Spouse

The indie rock collective Spouse originated as the creative vision of Jose Ayerve, a songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist who routinely adjusts the group's size according to each show's requirements, ranging from solo or duo presentations to lineups that incorporate as many as seven supporting musicians. Born in Bogota, Colombia, in 1974, Ayerve moved with his family to Springfield, MA, during childhood. He assembled the initial incarnation of Spouse in 1994, and the band's earliest releases appeared in April 1999 as the 7" vinyl EPs One Marvel to DC and Focus. Ayerve launched the Pigeon Records imprint, which issued Spouse's debut full-length album, Nozomi, in fall 2000, followed by Love Can't Save This Love in 2003. Although the ensemble's membership stayed fluid, Naomi Hamby on guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals, J.J. O'Connell on drums and backing vocals, and Dan Pollard on bass, guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals became core contributors who appeared consistently on later recordings. Are You Gonna Kiss or Wave Goodbye? arrived in fall 2004, with Relocation Tactics emerging in 2007. At that stage the wider circle of musicians included Ayerve alongside Hamby, O'Connell, and Pollard, plus Ken Maiuri handling guitars, bass, keyboards, and backing vocals, Don McAulay on drums and percussion, Michael Merenda on drums and guitars, and Mark Schwaber on guitars, bass, and backing vocals.