As Thanksgiving approached I couldn't shake the thought of this year going by without offically covering a concert. So, despite December being the start of the slow season for live music, I looked up what shows were coming to town. I hadn't heard of the band Couch before they popped up in my search. They sounded fresh and pop-y when I gave them a go, so I set out to cover their show at The Fonda Theatre on December 10th. Low and behold, on show day I got word that I was approved to cover the show that night.
After working what feels like countless shows, it sure does feel good to go to a show. Sure, in a sense I was working but reviewing shows is not work to me.
 |
| Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
Finding nearby parking didn't take too long which was great because I was a few minutes late for the estimated start time. With doors opening at 7:00pm and one opener I had guessed Couch would go on at 9:00pm.
 |
| The Fonda 12/10/2025 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
Live music seeped from the open doors beyond the mags as I collected my ticket from will-call around 9:05pm, confiming that the show had indeed already begun. I hurried inside to a crowded floor as the first song "What Were You Thinking" came to an end. Making my way to stage left in hopes of finding some wiggle room a little closer to the action, the crowd cheered and clapped as the next song began.
Vivacious applause following an obvious fan favorite "Jessie" from their 2023 EP Sunshower simmered down as singer Tema Siegel informed show goers at The Fonda that night that it was family photo time. She explained that this is when they pass around disposable cameras so the crowd can take photos of themselves. If so inclined, people can purchase their Couch family photos knowing that all proceeds go to a Rosie's Place, a women's shelter in Austin Texas which happens to be where the band from.
 |
| Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
Listening to their latest ablum, 2025's Big Talk, Couch struck me as a pop band, the vocals reminding me HAIM while the bouts of horns give their sound some ska flare.
There's a lot more soul along with some funk and a whole lot more from the horn section when they perform live.
Siegel gracefully dominates the stage with powerful vocals and lively energy that makes you want to be friends with her. She can belt it out from the bottom of her being then hold a note like you could hardly believe coming from a petite front lady in an indie pop band.
It's abundantley clear that Couch is comfortable on stage, playing with each other and performing in front of others. Naturally because of that their vibe was well recieved and reciprocrated over and over again at the start of each song and again and the end of each song.
Their debut full length album, Big Talk dropped not too long ago in October so of course most of their set was comprised of songs from it.
Treating us to as a keyboard solo, a drum solo and no shortage of solos from the horns they also conversed to and with the crowd betwix songs through out the show. Maybe it was because this was their LA show, the entertainment mecca where people come to find stardom but they didn't take their stage presence or crowd engagment lightly. It had me wondering how long they'd been on tour. Turns out this was the tail end of their 2025 run, which is impressive in and of itself being how full steam ahead they were. With three shows following their LA stint, Couch will be back on the road at the top of next year.
Catchy through and through, this up and coming band means business. Fun loving business in a work hard, play hard vain. I can easily see them drawing a crowd at a mid day performance at a Summer music festival with their signature yet familiar sound, then having people stick around until the end of their set because of their insatiable go get it attitude their live show permeates.
 |
| Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
 |
| Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
The show ebbed and flowed between slow, mid and more upbeat tempos continually yet even when tempos dipped the vibe remained high.
I myself was quiet content when Siegel wondered out loud if we ever go on night walks and find ourselves peering in windows that aren't ours for a glimpse in to other people's lives. Seeing things that we percieve as nicer than what we have only to realize that what we have is also quite nice. I have peered through other people's windows for years wondering what their lives were like and admiring what I could see, so I personally connected with the sentiment of an awakening of gratitude she was alluding to as a prelude to my favorite song from their LP, "Window".
 |
| Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
A little later, about half way through "Still Feeling You" Siegel took time to introduce a gal named Haley who had started out as a loyal fan, working her way up from selling merch to hitting the road with them. Working in part as assistant tour manager, VIP and merch manager to a guest saxophonist, Haley joined the horn section on stage for a short but sweet sax solo.
After showing some love for the openers, Siegel invited the singer from Night Talks, Soraya Sebghati, back to the stage. The two front ladies covered Britney Spears' "Toxic" in a charismatically entertaining lounge style duet.
 |
| Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
 |
| Couch at The Fonda 12/10/2025 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
.jpg){kind=spacer}
As mentioned above, Couch continues touring in early 2026 starting at the Buffalo Iron works in Buffalo New York on January 23rd and bringing them to the Broadberry in Richmond Virginia on Febuary 3rd before hopping the pound for shows in the UK in March.
There's also the chance to catch Couch next July at the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival and see if I guessed right about them delivering a good mid day fest set.
