Lois Maffeo (professionally known for much of her career as Lois) is an American musician[1] and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. She has been closely involved with and influenced many independent musicians, especially in the 1990s-era Olympia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. music scenes.[2][3][4][5]
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Career
editMaffeo was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated in 1981 from Xavier College Preparatory, an all-female private Catholic high school.[6] She moved to Olympia, Washington to attend The Evergreen State College.[6] In 1989, Maffeo and drummer Pat Maley founded the band Courtney Love, the name of which is coincidentally identical to the musician of the same name.[7][4] The duo released their first single in 1990 and broke up the next year.[3] Maffeo began performing as "Lois" in 1992; she was usually joined by drummer Heather Dunn and various backing musicians.[4] Lois released two albums by 1994.[3] In 1996, Lois released Infinity Plus, promoting it by going on "a grueling world tour" that included the US, Europe, and Japan.[5][4] Lois ended in 1996, with Maffeo taking a break from music and deciding to pursue journalism.[5][4] Maffeo wrote for The Stranger, an alternative newspaper in Seattle, in addition to Out, Salon, Time Out New York, and CMJ New Music Monthly.[8][4] She also provided vocals on records by Bis, Red Stars Theory, and the Evil Tambourines.[4] In 2000, Maffeo released the album The Union Themes, a collaboration with Brendan Canty of Fugazi that was two years in the making.[5][4]
Discography
edit- albums
- The Union Themes (with Brendan Canty of Fugazi), 2000, Kill Rock Stars[10][11][12][13] (Japanese release contains five bonus tracks)
- compilations and other collaborations/appearances
- [Untitled a cappella track], Dangerous Business International cassette, 1985, K Records
- "My Head Hurts" (with The Go Team), Archer Come Sparrow cassette, 1988/1989, K Records
- "Cup to the Wall" (with Satisfact), Life Abroad 7-inch single, 1996, K Records
- "Thick with the Paint Swaying" (with Red Stars Theory), But Sleep Came Slowly, 1997, Rx. Remedy
- "Cat Fight" (with Georgia Hubley), 2 Days in the Valley OST, 1997, Edel
- "Switch Shower Go!", Go! Olympia cassette, 1997, Yoyo Recordings
- "A Sailor's Warning" (with Red Stars Theory), Life in a Bubble Can Be Beautiful, 1999, Touch & Go Records[14]
- "Pathways" (with The Evil Tambourines), Library Nation, 1999, Sub Pop
- "On Mars And Venus" (with The Evil Tambourines), Library Nation, 1999, Sub Pop
- "Shame The Bells", Projector: Another Studio Compilation, 1999, Yoyo Recordings
- "Hope" (with Internal/External), Featuring..., 2000, K Records
- "The Same As Being in Love" (with Harvey Danger), King James Version, 2000, Sire
- "Spray on the Fixative" (with Mark Robinson), Origami And Urbanism, 2003, Tomlab
- compilations
- "Sotto Voce", Red Hot + Bothered/Indie Rock Guide To Dating, 1995, Kinetic/Reprise
- compilations
- "Roman Holiday", Throw: The Yoyo Studio Compilation, 1992, Yoyo Recordings
- singles and EPs
- Uncrushworthy 7-inch EP, 1990, K Records
- Highlights 7-inch EP, 1991, K Records
- Hey! Antoinette 7-inch EP, 1991, Feel Good All Over
- compilations
- "Don't Mix The Colors", Kill Rock Stars, 1991, Kill Rock Stars
- "Spray", Throw: The Yoyo Studio Compilation, 1992, Yoyo Recordings
- "Baseball Bat", One Last Kiss, 1992, spinART Records
- "Shaniko", TeenBeat Fifty, 1993, TeenBeat Records
- "Motorcycle Boy", International Pop Underground Convention, 1995, K Records
- albums
- Butterfly Kiss, 1992, K Records[19]
- Strumpet, 1993, K Records[20]
