• the217
• Music
• Copeland brings contrasting lyrical melodies to the Canopy Club

Related Media

• See Slideshow (3 images)

See More About these Events

Copeland »

• Event has already occurred
• Canopy Club »
  708 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
  (Show on map)

Time has a tendency of either making or breaking bands. As artists mature, it is sometimes hard to hold on to what captured their audience’s attention in first place, all the while still striving to avoid redundancy.

“The more you define yourself, the harder it is to get away from that and try new things and have people accept it,” explained Aaron Marsh, Copeland frontman.

Copeland, who has been playing music together since 2000, has found that as they grow, their music is continuously evolving as they experiment with different elements and explore different approaches to music while maintaining their identity as a group.

“I think we still place the same emphasis on melody that we always have, but we just do it better now,” said Marsh. “We have a little bit more subtle way of approaching a song, especially lyrically.”

The band’s latest full-length album, You Are My Sunshine, released in October 2008, was another step forward for the pretty-rock/alternative band.

“Our inspiration was a lot of old Twilight Zone episodes and some Woody Allen films,” said Marsh.

The juxtaposition of the artfully creepy liner images of the album and the arguably pretty sound that is Copeland — Marsh’s soothing vocals, the streamlined production of the album and emotive, provoking content — results in an album that teeters between the two vibes, both lyrically and musically.

“I think the contrast between lyrics and music is another way to achieve that affect,” Marsh said. “The differences that you can play with [in] lyrics and music really helped achieve the effect of that line.”

In February, the band released an EP entitled The Grey Man, which consists mostly of songs that weren’t finished in time to make it on You Are My Sunshine.

Up next for the men of Copeland is a Midwest/East Coast tour with This Providence, Paper Route and Brooke Waggoner, and CU is a vital part of that atmosphere. Just as UI students thrive off fast food and late-night pizza delivery, Marsh takes advantage of the college culture when the band makes stops in college towns.

“All towns are exactly the same, and all towns are completely different,” Marsh said. “In college towns, we usually get Jimmy John’s or Chipotle, where we wouldn’t in a big city.”

Copeland and aforementioned tour mates This Providence, Paper Route and Brooke Waggoner will perform at the Canopy Club Monday, April 13 at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.