Tour and Funky Energy With Zach Blankstein, Couch Guitarist

Sunshower – Couch

Hailing from surrounding areas of Boston, Couch is taking the stage for the second leg of their Sunshower Tour. 

Because of their proximity to one another, the members of Couch met through school and other friends before realizing their shared love of creating music with positive energy. The band then officially formed in 2019 and began to play music together, mostly in guitarist’s Zach Blankstein’s basement.  

“That summer I had a really bad concussion… for me, that meant sitting on my couch,” said Blankstein. It was in that basement, and on that couch, that the band began to shape their musical identity. 

“We were all inspired by a lot of similar bands.”

Taking influence from pop and jazz musicians, the band aims to create funky, danceable music for their audience. They have excelled in doing so, despite beginning their work together while in various schools across the country. Working through long distances, members of the band sent snippets of their work to each other to finalize each song. 

Blankstein noted that when Covid hit, the added obstacle of quarantine impacted the band. Without the usual seasonal time off, members quarantined together to work on production. Finally, in 2021, the band found themselves on the road and ready for tour opportunities. 

Because of their ties to various colleges, the band often sees students and music majors in the crowd. Those who study music can see the musicality and attention to sonic quality before their eyes, but no matter your music knowledge, Couch’s music creates a uniquely danceable atmosphere. 

“People are there to just have a good time.”

A prominent component that enhances the energy of their music is the attention to bass in each original song. Bass gives the music that groove that the seven band members love to highlight, and Blankstein thinks it “speaks to the power of seven different tastes coming together.” 

Although after years of working together, the band carves out their own sonic identity, there are certain artists who they love for inspiration and aspire to work with. 

“I feel like it would be fun to work with someone who lies in some musical extreme,” said Blankstein. Legends in their fields like Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney appeal to his work. Instead of having major collaborative goals, the band is appreciating the moments as they come. There are specific venues that are significant to the band, like The Royale in Boston, but every show close to home is very special for the band. 

As they focus on the present, Couch amps up the energy on their music, which they compliment with a cover song for this leg of the tour. Right now, the band is experimenting with an interpretation of Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” an unexpected hit. 

“This is the song where I crank up distortion and just rock out.”

With the second leg of the tour coming up, Couch is uploading a live clip to their YouTube channel every Thursday for the next two months. The band is also performing live at The Drake (Amherst, MA) on March 28; other show dates can be found along with ticket availability here!