They play virtual shows in their living room and just recorded an album in their garage, but the couple had not played an in-person, live show since some outdoor gigs last year.

On Tuesday, Lara Hope and husband Matt Goldpaugh of The Gold-Hope Duo played for Spectrum News a few tunes from their latest recording, which features songs about life during the pandemic.

“It’s like us trying to hit on all the different aspects of the life experience with the different parts of COVID,” Hope said during an interview in the couple’s Kingston home.

What You Need To Know

  • The rockstar couple shared how they have adapted to life during COVID-19.

  • The couple used to play about 200 shows each year and is still releasing new music, but plans a lighter schedule when they return to touring

  • Their 2019 national tour was canceled due to COVID-19

  • Their most recent songs are about life during the COVID-19 era

The couple’s own experience has been trying. They were planning a breakout tour in 2020 with their full band, The Ark-Tones. Everything was canceled.

They adapted. Once their tour was canceled, they immediately began a weekly live show on Facebook. The show turned out to be a hit.

“This whole community of folks who tune in every Monday has grown,” Hope said. “It’s been really beautiful and fun to watch these people from all over the world. And they’ve become friends.”

The show nets some money, but not enough, Hope added. The couple gets by because they are scrappy and disciplined. They said they developed those qualities over the years while touring the country.

“We did things like having a roommate, subletting our place when we go on tour, don’t eat out, don’t do frivolous shopping," Hope said. “It’s been to us kind of a line that had to be drawn between, do we want to be able to pursue our goals? And if doing so means we have to cut corners in other ways than we’ve been willing to make.”

They are now looking into other careers that would give them time to keep creating music and stay in their beloved Kingston. They are even planning to downsize their touring van because they do not plan to return to their hectic 200 shows-per-year schedule.

They have roots here now.

“Now that we’re homeowners, we also want to be home more,” Hope said. “We’ll never give up touring, though.”

“We’ll definitely always be hitting it hard, even part-time,” Goldpaugh added.

“But we want to have a stronger connection to the community, and be here more,” Hope said.

They are finishing up a new album that is due out this summer. Hope said they hope to go on a limited tour to promote their new work once restrictions on gatherings are lifted.

“Historically, after times of tragedy and economic downturn, the arts have thrived afterward,” Hope said. “I hope and I believe that’s going to happen again.”