For a select few of us, the news of Spouse’s hiatus was a little bit heartbreaking. Not enough of us, though. Otherwise it might have been worth it for José Ayerve, frontman and songwriter of the decade-and-a-half-old indie rock band, to continually tour the full band and try to make a living out of it.
Anyway, Ayerve had another project in the wings: A Severe Joy. It’s one of those anagram things, but the rearranging isn’t just of the letters. For Ayerve, it’s a rearranging of his musical approach, his performance, his very persona. (FULL ARTICLE: Sam Pfeifle, The Portland Phoenix)