The Lovelys
I met the Lovelys back in 2019 when covering the Vernon County Dairy breakfast at the Dale and Brenda Torgerson Farm. While the Lovelys were performing, I stood for a while listening to them sing. There was something about them singing together that just made me feel good and smile.
At the time, Driftless Now was in its infancy and I was hungry for writing stories about people in the Driftless. Between performances, I approached Tim and Courtney now Mr. and Mrs. Mahan, and told them a little about Driftless Now and asked them if we could get together sometime soon and do a story on them. They agreed and seemed excited to have their story told on Driftless Now. Well, life happened and the story didn’t happen. Finally, almost five years later, we reconnected this month while they were performing at Desperado’s Wonder Bar and Grill in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin.
Tim and Courtney, both born and raised in the heart of the Wisconsin Driftless area, started their musical relationship on say a different note (pun intended) in 2017. See, the couple met online. Tim would send recording of songs, kind of serenading Courtney. For Courtney, a musician and singer herself, it seemed natural that they start playing and singing together. But let’s get to the beginnings of Tim and Courtney’s love of music.
“I started playing guitar around age 15,” said Tim. “I remember before I learned to play guitar, I would air guitar as a young teenager. I was always impressed by performers and I always liked the idea of performing in front of people. I think it might have been in my teenage years, I started getting into some like Nirvana, the whole 90s Nirvana, Soundgarden and Allison chains, all that type of music which has really great guitar in it. I started learning that stuff and that's a big part of what I enjoy, playing songs that I first started enjoying as a young kid and as a teenager.” Tim recalls car rides with his dad when he was a kid, listening to Johnny Cash, Randy Travis, and Buddy Holly. As he started playing guitar, he realized a lot of that music was fast and fun to play. Tim also credits his Aunt LaVonne for his musical journey, as she gave him a guitar at a young age. He’s grateful she introduced a musical instrument into his home. Tim noted, that led the way for him to learn to play, but also for his brothers to learn to play, leading the family to play together as a band. Today, Tim’s younger brother Gary is the lead guitarist of the La Crosse based band “The Greedy Volunteers”.
As for many singers and musicians, Courtney’s love for music started back in fifth grade singing in the church choir, which led to her being a percussionist in band. “So, I loved drumming, and I also loved grunge music, and that really got me into drumming. But I was also into every kind of music, jazz or orchestral, l liked everything. My mom and dad were very, very big into music. She remembered her parents were always playing records and had MTV on which she noted was a big influence on her. “So, I just, I always knew singing was a thing for me. I would get in front of the mirror and pretend to sing. I would pretend to be the lead singer. So as soon as I got the chance to be in choir and band, I jumped on it. Didn't know I was gonna want to be a drummer. But got hooked on that.” Courtney continued with music all through high school. After graduating, she said she always kind of wanted to keep going but didn't really have any friends or anybody that was into it. “So, I kind of just kept it in my back pocket. I dabbled in trying to be an independent singer for hire, but that didn't really take off.”
When the two met, Courtney shared she admittedly always had a guitar and wanted to learn how to play. In her back pocket, she kind of wanted to be in a band and do something with music again. Tim bought her a guitar their first Christmas together. “I had an electric guitar, but I never had an acoustic guitar. And so, he got me an acoustic guitar. I was like, oh, this is way easier to learn on and I just took off and we've been playing together ever since.”
Currently, the Lovelys play covers of popular songs from a wide range of genres and years. When asked if they have played any original music of their own, Courtney said that they have yet to perform any of their original music in front of people. “I think the reason we've never played any of our original music is just because we've taken so much time on all of the covers. We've never taken time to really hone in on our original music. Maybe once our daughter is older, we're not there yet, so for now we're just gonna stick with our covers for now.” Tim explained, “Our intention was just to play stuff that people enjoy, that we enjoy, that we listened to growing up”. Courtney added, “He already had a huge book of cover songs that he played with his brothers and family growing up.”
