be coming out in a few weeks. Bands looking to play should submit soon to make the first cut. To submit you can click the sonicbids link below or if you need more info first check our profile.
We're also looking for vendors and sponsors... Labels, Record Stores, Music Stores, Beverage Suppliers, Clothing Companies, Ice Cream Vendors, Tattoo Artists... we want you all. Go to our profile and click on the Vendor / Sponsor link
Thank you so much for "bandfriending" us, Spouse! We truly appreciate it and, hey, you are fellow Massachusettsians (with Maine ties). And, btw, we are truly diggin' the "Chicago" demo.
We hope that you find something of ours that will wriggle into your ears, burrow down next to your heart (in a good way), and compel you to ROB US BLIND (again, in a good way: "Free downloads, ahoy!”…that is, if Myspace ever gets around to reactivating that feature).
If you like us, please, tell a friend. If you hate us, hell, tell an enemy!
thanx 4 the add,,,,u rock,,,I WAS TOLD I HAD ISSUES AND SHOULD SEE A PROFESSIONAL.....SO I HIRED A HOOKER,,,,haha,,,i used to be a hooker they called me T-MOBILE cuz I WAS TEN CENTS A MINUTE
Thanks for the add and thanks for 'Long Live the Bay State' I hope you mean it as much as I do.. There's a new New England Pride emerging....Thanks for helping it grow!
You ROCK! Thanks for being a friend and for all your hard work. Hope to see you at the 2nd annual Utica Music and Arts Fest. Over 200 performers in over 15 venues for 3 DAYS! Including a kick-off party on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, Utica Tattoo Fest, Utica Greens Fest, and the Greater Utica Arts and Entertainments Awards!
Visit our site for more info and performer submissions. Have a great day!
Bands::: Interested in performing at this years event?? Click the link! And while you’re there please take a moment to sign up for our mailers to stay informed.
Thanks for the add. ¶ The electoral sprint is over, and we've had a couple of weeks to catch our breath, but we still have a long trek ahead. We need to find our jogging pace again. ¶ And it will be a new pace, because the terrain has changed. We've reached a higher elevation. I don't know how much more Obama will accomplish, but already he has led us to reject fearmongering, racism, and lies as electoral tactics. Over half our society has now affirmed that understanding is more important than "toughness." And some of the remaining people will now become easier to reach, because they are driven to conform to whatever they perceive as the majority, and that's now us. They may linger in denial for a time, but that will pass. ¶ Our struggle will be less obvious now; our adversaries will be more diffuse. I doubt that we'll be calling for impeachment. I expect that we'll rally in support of Obama on some issues and against him on others, but really it will be about the issues, not about him. ¶ We are still possessed by institutional and cultural demons: the military-industrial complex, consumerism, materialism, alienation, apathy, and other side effects of laissez faire. Those will all be exorcised only when our society understands our present situation and our alternatives. That understanding is spreading, but slowly; the corporate news media isn't helping. ¶ To change the world, we must change our culture; to do that, we must see more clearly; to do that, we must change ourselves. For a start, just talk with people -- that may not sound like much, but really it's huge. Share whatever you've understood about who we are and what we can become. Each of us knows only part of the song. Keep singing, hoping, resisting, questioning, loving. Hand in hand, we may heal this world. We're all in this together. -- Eric
Please come see us play a dance party with French dance DJ Don Rimini on Friday, Dec. 5 at The Abbey, 3420 W. Grace, Chicago! It's the "Heaven Seventies birthday bash" because it's Nilay and Loren's birthday in early December. So come and dance and have fun! Here is a flier for $2 off the entry price at the door, you can print it and come for cheaper:
