andrea bauer-guitar, vocals;
laura watral-keys, guitar, vocals;
lauren viera-bass;
martha williams-drums
Influences
sonic youth, the pixies, mirah, pavement, nouvelle vague, yo la tengo, weezer, pinebender, built to spill, silver jews, guided by voices, cat power, pj harvey, blonde redhead, postal service, death cab for cutie, the breeders, the rentals, shannon wright, slumber party, elliot smith, 18th dye, black sabbath, the rolling stones, walter brennan, james van allen, clarence reid
guitar + bedroom
In 2002, guitarist/vocalist Andrea Bauer (AKA Lily Cedar) went into her
bed-room with a guitar, a toy keyboard and a 4-track recorder and recorded
her first album, Sleeper, which was released on Extra Small Records in 2003.
These bare bones recordings laid the foundation for what would evolve into
what is now Coupleskate.
girl + girl + girl
Andrea then rounded up bassist Carol Bales (Reagan National Crash Diet) and keyboard/guitarist Laura Watral (Belfrie, The Race, Consafos, Bottledog), to round out the sound and they began piecing together the earliest Coupleskate songs.
girl + boy
After playing with a handful of drummers, Jonathan Durlam (Kaspar Hauser)
joined as the steady drummer in 2005 to pursue his love of music (and his
love for bassist Carol Bales). During this time, the band developed its signature sound and put to tape their first self-released EP "Trophy," engineered by Peter Andreadis at Shape Shoppe in Chicago.
goodbye + hello
In a bittersweet change to the line-up, drummer Jonathan and bassist Carol
got engaged and moved to Chapel Hill in 2006. In order to fill the void left
by the departed rhythm section, Andrea and Laura continued
to play shows with help from local musicians in Ambulette, Baby Teeth and
Apteka, until they met current drummer Martha Williams in February of that
year.
In March of 2007, the girls completed the new rhythm section with the
addition of Lauren Viera on bass (A-Set).
Inspired by their shared affection for the indie rock canon (e.g. the
Pixies, Sebadoh, Built to Spill), Coupleskate’s expertise lies in redefining
the broken-hearted and seamlessly combining the rough and the beautiful.
It’s this type of brilliant naivete/down-to-earth genius that mix to make
melodic yet lo-fi rock that speaks to your most bittersweet moments (you
know, like every time you put on your high school ex-boyfriend’s Sonic Youth
shirt). Heavy distortion mixed with floating two part harmonies and catchy
guitar hooks merge together into something completely pure. To call them
mere pop songs would be a cop-out.
This will come true Perhaps I'm just paranoid About the debate between The soul is being too utopian In need of becoming more practical
I'll leave all that to be A dreamer on the highway Andrea left a note She thanked me for being the one Who waved the flag of her band ................From afar
And as Mac played his riffs I think of a certain small rendition Where she , her band and I could jam together
and the love will finally overflow
It could happen someday All I'm worried about Is me worrying But I can love with the help of the my notebook ..........and my guitar
Thanks coupleskate for being on my friends list, love the page great stuff. I’m so blown away by all people that have joined me on Myspace. The support and positive comments about the music and the new CD "Abstract Man" have been great and appreciated. The track "Only In America" hit the air this month and so fare it’s a hit with all that have heard it, I’d like to let you know about the free MP3 giveaway as a token of my appreciation for being on my friends list. It’s available at www. tomfullerband. com Hope you have a great summer with lots of good music for sitting in the sun. Thanks again, Tom
Comment back and let me know if you like it or not...Even if you don’t like it, please just let me know and give me your honest opinion/feedback.
Also, I am trying to get a gig (anywhere) and haven’t been successful yet. If you know of any club near where you live or have connections to one (Especially in Chicago) please help me out. So far I have only been able to perform at a weekly open mic night and it is only 3 songs per time so it’s not like a real showcase, which is something I would like to try to do next.
On Playing Fireman (Francis Aguilar, written April 6, 2008)
I panic at the inadequacy That I might have Three chords of verse one The riff is like the sweet milkshake side of the city I think I'm in love I don't know if the love is towards a What? Or a Whom? But Iam And I feel so smittened (Air moves and turns to wind Slowly giving me a right jab Pushing me down the bed) The riff is something I must touch With caution since The love might be gone and this riff might help me be loved In the end I'm sorry of I sound Like an obscure postulate A difficult math for the moment It's just that in bonding with my guitar Here in the a downtown park I thought of you
and It's not enought To let prose speak About the idea (a SWEET one) the thought of me Struck by Those guitar riffs
Perfect!! I'm so happy that you found me, sweetie. Thanks so much for the request. Now come say hello anytime you want! And while you're at it, make sure to click that lil' pic below to check out all of the amazing vintage fashions in my eBay store. The stock changes all of the time and right now, a bunch of fabulous, one of a kind items that are up for auction are about to end tomorrow!!! Don't miss out. Well, thanks again for finding me, hun. Have yourself a rad Tuesday, hun. :)
love,
lullie -- Because You're Not Cut From the Same Cloth --
Felt your songs playing in my ear In a park Somewhere uptown
The riffs make up a surreal Lynch-or Dassin-like moment While I drive my point home
I've never loved something like this I've never felt like this For years Since a part of me thinks RockNRoll has died Along with everything And every useful mind ever to roam This planet
Until I heard you That's all for now I don't want to scare anyone With this poem Not my intention So that's all. I'll shut up now
But I'll be hearing you again Blasting away from speakers As I read Kafka Or Proust Beckett Bender Just like your sound It'll take me away From this dead city
One last thing I send My regards To the sisters who shred Since the brothers and sons Have bored me I'd say the sisters who rock out Are the future Of this dying noise
Nice work at the Bottle a few weeks ago! The new songs are super duper. Reptoids are playing tonight at Double Door and it'd be great if you could make it out. We're on second of 4 bands at 9:30p. This here totally rockin *coupon* will get you in for just $5!
C-skate, Heard the tour went famously. As to Halloween, I've never been very good at it ... maybe I'll dress up as ... um ... Neil Young? What about you gals? -KH
