Artist description "Spin Spin Coupling plays tuneful, sometimes Weezer-esque pop on its debut EP Days of Clouds, nodding to gruff Minneapolis rock but never projecting anything less than power-pop cheeriness. The trio features players from various Midwestern bands who converged on Madison before forming their latest, most cohesive project. The group’s name, while vaguely provocative, is actually an obscure scientific term." The Onion, 4/27/03. We thought we'd let the Onion speak for us, since it is, after all, America's Finest News Source. The key line in the above may be the last, as it alludes to Spin Spin being vaguely sexy, a geeky kind of sexy. Showcasing hook-laden melodies, multi-part harmonies in vocals and guitars, and sharp suits, Spin Spin is too dorky to be indie, too fun to be emo, too heavy to be pop, too poppy to be metal. The band can only be called Sensitive Arena Rock.tm Spin Spin is made up of Mike Jensen - a PhD-level classical vocalist who, through copious weed injestion and ritual beating, has brought his vibrato down to a manageable level - on lead vocal, rhythm guitar, props, and Disco Kid manipulation. Alan Halverson is in the Computer Science PhD program at UW and has a musical mind like the computer, which he invented. He started playing lead guitar a few months back when Spin Spin expanded its lineup, and already shreds like Steve Lukather. Spin Spin has two drummers, Eric Heiserman, who brings Bonham-like fury, and Chris Mell, who offers a more funky take. The final link in the Spin Spin chain is their nondescript bass player and choreographer Paul Van Auken, who offers bass lines like Donald "Duck" Dunn sitting in with AC/DC. Spin Spin loves a disparate bunch of musicmakers like Weezer, Kid Dakota, Low, Wilco, Pavement, Europe, Beatles, Pixies, Elvis Costello, Neutral Milk Hotel, Richard Buckner, Sigur Ros, the Jayhawks, Dream Theater, Modest Mouse, Martin Sexton, Twilight Singers, Toto, Radiohead, and Trip Shakespeare, whose latest spawn - the Flops - Spin Spin was thrilled to open for recently. We sound like an amalgam of all of the above mixed in a vintage, chrome plated, second hand blender.

Music Style Sensitive Arena Rock

Musical Influences Trip Shakespeare, Weezer, Wilco, Pixies, Violent Femmes, Beatles, Pavement, Low, Elvis Costello

Similar Artists Pixies, Weezer, U2, Elvis Costello, Radiohead, Hives, Queen

Artist History This is the Spin Spin story: Spin Spin was spawned in the summer of 2001, when Alan moved to Madison to pursue his PhD. Mike and Paul's previous band honeyfarm folded and the pair was looking to develop a new, leaner, more rocking sound. Somewhat of a musical savant, Alan agreed to play drums, despite not having played before. It helped that Alan had a set (and we're not just talking drums). After gigging for about a year as a power trio, with Mike on guitar and lead vocals and Paul on bass, recording two eps - "Days of Clouds EP," released in spring 2002 and featuring the single "Gravity," and "One Train May Hide Another," released in spring 2003 - Spin Spin decided to shift the chamleonic Alan to lead guitar and bring in a new drummer to beef up the sound and take the band from power pop to Sensitive Arena Rock. After a new drummer bolted one week prior to his first gig with Spin Spin - citing a disdain for the band's "f-ing progrock" - the band decided to develop a drummer by committee arrangement. Former honeyfarm drummer Eric Heiserman, who now resides in Minneapolis, would play shows west of the Mississippi, and current Lisa G. and Montage funk/hip hop drummer Chris Mell would play shows east of the Mississipi, with both to demonstrate their constrasting styles in the recording studio. Its lineup now settled, Spin Spin has found its Sensitive Arena Rock groove and is busy delighting audiences throughout the upper Midwest with Alan's metal-tinged leads, Mike's vocal prowess and mumbling rock star quips, harmony guitar that would make Tom Scholz proud, and choice covers like "Africa" and a lounge version of "Talk Dirty To Me," which reveal the band's true influences.

