Cope w/Middle Rhythm Session
Fri., March 6, 8 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $7
A solid jam-rock outfit that's been gigging around the Bay area for the past several years, Cope has only recently found a lineup that fits. Now, they're ready to get serious.
"We've finally reached a sound we're proud of," guitarist/vocalist Dennis Stadelman told me a few weeks ago when I sat down with him and his bass-playing brother Kenny to discuss their official "coming out" show this Friday.
The Stadelmans have the best sort of sibling rivalry, one that forces them to grow and mature as artists together or else run the risk of one or the other losing creative face. After more than 15 years of performing — they started their first band at ages 15 and 16, along with their 14-year-old cousin, guitarist Roger Pinkerton — they've gotten pretty good at complementing each other, experimenting with new ideas and sounds, and challenging each other to improve and evolve.
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2010.