Local band Couch Dog creates hotline before release of new single “Dial Tone”
This last year has been a whirlwind for local band Couch Dog, and it doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down anytime soon. The band consists of lead singer and guitarist Max Ferrer, bass player Tasha Lee, drummer Josh Cheruvelil and lead guitarist Pablo Acosta. Last November, the band released its first single with three tracks “Bad and Better Than Ever” and had their first festival performance at Shabang Live Music & Arts Festival in May. Now, on November 4, they will release their next single titled “Dial Tone.”
The band decided to capitalize on the song title with a new form of advertising that they had never tried before. All across San Luis Obispo, from Cal Poly’s campus to Shin’s Sushi downtown, the band hung posters encouraging those who walked by to call a phone number called “The Couch Dog Hotline.” Those who find the posters are encouraged to call the Dogs up and share anything from embarrassing moments to missed love connections.
“I was trying to think of something that would be fun that would also be engaging for our audience, because our audience has been so important to us,” Ferrer said. “I thought it would be a cool way to hear from our fans.”
The hotline ended up getting over 3000 calls after Lee put the poster on her TikTok, which garnered a lot of confessions and stories for the band to listen through. Each member had a moment where they giggled under their breath recalling different messages they’ve encountered since the hotline went live.
“There was one that stuck with me,” Lee said of a message one person left, which said they were going to confess their love for their crush.“It was really sweet to hear this person be emboldened by sharing,” she said.
Ferrer revealed that “Dial Tone” was actually the first-ever song he wrote for Couch Dog. The song has existed throughout the band’s development and has stood the test of time and change, holding near and dear to the band members. He also emphasized the impact Acosta has had on the newer version of the single by being an advocate for the song and developing a guitar solo in the studio.
“The take that we did that evening was the only take we needed because Pablo killed it,” Ferrer said. Pablo wasn’t slow to chime in after, “Josh killed it.”
The love and mutual respect that Couch Dog has for each other as musicians and friends almost beams off the walls when you get them in a room together. It’s nothing but compliments and smiles when looking back at studio sessions and reading “Scott Pilgrim.”
When asked what the band hopes listeners take away from “Dial Tone,” Lee confidently asserted, “It has so much energy and I think it hits more than any of the other music we have put out, and I really like it. There are a lot of bells and whistles that I think people will appreciate.”
“Dial Tone” will be released on November 4, and you can follow Couch Dog on Spotify and Instagram, @wearecouchdog, in anticipation of the release. The Couch Dog Hotline can be reached at 805-779-1711.
Hear first-hand from Couch Dog about their upcoming single and shenanigans in the newest episode of SLO-FI, releasing November 5.