Group Members Mike Jensen - Lead vocals, guitar, Disco Kid Alan Halverson - Lead guitar, vocals, pinch harmonics Paul Van Auken - Bass, vocals, promotional efforts Eric Heiserman - drums, recording geek Chris Mell - drums, metal filtered through hip hop

Instruments Guitars, bass, drums

Albums Days of Clouds EP, One Train May Hide Another

Press Reviews The Capital Times and Wisconsin State Journal Rhythm Section, June 5, 2003 by Rob Thomas "Well, I've pretty much worn out my copy of Spin Spin Coupling's 'One Train May Hide Another,' so that should tell you something about how eminently, irresistibly listenable it is. At just over 23 minutes, the Madison band's EP is one of the most purely fun records I've heard so far this year. The five songs on the album are just crammed with power-pop hooks, and the lyrics have a sideways wit to them that's sort of like Semisonic or Weezer - funny, but not so funny that the songs degenerate into novelty tunes. For example, even though they name-check President Garfield and Holden Caulfield on 'India Suite,' the heart of the song is still the harmonies on the catchy chorus. Originally a power trio, the band decided to beef up its sound for 'Train' by adding a new drummer for concerts and handling the drums 'by committee' in the studio. Having two guitars gives songs like 'The Puzzle' and 'SuperNerd' some real rock'n'roll punch, almost creating a '70s arena rock package for their '90s wounded-guy lyrics. The crowing king of hooks on the album is 'Mullet Across America.' Inspired by a friend's journey from Milwaukee to Alaska, the song rides along on crunchy, Rivers Cuomo-like guitars and distorted vocals, a few yips and yelps during the bridge, and, when you least expect it, a rapid-fire '80s-metal-style guitar solo in the middle. If you're a fan of Weezer or Trip Shakespeare, go out and buy a copy. And then, when you ruin that one, go out and buy another." BADGER HERALD, 5/30/03 Local band 'Spins' a good tale Spin Spin Coupling offers hope for local scene by Molly Webb, ArtsEtc. editor "Now that summer is upon us, I’m sure all of us are glad of the extra time available to catch some great local bands. Madison’s local venues book local bands up the wazoo during the summer, and what better chance to hear the scene-newcomers that just might be the next big thing? Speaking of the next big thing, Spin Spin Coupling, a Madison trio, certainly has the potential to up the ante on the local scene. With a combination of catchy songs, versatile and challenging vocals and obviously talented instrumental backing, the group could easily capture quite a few fans if it plays its cards right over the summer. I was told I would like Spin Spin Coupling because it sounds like Weezer. From the first track of SSC’s 5-song effort, One Train May Hide Another, the Weezer connection is apparent. The beginning chords of track one, the aptly titled“SuperNerd,” sound almost identical to the chords featured in Weezer’s “El Scorcho,” from the group’s master ‘90s effort Pinkerton. While SSC lead singer Mike Jensen’s vocals differ quite a bit from those of Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, the instrumental and rhythmic qualities of SSC are easily comparable to Weezer’s brand of power-pop. From “SuperNerd,” the album takes a somewhat different direction, moving into a slower, more laid-back jam-type song, “The Puzzle,” and this is where Jensen’s vocal talent really comes through. Combined with individualistic instrumentation, he shows amazing versatility and range, hitting the highest of the high falsetto notes right on and with the same intensity and character he employs for the mid-range notes. Backing vocals and instrumentation from Alan Halverson (drums, vocals, guitar) and Paul Van Auken (bass, vocals) complete the package, and by track three, “Better Place,” the band’s unity and synchronicity are shown at their finest. One of the more serious songs on the album, the exact lyrical theme of “Better Place” isn’t necessarily readily discernable, but rather is left to the listener to figure out for him or herself. From the seriousness and slower speed of “Better Place” SSC moves to “Mullet Across America,” which is obviously a break from the solemnity of the previous track. “Mullet Across America” starts off as all great mullet anthems do – with a cheesy ‘80s synth sound effect, followed by the electronic drumbeat all of us who once owned puny Casio keyboards know by heart. Again, the Weezer comparison comes up, as the sound effects end and SSC breaks into what can truly be called a power-pop anthem. Jensen’s lead guitar offers screeching metal-esque riffs above it all, giving the song that special arena-rock feel, complete with a pseudo-shredding solo near the end of the track. Rounding out the album, “India Suite” is a return to the relaxed, and its repeated chanting near the beginning, combined with soft, somewhat-distorted vocals in the middle, gives listeners the perfect end to a short but sweet album. The longest track on the album, clocking in at just under seven minutes, “India Suite” is the culmination of all the elements that made the previous four tracks great — catchy melodies, shining vocals, sharp instrumentals and relaxation. All in all, in One Train May Hide Another, Spin Coupling has put together an album that shows the band at its finest and gives listeners a taste of what’s to come if SSC gets the publicity and fan base it deserves." Grade: A

Additional Info Spin Spin loves music. Spin Spin loves you.

Location Madison, WI - USA

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