- Bet the Sky, 1995, K Records[21]
- Infinity Plus, 1996, K Records[22]
- Cassettes
- Lowrider cassette, 1994, Slabco
- Compilations
- Butter Yellow: A Lois Collection, 1996, Rebel Beat Factory
- Singles and EPs
- Press Play And Record 7-inch single, 1992, K Records
- Trouble With Me 7-inch single, 1993, K Records
- Shy Town EP, 1995, K Records
- Snapshot Radio EP, 1996, K Records[23]
- Ship To Shore maxi-single/EP (with Dub Narcotic Sound System), 1996, K Records
- ...And His Baby Blue EP (with Sean Na Na), 1998, Polyvinyl Records
- Appearances, Split singles/EPs, and other collaborations
- "Indie", July [Split] 7-inch single (with Nothing Painted Blue), 1993, Simple Machines
- "Long Time Gone", International Hip Swing, 1993, K Records
- "Indie", Working Holiday!, 1994, Simple Machines
- "Strumpet", Yoyo A Go Go, 1994, Yoyo Recordings
- "St. What's-Her-Name", Free To Fight 2-CD/LP set, 1995, Chainsaw Records/Candy Ass Records (as "The Lois")
- "Ship To Shore" (with Dub Narcotic Sound System), Boot Party, 1996, K Records
- "A Summer Long", Paper [Split] 7-inch EP (with Mad Planets, Low, and The Receptionists), 1997, Papercut
- "Girls! Girls! Girls!", Southern/Tree/Polyvinyl Fall/Winter 1998 Compilation (with Sean Na Na), 1998
- "Davey", Yoyo A Go Go: Another Live Yoyo Compilation, 1999, Yoyo Recordings
- "Detour" (with Bis), Social Dancing, 1999, Capitol
- "Detour" (with Bis), Detour EP, 1999, Willija
- "2-9476" (with Sean Na Na), Troubleman Mix-Tape, 2001, Troubleman Unlimited
- compilations
- "Go Sonics", Selector Dub Narcotic, 1998, K Records
- singles and EPs
- The Touch 7-inch single, 1999, K Records
With Owl & The Pussycat
edit- albums
- Owl & The Pussycat, 2003, Kill Rock Stars[2][26]
References
edit- ^ Pareles, Jon (November 8, 1993). "Pop and Jazz in Review". The New York Times. p. 14. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Di Bella, Christine (February 21, 2003). "Owl & the Pussycat: self-titled". PopMatters. p. 1. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c Meyer, Bill (July 28, 1994). "Lois". Chicago Reader. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Meyer, Bill (April 20, 2000). "Lois Maffeo". Chicago Reader. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Baker, Brian (April 20, 2000). "The Cellar Sessions". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Mehr, Bob (March 23, 2000). "AUSTINTATIOUS". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ Gravley, Garrett (January 10, 2024). "12 Obscure Artists Who Shaped Popular Music". Dallas Observer. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Revolution Come and Gone: On K Records". Los Angeles Review of Books. January 13, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ Lois Maffeo on Discogs.com
- ^ "The Union Themes - Lois Maffeo, Lois, Brendan Canty". AllMusic.
- ^ "Lois Maffeo & Brendan Canty - The Union Themes". No Depression.
- ^ Schild, Matt. "Lois Maffeo and Brendan Canty". Westword.
- ^ "LOIS MAFFEO & BRENDAN CANTY The Union Themes CD". www.ox-fanzine.de (in German).
- ^ "Red Stars Theory". Exclaim!. October 1, 1999.
- ^ Cradle Robbers on Discogs.com
- ^ Lumihoops on Discogs.com
- ^ Courtney Love on Discogs.com
- ^ Lois on Discogs.com
- ^ "Butterfly Kiss - Lois". AllMusic.
- ^ "Strumpet - Lois". AllMusic.
- ^ "Bet the Sky - Lois". AllMusic.
- ^ "Infinity Plus - Lois". AllMusic.
- ^ "Snapshot Radio - Lois". AllMusic.
- ^ Tommy on Discogs.com
- ^ The Tentacles on Discogs.com
- ^ "Owl & the Pussycat". Exclaim!. March 1, 2003.
External links
edit- Lois at AllMusic
- Review of 1993 Knitting Factory show by The New York Times
- Profile from Trouser Press
- Punkrockacademy interview