9.2 A long (longggg) wknd w/ Couvo

The artist on losing his mind and destroying (after exfoliating!) his body... plus his Wednesday-evening album-release show at The Sultan Room

Sep 02, 2022

We are currently typing this edition of THE SETLIST under a purple Substack banner with the warning we are “near email length limit,” and that is because Josh Couvares (that’s Couvo) went above and beyond… like, disturbingly beyond… when it came to this assignment, not just sending over a standard three-day plan (or a Labor Day-appropriate four), but whipping up what appears to be 100% more weekend than usual (six days, bb!), culminating, of course, with his ALBUM RELEASE SHOW on Wednesday 9/7 at The Sultan Room with Edna, Laura Galindo and The Plebs.

And tbh that’s exactly the IDGAF attitude we appreciate in an artist—the craziness we crave and the debauchery we demand! FORGET THE FARMERS MARKET! SUCK IT, SCRABBLE! Sometimes we want a weekend that will take us ‘til next weekend to recover from—a rockstar-approved itinerary that incorporates equal parts excess and existentialism, High Lifes and low-lifes, questionable decisions and unaccounted-for hours. And then, in an attempt to undo all that damage, what appears to be a very elaborate and expensive skincare routine.

And on this front, Couvo truly delivered. Which is actually not all that surprising given the artist’s recent single "Bar Bathroom” (off the forthcoming album The Drinks Are Always Free in Purgatory), which he previously described to us as “an attempt at capturing the chaos of any given night in Bushwick.” And hey, that shit requires research. Songs don’t write themselves.

OK! We’ve now officially been informed we are at our email-length limit so we’ll leave it to Couvo to map out your next six days, which might in fact take six years off your life. WOO! We’re hungover just thinking about it. We truly hope you enjoy—and, as always, plz have fun + be safe. <3

[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]

FRIDAY

10 am: My name is Couvo. I'm 29 years old. I believe in taking care of myself, and a balanced diet and a rigorous exercise routine. In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing my stomach crunches. I can do a thousand now. After I remove the ice pack, I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower, I use a water activated gel cleanser. Then a honey almond body scrub. And on the face, an exfoliating gel scrub. Then apply an herb mint facial mask, which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.

There is an idea of Couvo, some kind of abstraction, but there is no real me. Only an entity, something illusory. And though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable, I simply am not there.

12 pm: Try to make myself look as warm, social, and appealing as possible by making Tiktoks because I’m told this is what will finally make people like my music.

7 pm: Catch Drug Couple, Desert Sharks, and Wetsuit at Baby’s All Right. It’s gonna be a wild show. Continue to tell every soul in the building about the album release show on Wednesday at Sultan Room. Count how many times someone says, “Wow, I had no idea Mary Shelley had a new record coming out!”

1 am: If you saw me at Horses & Divorces no you didn’t. I wasn’t there. I have no recollection being there. And you shouldn't either. Because I wasn’t there—I told you that already. Ali the bartender was certainly not serving me High Lifes and tequilas for several hours straight. How dare you gaslight me like this. I was home, listening to “Horses & Divorces” instead. I understand your confusion, but I was not there.

4 am: Some mysteries will remain unsolved for eternity.

SATURDAY

12 pm: Wake up to a pounding headache and an elevated heart rate.

Fight off a hangover by getting coffee at Variety at the corner of Graham and Conselyea. Stumble around like a stray dog in desperate need of a checkup at the vet. Look at the beautiful and seemingly rich people going by, on their way to brunch, or walking their dogs. Begin to wonder if these dogs eat better than you. In this neighborhood, they might.

Imagine what their owners do for a living, how they afford to live like they do. Begin to wonder if your mother is right, that music is perhaps not the best way to spend your life—maybe you should have become an architect like she always wanted. Why an architect, you have no idea.

Continue to talk to yourself in the second person. Tell yourself that this is assuredly a normal, well-adjusted thing to do. Ask yourself unanswerable questions—why are we born into this liminal state of consciousness against our freewill, only to suffer for its duration before we enter the great unknowable void? How does a place like Freehold exist? And has anyone ever actually enjoyed themselves there?

Question why you drink at all. Consider replacing alcohol with a healthier habit, like swimming or knitting or ketamine.

2 pm: Have already consumed 7+ drinks at The Commodore. Tell everyone within earshot about that one song you wrote that mentions the bar, so you can feel cool.

4 pm: Go see TVOD, Fat Trout Trailer Park, Spite FuXXX, JessX, and the one & only Hollye Bynum at Trans Pecos. Fun fact: Tyler from TVOD has my first name tattooed on his ass. If that’s not a sign that you’re going to have a good time, I don’t know what is.

9 pm: Stop by Carmelo’s for several more drinks. Because that’s what the hip Bushwick ppl do.

11 pm: End up paying for a wildly expensive uber to Twins Lounge for reasons unknown. Upon arrival, realize it’s cash only. Upon a trip to the ATM, realize you have no money. Continue to do what you’ve done your whole life: beg, borrow, steal, etc. etc. etc.

1 am: Spend far too much money to go into a place called Good Room. Have absolutely no idea where you are at this point. Is this Greenpoint? Williamsburg? Queens? God forbid—Manhattan? You are in no shape to have this information.

3 am: ????

5 am: !@#$!#$!$!^???

SUNDAY

11 am: Sundays are for Greenpoint. Everyone knows this. Start off the day with some thrifting. I low-key believe that the Beacon’s Closet by McCarren Park is ~~the best~~ worst thrift shop of all time. Please don’t go ~~and steal all my fits~~. ~~You’ll love it.~~ You will not like it.

