THE RIDER: Couvo's Top 10
The artist on doctors, drink tickets and delusions of grandeur (+ the cursed monkey paw he found outside Danbro)
If there’s one thing we love, it’s an ability to COMMIT TO THE BIT. And, dear god, we hope this is a bit.
Perhaps the most delightful/deranged SETLIST feature we’ve had in four years (and there have been some CONTENDERS) is courtesy of Josh Couvares — aka Couvo — who back in September 2022 served up a weekend itinerary featuring, among other things, excessive amounts of exfoliation.
So naturally, we had to have him back.
This round our now-(we assume)-super-smooth-skinned protagonist (“Springsteen energy with reverb and rent anxiety” is allegedly the Chat GPT review) is here to promote his new album Empty Country and the release show going down THIS WEDNESDAY at Mercury Lounge.
Go on and GRAB THOSE TIX HERE…
As you LISTEN TO SOME COUVO…
And then READ ON for a Top 10 that—among other things—raises some serious concerns about our SETLIST hero’s health. Just like we like it!
COUVO’S TOP 10
1. The cursed monkey paw that somehow lives in every corner of my life
Recently, people seem concerned about the cursed monkey paw I carry around with me everywhere I go. But me? I’m not concerned. I found it one day outside Danbro and ever since:
My shows have gotten better
My dreams are mostly static
I haven’t aged except on the inside
Sure, every time I touch it, I forget a childhood memory and gain a new tinnitus frequency. But it also just helped get me booked at a dive bar in Philly.
2. DOCTORS
The world DOES NOT NEED MORE MUSICIANS.
WE NEED DOCTORS.
I don’t want to see your band play at 11:45 pm on a Tuesday. I want a primary care physician to help me with my growing tinnitus due to the aforementioned cursed monkey paw. And it's starting to seem like my teeth are now growing in reverse?
Look, I’m not alarmed, but I’d like a second opinion
3. People pronouncing my name correctly
It’s KOO-VO.
4. Drink tickets
The whole “teeth growing in reverse” thing isn’t actually so bad. Just as long as I’m moderately drunk.
5. 10,000 voice memos titled “Song Idea Maybe?”
Does every single one of them have allusions to oddly specific crosstreets in Greenpoint? Yes. Will anyone ever hear them? Who knows. But somewhere in there is the next great American chorus.
6. One (1) Comment on a YouTube lyric video that says “This Saved My Life”
Thank you king.
7. The 734-Page copy of Infinite Jest I just bought
And by just bought, I mean in 2023. So far, I’ve performatively read exactly three pages, which now have a slight coffee stain and a bookmark stuck awkwardly in the middle, implying to everyone I see in public that I’ve read far more than I have.
And I AM going to read far more than I have. Not right now. But one day. First, I have a lot more scrolling on my phone to do.
8. My growing delusions of grandeur
Perhaps this is the monkey paw talking, but somehow I believe—with total confidence—that if I can just finish my next album, everything will stabilize.
My relationships. My tinnitus. My credit score.
All of it. Resolved.
9. My carabiner that keeps me from losing my keys
It’s like my always-present friend. It jingles when I walk. It clinks against bar stools. And sure, I’ve lost relationships, opportunities, and several crucial W-2s—but I’ve never lost my keys.
10. Mercury Lounge
I realized last Saturday that there’s more “sticky-floor” than “non-sticky-floor” at Mercury Lounge. To me, that’s not an indictment—it’s a compliment. This is exactly the kind of vibe you’d want at a rock venue. And that’s why I’m very excited to be playing there on Wednesday, July 16th for the COUVO ALBUM RELEASE SHOW.
You’re not gonna want to miss this one.
Itinerary above provided by Couvo. Follow the artist at @couvomusic and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the artist.