Eau Claire, Wisconsin’s Them Coulee Boys craft a brand of Americana that blends folk, punk, bluegrass, and rock and roll. They sing their conversational songs in four-part harmony, often with a banjo stomp and rhythm section punch that drives the audience onto the dance floor and into community. Their trusty van has propelled them thousands of miles across the country and into the hearts of strangers, who tend to leave each show as family. It’s music that creates community through the shared experience of joy and giving a shit.
The story is true. Soren Staff and Beau Janke met as counselors at a bible camp in northern Wisconsin in 2011. Having both grown up amidst a stretch of glacial melt-carved river valleys in the upper Midwest (called coulees by French fur trappers), they were fast friends. At camp, another counselor took to teasing them saying “them coulee boys are at it again.” The name stuck. Spending their weeks playing songs with kids around a campfire led to weekends figuring out an Avett Brothers tune or classic country song. In 2013, they added Soren’s brother Jens on mandolin, and a rough-around-the-edges, stomping 3-piece folk band played their first show as Them Coulee Boys. Four years later Neil Krause joined to play acoustic and electric bass, and in 2019 when Stas Hable joined on drums, TCB evolved into the full-on Americana rock band they are today. The live band straddles the line between pure and genuine ballads and a sweaty, leaping take on countrified rock-n-roll.
The band’s fifth album No Fun In The Chrysalis (due out February 28th on Some Fun Records), finds them reunited with Grammy-winner Brian Joseph (Bon Iver, Kathleen Edwards, Sufjan Stevens). Recorded at The Hive Studios in their hometown of Eau Claire, WI, No Fun In The Chrysalis captures the authentic, unpredictable energy, four-part harmonies and dynamic compositions that Them Coulee Boys have become known for as a live band.
Today Glide is excited to offer an exclusive premiere of the band’s new single, the country-flavored number “As Long As You Let Me.” The tune is a classic two-step featuring pedal steel that finds the band drawing inspiration from the likes of Roger Miller, Buck Owens, and Merle Haggard. Brothers Soren and Jens Staff harmonize as they sing about themes like self-care and mental health awareness, adding a contemporary lyrical touch to a song that feels like it could have come from another era. Indeed, there is a warmth and tenderness to what is ultimately a love song that is complemented by the twangy instrumentals.
“‘As Long As You Let Me’ is one big juxtaposition. At first glance, it’s country two-step, a classic love song, with the repeated chorus stating “I’m gonna love you as long as you let me.” Sweet, right?
But look a little closer, and the cracks are showing.
I find in real life, I often have a hard time letting a serious conversation lie. When I get uncomfortable, I get silly. When things get a little too “real”, I opt for a joke. For this song, I wanted to capture that mentality. I was in a relationship that, despite all the love between us, just felt like we were always a few moments from disaster. It made for a lot of tension (and admittedly, a lot of fun) that ultimately led me to declare what the chorus says. I’ll keep sticking around if you’ll still have me.While the verses inject doubt through humor, the chorus ultimately accepts that the mantra of “I’m here, so I’m gonna make the most of it.”
When it came to make this into a recording, we knew we had to embrace that juxtaposition, and that acceptance of uncertainty. We wanted the recording to be fun, so we put on our metaphofical cowboy boots and made a country song. I was raised on classic country songs in my grandpa’s truck, singing along to Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and the like. I wanted to capture that image of the country singer smiling as he told a story you wanted to believe, regardless of how outlandish it was. So, we dressed this song in pedal steel, fiddle, and more, embracing that nod to country while firmly holding true to who we are as a band. It made for a fun recording, and has made for a fun song to play live. You know it’s a good one when folks know the words before it’s released!” — Soren Staff, Them Coulee Boys
LISTEN:
TOUR DATES:
TH, Mar 13 The Music Box – Rockford, IL
FR. Mar 14 The Coterie – Kokomo, IN
SA, Mar 15 Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater – Lawrenceburg, IN
SU, Mar 16 Woodland’s Tavern – Columbus, OH
TU Mar 18 The Burl – Lexington, KY
WE, Mar 19 WMOT Wired In @ Riverside Revival – Nashville, TN
TH, Mar 20 Blue Strawberry – St. Louis, MO
FR, Mar 21 Kenny Westside Pub – Peoria, IL
SA, Mar 22 The Bend Theater – West Bend, WI
TH, Apr 3 Yorkville, IL – The Law Office Pub
SU, Apr 6 Pittsburgh, PA – City Winery
SA, Apr 19 Glasgow, KY – The Grove, 6 pm
FR, Apr 25 Turf Club – St. Paul, MN
SA, May 3 Stoughton Opera House – Stoughton, WI
WE, May 7 Greer, SC – SpringSkunk Music Fest 2025
TH, May 8 Roanoke, VA – 5 Points Music Sanctuary @ 5:30p
SA, May 10 Greer Spring, SC – Skunk Music Festival
FR, May 16 Clive, IA – Greenbelt Music Festival
FR, May 30 Trempealeau Hotel – Trempealeau, WI
SA, May 31 Trempealeau Hotel – Trempealeau, WI
TH, Jun 26 Blue Ox Music Festival – Eau Claire, WI
