It’s a funny way I find myself with you.

Copeland has always possessed the number three slot in my top bands.  This weekend they might have even clenched second with their new album “You Are My Sunshine“.  It’s as good as old Copeland at least, maybe even better?  It just sounds so good.  It’s amazing feel-good music, without too much poppyness or cheesyness.  The guitar work is clever, but the way the bassist and drummer are so tight blows my mind.  Throughout the whole record, they give it that round, smooth rhythm feel.  So great.  Most of the vocals are recorded in stereo, which I always love, but to boot Aaron Marsh does these clever self-harmonies that would put Eisley to shame. A female vocalist named Rae Cassidy Klagstad joins him suddenly on three songs, and this might be my favorite part of the record.  Her voice is so crazy and fitting to the album.  It’s like Eisley meets Bjork almost, really different.  First time she came in it caught me off guard and gave me the chills.  Every time I hear it now it gives me goosebumps.

 

My little sister and I are going to see Copeland tomorrow at The Marquis theatre in Denver (a stage once graced my Cameron At Bay and Young America).  I’m absolutely pumped.  You know how now and then, like maybe once a month if you’re lucky, a new album will really just take you away?  That’s what “You Are My Sunshine” is like for me.  I’m gonna listen to this a lot this winter.

 

Real quick…

Ok so I’ve never been a big fan of the band “Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin”.  The drummer’s technique is awful and reminds me a bit of my own.  But this music video they just released has Eisley girls in it and I really enjoyed it.  The song is whatever, but if you love Eisley you’ll love this.

I’ve seen Eisley enough to know I will never have Stacy’s heart…

I was on way way up the stairs with my chicken sandwich and waffle fries at a dining hall around campus when my dear friend Christina (a.k.a. Chris), who was walking beside me, finished a phone conversation with a friend. She had been talking with somebody about a show, so I asked her who was playing as she put her phone back into her (awesome fabric Africa-laden Invisible Children) purse/bag. She said it was Eisley and that the show started in a hour. I begged to come along, having just sold one of my textbooks back to the school for $42, I figured I could flip the $15 for the ticket. We pounded our meals down and met some kids in the parking lot who were also driving to the Fox Theater in Boulder for the show.

The show, of course, was great. This was my fourth time seeing Eisley, and my fourth time realizing that the lovely Stacy DuPree will never be mine, no matter how sincerely I try to harmonize with her on Marvelous Things. I feel as though Sean can sympathize with me. The girls played well. It’s fun how Sherri, the girl with the Rickenbacker who sings like a siren, has become so comfortable with her voice that she can go anywhere she wants with it. I have never heard her sing like that before. She also played her guitar more fiercely than in the past, and now that I utilize a Vox amp, I could better appreciate how great hers sounded. The bassist, however, was less than perfect. The (unloved?) cousin of the older Eisley girls, he emotionlessly played through the set like last time, although this time he had developed a new dirty pluck sound. His three beautiful basses all sounded the same all night with that punk-era grunge noise that was a little too overpowering to be tolerated. Inspite of this, I loved the band’s performance. I was pumped to see the oldest Eisley girl was clearly pregnant, but still wailing on that old Gretsch Duo-Jet.

The opening bands, Vedera and The Myriad, were both pretty enjoyable. Vedera was entertaining because the lead singer girl was real cute, and her Tele sounded so rich. Other than that they were certainly playing it too safe stylistically, IMO (so pumped that I know what that means now). The Myraid on the other hand, was honestly really great. As they set up their stuff and walked onto the stage I turned and said to the immortal Tim Becker (who I have never seen seen Eisley without), “I’m already excited for this band’s set to be over”. I was judging them by their semi-scene attire. But as they rolled through their set I quickly took that back. They were sensational and way more creative than Eisley.

Fun night.

Good to see Tim.

Good to see Stacy.

Good Grilled Stuft Burrito on the way home.