The Copper Kings
Seattle, Washington, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
This Seattle band has a driving power pop style that sounds more like the Heartland than the Pacific Northwest. Similar to First in Space and Daylight Titans, they grab your ears with the leadoff track "Disarray", a propulsive rocker that doesn't let go. "Am I Too Late" is anthemic in quality, and the midtempo "January 1" is another winner. Other standouts include the jangly/alt-country-ish "Best Laid Plans", the Collective Soul-esque "Turn Away", and the excellent closer "Forever Someone Else", which has a Gin Blossoms quality about it. Wondering where they got their name? According to Wikipedia, the real-life Copper Kings were three wealthy industrialists "known for the epic battles they fought in Butte, Montana and the surrounding region during the Gilded Age over the control of the local copper mining industry". All I can say is give these Copper Kings a shot in the epic battle for control of your iPod. - Absolute PowerPop
A band I normally don`t go for, but certainly do with here with this material. Working in the territory of such bands as The Wallflowers, Counting Crows and more modern ones like Augustana, it`s a style rock that is certainly popular but not what hits most who hang out on the Not Lame site. Ahhhh, life`s sweet surprises always happen and, here, there`s just something so that hits me very right from The Copper Kings all over "Hellos And Goodbyes". I get the feeling that the band have spent some time listening to records recorded before 1995 and while you`ve heard the templates of these melodies and hooks before, you will be hard-pressed to find a stronger, more adept articulation of that template than here. Song after song hits with (sometimes overly) earnest vocals, sharp, clear guitar lines and melodies that glide effortlessly along. The band understand hooks `n melodies. After three listens, I find myself pulled in and consistently enjoying all the offerings on "Hellos And Goodbyes".
...Very Highly Recommended! - NotLame.com
This Seattle band has a driving power pop style that sounds more like the Heartland than the Pacific Northwest. Similar to First in Space and Daylight Titans, they grab your ears with the leadoff track "Disarray", a propulsive rocker that doesn't let go. "Am I Too Late" is anthemic in quality, and the midtempo "January 1" is another winner. Other standouts include the jangly/alt-country-ish "Best Laid Plans", the Collective Soul-esque "Turn Away", and the excellent closer "Forever Someone Else", which has a Gin Blossoms quality about it. Wondering where they got their name? According to Wikipedia, the real-life Copper Kings were three wealthy industrialists "known for the epic battles they fought in Butte, Montana and the surrounding region during the Gilded Age over the control of the local copper mining industry". All I can say is give these Copper Kings a shot in the epic battle for control of your iPod. - Absolute PowerPop
Discography
Hellos and Goodbyes (2009)
Photos
Bio
The Copper Kings are a Seattle based band which came together in 2008 out of a love for both modern and classic American rock with an affinity for solid pop hooks. Frontman/songwriter Phil Austin and drummer/backup vocalist Chris Villasenor had formerly worked together and found they had a common penchant for music ranging from Indie to arena, 70’s to 2000’s and Metal to Pop…as long as it had great singable melodies and enormous guitar or vocal hooks. Friends from the age of 9, Charlie Bendock and Phil Austin reconnected after a chance meeting at the local grocery store, and in short succession an experienced bassist and third voice was added to the band. In 2010, longtime friend of the Austins, Matthew Peteshel joined the band, bringing a new tinge of alt-country and classic rock to the band's sound as well as a new electricity to the live shows.
Hellos and Goodbyes was recorded in 2009 at Keene Sound Studio in Seattle and was co-produced by Phil Austin and Max Keene. Independently released on October 26th 2009, the album has met with excellent reviews and impressive distribution through CDBaby.com and iTunes, with songs “Disarray” and “Am I Too Late” garnering particular interest and acclaim. The band’s favorite quote thus far was that Disarray “…has a hook that’s 4 miles wide!!”
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