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| Copperpot (Credit: Olivia T.) |
In days gone by, the music business largely consisted of two means
of promotion: live performances and records. As time went on,
new media appeared from time to time - music and celebrity magazine,
movies, television - where those who had reached the top of their
game could reach a wider audience. Now, the current generation
of musicians have countless opportunities to promote their music,
and yet it has become more difficult and stand out and be heard
among all of the noise and dissonance.
Take New Jersey's Copperpot. The quartet has delved into almost every area of modern music
promotion to get their melodic, pop-laded rock sound out to the
world. Almost 90,000 fans have viewed their MySpace profile,
which may have also helped the band land a distribution deal for
their self-titled album with Japan's Bullion Records. They've
had their music placed in films, such as Kevin Smith's "Big Helium
Dog, " as well as network television and MTV shows such as "Pimp My
Ride" and "Date My Mom." They were the first unsigned band to
play ESPN's "Cold Pizza" and their track "Go Girls" was used by NBC
at the 2004 Summer Olympic as the theme for the gold-medal-winning
women's soccer team. They've received airplay on both
terrestrial and XM satellite radio, with their songs being spun
everywhere from local college radio to major stations such as 92.3
KROCK and New York's Z100.
And they play live. A lot. Copperpot can log over 200
shows a year ranging from small local venues to major festivals such
as the Bamboozle Fest. Mostly performing up and down the East
Coast - they are planning to finally reach Florida this year - they
are well-known as home-base venues such as CBGBs in New York City
and Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ.
Now promoting their debut self-titled album, the members of the
band, Jarrett Randazzo (vocals/guitar), Anthony Natale
(guitar/vocals), Jarrett "Worth" Beeler (bass/vocals) and Scott
Ingwersen (drums), have all of the pieces in place to take things
another step forward. Chorus and Verse interviewed Natale as
the band was preparing for an industry showcase show at Don Hills in
New York City and spoke with him about the band's history and where
he expected the road to take them in the months ahead.
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| Anthony Natale (Credit: Olivia T.) |
Let's start off with the big upcoming show at Don Hills in New York City
on May 18th. What does this show mean to the band and why should
fans make an extra effort to be there that Thursday evening?
This show could potentially mean a lot for this band, but we are
all familiar with how difficult the record industry is. We’re used
to having labels and such at a show, and nothing coming of it. We’ve
sort of programmed ourselves to just go out there and do what we do.
You can only hope for the best.
Now let's go back into the band's history.
How long have you all been together and how do each of the band
members know each other? Do you recall the first time the band
performed together in front of a crowd?
As this incarnation of Copperpot, we’ve been together for a
little over two years. Scott and I have known each other the better
part of ten years, and he and Jarrett have known each other for six
years. Worth stepped into the fold about a year and a half ago. The
first time this group performed together was at The Chance in
Poughkeepsie, New York.
You've recently been performing up and down
the East Coast, with shows as far north as New Hampshire and south
Virginia just this month alone. How does the band usually travel and
what do you usually do to pass the time while on the road for
several hours before and after a gig?
We travel on a retired school bus. A short bus to be exact. Worth
had some friends help with removing the original seats and
installing more comfortable seating for the long trips. Reading
books, listening to music, and singing are at the top of the list of
things we do when on the road. As far as before a show, we all kind
of do whatever we need to do to get in the zone, stretch, meditate,
warm up, etc. Afterwards, we’re usually too tired to do much. Sleep
comes to mind.
Speaking of your touring schedule, the band
has managed to log 150-200 shows a year, which is a heavy touring
schedule, especially on a national level. How does the band handle
your DIY bookings and why do you think you've been so successful,
especially as an unsigned band, at getting so many regular bookings?
Bookings were done previously by Worth, Jarrett, and our manager,
Jon. Now that we are under Jon and Wilspro Management, they will
probably handle things from now on. We are the type of band that
wants to bring back the rock show. We’re all about audience
participation and over-the-top antics. Most importantly, we’re about
competent musicianship. We are successful in being asked back to
play again because we prove time and time again that we command the
stage and capture an audience.
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| On stage at CBGBs in Manhattan (Credit: Olivia T.) |
You mentioned in a recent blog entry that
you've recorded a recent show in Virginia Beach, VA for a tour
DVD to be released in the spring. What can you tell us about what
the DVD's going to be like and when and where do you think fans will
be able to get their hands on it?
There’s not too much going on with the DVD right now. It is
currently on hold.
In that same blog entry, the band took a
swipe at promoters who underestimate the band by talking about how
many kids you're able to get out to a show on a weeknight. What's
the toughest part about getting booked at venues and getting
promoters to give you a shot at their space? In general, do
you find it easier or more difficult to make opportunities to play
live in the New Jersey/New York area than in other parts of the
country?
When you first play a new venue, you usually have to succumb to
whatever is asked of you. This means either playing on a billing
with bands that don’t sound anything like you or getting a very
early time slot. The good part about this, at least for us, is that
the first time is usually the last time we have to do those things.
Our stage presence and musical ability, more often then not, wins
people over. New Jersey/New York is our home base. We’ve built up
quite a reputation in these parts, so it has become relatively easy
for us to get shows. The only drawback to that is that we are
currently not what has become mainstream in our area. We sound
different and have a different look. Our goal is to get out there
where nobody knows us and where, hopefully, people get what we’re
doing.
Another cool piece of news about the band
is that you've signed a distribution deal in Japan on Bullion
Records. How did you make that connection, and do you already have a
fan base in that country? Is there any chance that you'll be touring
the Pacific Rim anytime soon?
Bullion Records actually contacted us. I’m not too sure of the
particulars, but one guess would have to be MySpace. We’ve been
working hard, and our street team has been working hard in using
MySpace to build our fan base all over the world. The deal with
Bullion and us going to Japan is all predicated on sales. We’ve got
to hit a number to be able to go.
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| Anthony Natale (Credit: Olivia T.) |
Some of the music from your self-titled CD
has been used by MTV in its programming. How did that connection
come about and what did it feel like to hear your music on
television? It is a different feeling to hear your music being used
in the context of a television program as opposed to the first time
your heard one of your songs on the radio?
MTV came through our manager, Jon. He pushed the music and made
it happen. Honestly, it is a real trip to be watching TV and hear
your band’s song in a show. Radio is a different thing all together.
But we’ve yet to be in regular rotation, so I’ll have to get back to
you on that.
You've been regulars at CBGBs, packing that
famous venue on several occasions. Do you have any thoughts on the
recent saga that club's gone through and do you expect to play that
stage again before it closes down?
Yes, it certainly has been a saga. It would be devastating if
such a historic and atmospheric place had to close. It’s a special
place for us. We’ve played many a show to a sold-out audience. I
think all of us would agree that we’ve never sounded better anywhere
else. We will play there again, I guarantee it.
What's next for the band after the Don
Hills show? What are some of your plans for the summer and do you
anticipate any recording time or new album releases in the near
future?
I guess we’ll see what the reaction of the industry is after the
Don Hill’s show. But, like I said earlier, we can’t think too much
about it. If nothing comes, we’ll still do what we’ve been doing.
This summer we plan on going all the way to Florida. It will be our
first trip done there. After that we will have conquered just about
the whole east coast. It’s an exciting idea when you really sit back
and think about it. We’ve tackled most of the country already and
now we have to think about invading Europe. As for recording, we are
working closely with our management team to decide what the right
avenue is right now. Let’s just say we have plenty of material.
Music that is mature and realized.
[ Website: www.copperpot.us ]
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