Winter is upon us here in Austin. The days are foggy, drizzly and cold. The temperatures have already gotten about as low as we can expect for the rest of the year. And I’ve actually been wearing my jackets – that’s when you know that the warm weather won’t be back for a while. At this time, it’s tempting to bust out the Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes records and curl up in a ball under my blanket with some hot cocoa. Fortunately, The Couch are forcing me to resist that urge with their new release, Old and Touchin’ Blue, which comes out tonight at their CD release party at the Mohawk. They’ve offered up a disc full of the kind of soulful blues-rock that Austin tends to do well, and it brings the kind of energy I just don’t have these days.
The Couch is a quartet that also contains members of The Calm Blue Sea and Frank Smith (a band name, not a dude), both of which we’ll probably be writing much more about in the new year. They largely met while students at Texas State in San Marcos and have made the easy relocation up to Austin recently to focus on their music. And focus they have. 2011 saw them release three different EPs before drawing on that material for a full-length release. They’ve been recognized by KUT, they’ve opened for the Toadies, and it generally seems that things are starting to come together for these guys.
The two lead singles, “The Way You Came” and “Close to You,” are both high-energy rock tracks. “The Way You Came,” in particular, is a favorite of mine for its stuttering blues shuffle and explosive chorus. “Close to You,” though, seems to be getting more of the early accolades and is, I think, a bit more accessible while still retaining a rock edge. Despite a strong start, the album isn’t perfect; “DOKAT,” for example, is kind of a 70s hard rock retread. But “Hummingbird Rita,” which follows it on the album, is their most interesting song – a slower number that places prominent emphasis on the keyboard. And album closer “Indian Doctor” continues to prove that The Couch are a versatile rock band, with many directions they could go in the future.
So be sure to catch the show at the Mohawk t night. It’s $5 at the door ($7 if you’re underage), and The Couch will be joined onstage by Zlam Dunk and Little Radar.
– Carter