Lois Maffeo

Occupation(s)

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]

Maffeo 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]

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

albums

• Owl & The Pussycat, 2003, Kill Rock Stars^[2][26]

• Lois at AllMusic
• Review of 1993 Knitting Factory show by The New York Times
• Profile from Trouser Press
• Punkrockacademy interview