One Little Duo Makes a Multipiece-Band Sound Live

By JOHN HARPER

The Couch Potatoes, playing Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 2, at Howard’s Pub in Ocracoke, bill themselves as “America’s largest sounding duo.”

It’s hard to gauge if that’s true, but the twosome certainly makes a strong case for the claim.

Andrew Clore (drums/vocals) and John Cashsat (guitar/vocals) use a midi device and harmonizer to create a virtual wall of sound. The equipment enables them to build songs with layers of instruments and vocals to augment their live playing.

So when the Virginia Beach-based duo cranks up, say, the Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like An Eagle” or the Alan Parsons Project’s “I Wouldn’t Want to be Like You,” the audience hears the sonic properties of a multi-piece band.

“We’re two people, but we sound like eight,” said Clore, 42, during a telephone interview. “People look up on stage for more musicians.”

Cashsat and Clore are like mad scientists working in a lab, spending about two hours tweaking and reworking each song to get it ready for presentation.

The duo has about 50 performance-ready tunes in their repertoire, and the range is mix-tape worthy.

Frank Zappa, Sly and the Family Stone, The Beatles, James Brown, the Doobie Brothers, Delbert McClinton, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Bad Company, Rick James and Kool and the Gang are among the artists getting the Potato production.

For the Howard’s Pub gig, Clore’s wife, Sandra Clore, plans to sit in on songs by Heart, Carrie Underwood and Melissa Etheridge.

The boys in the band have a sense of humor, living up to their moniker. They perform on a stage set up with a futon, lamp and coffee table.

“Everybody is comfortable,” said Clore, laughing. “We’re in the living room.”

Also this week …

* New Jersey’s the Benjamins bring their edgy, alternative originals and high-energy covers to Kelly’s Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern in Nags Head on Wednesday, Aug. 6, and Thursday, Aug. 7.

The quartet has been together since 1999 and has released two full-length CDs – “Go” and “The Chronicles of the Garden State.”

For remakes, the band turns their attention to other Jersey rockers such as Eddie Money and Bon Jovi.

The show starts at 10 p.m., and the cover is $7. Kelly’s is at milepost 10.5 on U.S. 158.

* There’s a new place to hear live music on the Outer Banks, and it’s a no-smoking venue.

The recently opened Renditions Bar and Grille in Kitty Hawk offers bands and acoustic players at 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, with no cover charge.

Renditions is at milepost 4 on U.S. 158.

going?

Who The Couch Potatoes

When 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 2

Where Howard’s Pub on N.C. 12, about 20 minutes from the Hatteras- to-Ocracoke ferry dock

Cost No cover

Originally published by BY JOHN HARPER.

(c) 2008 Virginian – Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.