When COVID hit and everything closed down, it presented a challenge for the couple as their venues were not open. Tim and Cortney didn’t let that stop them bringing joy to those at home though. “We started doing what we called ‘Flannel Fridays’, said Courtney. “We started performing a song every Friday for a couple months that we posted online, just to lift people's spirits. There was no live music at the time, there was nothing right? So, we would just post a song every Friday just to put some music out there, until I got pregnant and not feeling great. Then we kind of stopped for a while.”
Eventually, COVID passed, things opened back up, their daughter was a bit older, and The Lovelys started up performing in public again. But what does the future hold for the duo? “I played with a couple of friends in Madison usually once or twice a week, heavy electric, like psychedelic rock stuff which we enjoy. Jam sessions. But we've we talked about one of my friends sitting in on bass and drums with the Lovelys,” Tim said. Courtney chimed in adding, “Yeah. Being acoustic, plugging in and actually having like a band, because we do play a lot of stuff that would sound really cool if we had a full band. So that might be a future thing,” she said smiling.
Courtney stressed that music was just very ingrained in both of them growing up in their homes. “Everything we did, like if we were even cleaning the house or doing anything, music was on. It was just always there. And so, we get the same sort of feeling when we play together that we did then. If we can bring happiness to people, this is our way to do it. If we can get up on a stage and just watch people smile, lighting their day in any way, it just feels really nice. It gives you a sense of purpose and accomplishment.”
Tim said, “It's just fun. People enjoy watching us play. They enjoy listening to songs that they know. We get a kick out of it. We don't take it overly serious. You know, this is a hobby for us for sure and we can have fun with it. We have a book of over 200 songs people can request from and if we don't have it, we can try to play it next time”.
Desperado’s Wonder Bar and Grill where The Lovelys were getting ready to play, is one of the many venues the couple enjoy playing at. A local iconic bar and grill, Desperado’s has been in operation for over 75 years according to current owner Kathleen Sobek who lives just down the road in Soldiers Grove. “Actually, Marie and Eddie Herbst had it for 53 years,” said current owner Kathleen Sobek.
Years ago, the town for the most part, moved out of the flood plain of the Kickapoo River. The Herbsts were the ones that moved the establishment in 1981 to its current location just off of Hwy. 61 on Passive Sun Drive. Eventually the Herbsts sold it to a gentleman named Jim O'Neill and silent partner Shirley Ellis. Jim called it O'Neill's Wonder Bar. He unfortunately passed away in an accident a couple years after he bought it. So, the business went to his silent partner Shirley. “She and her husband Bob then ran it for 17 years as Tazzee’s Wonder Bar and we bought it in October of 2018, and change the name to Desperado’s Wonder Bar,” Kathleen said.
Kathleen said she really enjoys having The Lovelys play at Desperado’s and shared how they came to be regular performers there. “Prior to buying the bar, I actually worked in human resources for Organic Valley, and one of my jobs there was orientation for new employees. Courtney was a new employee that went through my orientation class, and one of the things we did as an icebreaker was have everyone tell something about themselves that other people might not know. And so, when it came my turn to share, I would say, ‘Well, I play and sing in a country band, I play bass guitar and I can yodel. Immediately during our break, Courtney came up to me and said, ‘Oh, I also play music’. And so, I remembered that when we bought the bar. I was looking for some local groups that might be able to play here. And of course, we don't have a lot of space, so we have to keep it to three or less band members. I happened to think of her and I reached out and contacted her. She and Tim came and they were one of the first acts to appear here. The first time they played here, it just so happened one of our long-term patrons had a birthday that day, and so there were a lot of people who got to come and hear them, and they fell in love with them, and now our patrons always ask to have them back. So, we do. It's just, things lined up. Everything came together. It's perfect!”
Visit The Lovelys on Facebook, the web, or YouTube.
