the nuclear waste management club

The Nuclear Waste Management Club is a long-running side project. José Ayerve began recording songs under this moniker in 1998 while living a semi-secluded musical life on Peaks Island, Maine. He recorded a bunch of songs that were later absorbed into the Spouse repertoire. In November of 2000, following a rather emotional dissolve, Ayerve wrote and recorded about 10 songs in a two-week period. Unlike most of the material he was collaborating on with Spouse, the Nuclear Waste Management Club was at once edgier and more subdued than Nozomi, the first Spouse full-length. This paticular collection of songs seems to relate directly to the disappointment and heartbreak felt by most everyone.

In 2001, Ayerve organized a core group of musicians to perform this collection of moody songs. Currently, the line-up features Anne Pinkerton (vocals, percussion), JJ O'Connell (drums, vocals), Mark Schwaber (bass, vocals), Peyton Pinkerton (guitar), Ken Maiuri (guitar, keyboards), and Scott Hall (piano, organ). Anne's vocal harmonies seemed to gel instantly with Ayerve's melodies, and the rest of the instrumentation flowed effortlessly.

Ayerve and the Nuclear Waste Management Club began performing more regularly in 2004, and they have nearly completed the long-awaited debut album. They expect it to be completed and released by the end of 2005.

While Ayerve prides himself as being a resident of Portland, Maine, the group is based out of Northampton, Massachusetts.

(For a sampling of the record, visit the discography section.)