Kopecky Family Band: “Heartbeat”

Being in a band is a bit like being in a family. There’s good times, bad times, and everything in between. You live together, you travel together, and it takes hard work and, maybe, a little bit of luck to keep it going. You do it out of love, you do it for music. Kelsey Kopecky and Gabe Simon certainly knew all that when they dubbed their little musical endeavor the Kopecky Family Band.

Back in 2007, Kopecky and Simon were just college students in Nashville when they bonded in a little impromptu dorm-room jam. Within a few months, they had a full band along for the ride. The “couple” became a six-member family. Their sound isn’t exactly what you would expect from a Music City band. Sure, there are a few wafts of folk here and there, but they have a classic sound that defies classification without resorting to arcane, hyphenated sub-genres. The songs are tight, and the addition of strings in the band add a little pop class to the mix.

They put out their debut, five-song EP Embraces in 2008, and toured relentlessly. On the road they’ve supported a pretty diverse set of artists that includes everyone from gypsy punkers Gogol Bordello to pop-folkies The Lumineers. Five years, four records (including their latest Kids Raising Kids), and a newly-minted record deal with ATO (home of The Alabama Shakes, My Morning Jacket, Lucero, and a bunch of other cool artists) later, the little band that Kopecky and Simon founded in a dorm room is one to be reckoned with.

We certainly thought so when they stopped by a little while back to record some tunes in Studio 1A including today’s song of the day “Heartbeat.” The song’s got a big, toe-tapping backbeat, the plaintive cello adds a little mystery to the song, as does the chiaroscuric interplay between Kopecky and Simon’s vocals. It’s the sound of a band working like a family.

The band’s going to be in town for a couple days next week to get down on some SXSW action before heading back out on their tour. You can catch them:

Mon, 3/11: Speakeasy (Say Media party), 8 p.m.
Tue, 3/12: Whole Foods Rooftop (Whole Foods/Vevo Party)
Tue, 3/12: Cedar Street Courtyard (Dyn Inc. Party) 8 p.m.

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