Though, truth be told—it’s where I got my infamous Angelo shirt. Which I may or may not be rocking this Wednesday at The Sultan Room. Have you gotten tix yet?

12 pm: Stop by Minnows for their burger and fries (how are they so good!?) before going to Goldie’s for a quick High Life.

1 pm: Swing by 18th Ward to catch Monsoon, Incircles, Redout, Spirits of Leo, Plastic Waves, and Andrew Pichardo. Max out all of your credits cards to buy yourself one burrito.

7 pm: We’ve made questionable decisions all weekend—why stop now? Why not double down? When one stands at the edge of a cliff and stares into the abyss, is there not a desire to fully give yourself over to the sweet relief of total destruction and jump?

And what could be more destructive than making the unholy trek to New Jersey? That’s right. New Jersey. This Sunday evening, make the questionable decision to LEAVE Brooklyn (is Couvo okay? Has he lost his mind!?) to go to NEWARK (Okay, it’s clear he has officially lost it. to catch John Cozz’s album release show at QXT’s.

MONDAY

10 am: I’m sorry, did you think the weekend ends after Sunday? What are you, a professional chronologist? Do you have a PhD in time from Harvard? Do you get a biweekly stipend to delineate the days of the week? Or are you just another sheep that buys into everything the media force feeds you? It’s all just a construct, man… and time is a flat circle.

Spend several hours convincing yourself the weekend does not end until you say so.

1 pm: Play hooky from work. Get lunch at Newtown. Their Halloumi sandwich is just, *chef’s kiss*

7 pm: Go see The Thing’s single release show at Arlene’s Grocery. I saw them play at OWL a few months back, and God damn, that band can play. Have a few drinks while you’re at it.

TUESDAY

10 am: At this point, the body is depleted of all feel-good chemicals. Walk through life as a former shell of the person you once were, a husk of a man who once had potential, blowing away in the wind.

8 pm: Head to Not Today, Maybe Tomorrow for a drink and a few games of Jenga. Then rest up for the big day. Because….. (DRUM ROLL PLEASE).....

WEDNESDAY

THIS IS IT, THIS IT THE MOMENT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

SULTAN ROOM. 7 pm. Be prepared for the best night of your life courtesy of The Plebs, Laura Galindo, Edna, and yours truly.

There will be singing, there will be dancing. There will be laughter. There will be tears. There will be lovers. There will be enemies. But above all, you will meet some of the best people you’ll ever know in your entire life.

You may think, “Couvo, how is that even possible? Surely this won’t all happen in one night!” And to you, I say: prove that I’m wrong. You can’t.

We’ll follow it up with some good times afterwards at an undisclosed location. As the album title goes, the drinks are always free in purgatory…

Itinerary above provided by Couvo. Follow the artist at @couvomusic and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!

Feature image provided by the artist.

MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS

BANDCAMP FRIDAY IS BACK TODAY, BABY! And, according to the site, will continue on October 7th, November 4th, and December 2nd. Buy merch // look kewl // support artists. So simple!
TOMORROW! Booked by Grandma + Pluto Booking present Bands, Bikes & BBQ at Trans-Pecos! Kicking off at 4:30, the event will feature performances from TVOD, Fat Trout Trailer Park, Spite FuXXX, JessX and Hollye Bynum & Friends + DJs, vendors, food and more. Best of all, all raffle proceeds go to The Brigid Alliance, which is dedicated to supporting people across the country who need to travel for abortion care.
While as an entity, Purgatory has been around since 2019 (it was “established in 2019 as a predominantly woman and queer-owned bar / venue under the guiding principles of kindness and inclusivity”), the venue is celebrating its ~grand opening~ THIS WEEKEND with Friday + Sunday events featuring music, drag, dancing and more—with all proceeds going to Black Trans Media. You’re officially official baby! Let’s celebrate <3
From our friends at The Sultan Room, a few upcoming events worth checking out:
- 9/10 @ 7PM: Los Cumpleaños, Pinc Louds, Tropa Magica, dj tres dos - tix here!
- 9/15 @ 7PM: Mauskovic Dance Band, Operator Music Band - tix here!
And a HUGE THANKS to Reckless Mag, Greenpointers, glamglare and UnPeeled for the interviews/reviews/features on the BdBK book. :)

RELEASE RADAR

New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:

Reflection // Brandi & the Alexanders

“nosering” // The Watermelons

Could I Come Here Alone // Forever Honey

“Mist Mist Mist Mist Mist Mist Mist Mist Mist” // Venus Twins

“There’s Revolution” // Native Sun

b? // HOAX

“Bloody Knuckles” // Petite League

“Drowning” // Lovechild

“Red To Violet” // Adi Oasis

“Right Where You Need To Be” // The Thing

“Good Science” // Color Tongue

IT’S HAPPENIN’

Here’s a look at the events we’ve got coming up. Mark your calendars and come hang!

9.6 BDBK BOOK RELEASE-DAY EVENT presented by WORD Bookstores: Sam Sumpter x Rich Weiss of Bloodless Management w/ a Q&A + performance by Atlas Engine (free!) at Saint Vitus (RSVP here)

9.13 STRONG LITTLE SONGS 5 @ BdBK HQ ft. Nara’s Room, Jackson Dockery (of Mary Shelley), The Bird Calls, Arlo Indigo for Planned Parenthood- DM for address

9.17 ALL-DAY // ALL-NIGHT BdBK BOOK-RELEASE BASH w/ 13 bands featured in the book @ Our Wicked Lady (tix here)

10.17 BdBK Presents: O. Wake + Consumables + TBA @ TV Eye (tix here)

+ PLZ SAVE THE DATE for a second DIY-style release show 10/8 ;)