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I first learned about Jose Ayerve when I interviewed the members of Winterpills (check out their Well-Rounded Radio interview here), who Ayerve worked with on their two releases (Winterpills and The Light Divides), during our conversation early this year.

Spouse's frontman Ayerve sent me their latest release, Relocation Tactics, and, during a recent drive to Washington D.C. for The Future of Music Coalition summit, I listened to the album, once, twice...eventually probably about six or seven times on the drive down I-95 from Boston. Part of me kept wondering why Spouse was such a well-kept secret...and another part of me was wondering how soon I could get them on the show.

Ayerve is the constant thread behind Spouse, an indie-rock band that started in Brunswick, ME in 1995 and has released four full-length CDs and a variety of EPs since 2000. The band's albums include Nozomi (2000), Love Can’t Save This Love (2002), Are You Gonna Kiss or Wave Goodbye? (2004), and their latest, Relocation Tactics (2007). The band’s line-up has shifted, expanded, and evolved over the years, and we talk about the various incarnations it has had—and still has in different cities—in our conversation.

The current line up is Ayerve (vocals, guitars, and bass), Naomi Hamby (guitars, keys, and vocals), Ken Maiuri (guitars, bass, keys, and vocals), Don McAulay (drums and percussion), Michael Merenda (drums and guitars), JJ O'Connell (drums and vocals), Dan Pollard (bass, guitars, keys, and vocals), and Mark Schwaber (guitars, bass, and vocals).

While some reviews of Relocation Tactics have used the word schizophrenic to describe the diverse musical sounds and styles that the band tackles, I see it as more of all the diverse influences that the band members have creeping into the work. More bold and anthematic than earlier releases, Relocation Tactics is one of those albums where the great songs just keep on coming at you, with songwriting and performances that feels like the group has taken what they do to a whole new level.

Spouse has drawn comparisons to a variety of indie rock bands in reviews over the years, including Pavement, The Pixies, Sebadoh, The Replacements, Dinosaur Jr., and Wilco. I also hear a bit of Boy and October-era U2 through their vocal and guitar styles at that point.

Ayerve is also one of the main organizers behind Pigeon Records, an indie label of collective musicians based in Portland, Maine. Other bands on the roster include Sandra Black, Bullyclub, Dennis Crommett (who also plays in Winterpills), Lo Fine, The Mitchells, and Mark Schwaber.

Spouse has a handful of live dates with Spottiswoode & His Enemies coming up in November in Boston, Providence, New York, and Arlington, VA and more dates in December in Northampton, Chicago, Nashville, Charlotte, Knoxville, and New York City. Check here for more details.

I recently met with Ayerve in Boston to discuss:

* how and why Ayerve splits his time between Portland, Maine and Northampton, Massachusetts
* how he is juggling being both a musician and helping to run a record label
* how working musicians are currently trying to make it in the indie music realm given the constant change that all of them are managing

Highlights from the following songs are featured in the interview:
1) Long Live the Baystate (in preview) (Relocation Tactics)
2) Spouse Visits the World Bank (Relocation Tactics)
3) Japanese Sandals (Nozomi)
4) Focus (Nozomi)
5) Catch 22 (Love Can't Save This Love)
6) Pocket #9 (Love Can't Save This Love)
7) American Run-Through (Are You Gonna Kiss or Wave Goodbye?)
8) Feather Boa (Are You Gonna Kiss or Wave Goodbye?)
9) Coaster (Relocation Tactics)
10) Tonight (Relocation Tactics)
11) It = Love (Relocation Tactics)
12) Boys vs. Girls (Relocation Tactics)
13) Thunder Royale (Relocation Tactics)
14) Boyfriend in Training (Relocation Tactics)
15) Relocation Tactics (Relocation Tactics)
16) The 4.1 Blur (Relocation Tactics)
17) There Goes the Road (Relocation Tactics)
18) Turn the Van Around (Relocation Tactics)
19) Hangover Cure for Humanity (Relocation Tactics)
20) Delta (Relocation Tactics)
21) José Ayerve: Envueltos Con Ganas (unreleased)
22) The Nuclear Waste Management Company: Choke Back the Tears (Separation Anxiety)
23) Long Live the Baystate (Relocation Tactics)

If you enjoy this episode, give a listen to other interviews I've done with other indie popsters such as The Douglas Fir, Francine, Blake Hazard, Joe Pernice, Piebald, Jeffrey Simmons, and Winterpills.

José recommends: Slept, Swervedriver's Mezcal Head, U2's Pop, Blanketeer, Rogue Wave, Bullyclub, Katie Sawicki, Kristin Gass, Snowden, John Doe, and Robert Plant + Alison Krause.

Well-Rounded Radio recommends Pylon's re-release of Gyrate.

Posted by Charlie at 01:00 AM | Permalink