Wil Cope

Wil Cope's debut rolls with such an easy, natural rhythm that his unassuming style camouflages a similar songwriting talent. Lurking under his laid-back Austin twang are familiar harbingers; the honky-tonking "Stumble Creek" smacks of Gram Parsons, while "Avenue H" and "We Wish" add just enough pop tinge to tilt his sound toward Ben Kweller's down-home turn. Though "Ending It All" lingers a bit too long in its Wilco wake, the heavy-lidded "Fake Pearls" evokes the picture-perfect malaise of a Sixth Street sunrise, and "Mirror in Her Heart" adds a tender touch to its chorus of "ahs" courtesy of the Heartless Bastards' Erika Wennerstrom. Cope's songs are lullabies from life's other side, delivered with the well-worn but wide-eyed embrace and conviction that sips Whiskeytown-era Ryan Adams in a dive bar scrounging rounds out of empty pockets. At least he's in good company. - The Austin Chronicle, By: Doug Freeman

Austin-based folk artist Wil Cope released Sunset Craves at the end of last year. Produced by Heartless Bastards’ drummer David Colvin and featuring backing vocals by their lead singer Erika Wennerstrom, the album is a reflection of the places Cope has been, vivid memories of landscapes and the poetry of his journey. There are very strong Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt and Graham Parsons influences found throughout.

Cope is currently working on his second album, The Future Never Looked So Hot, and promoting the video he recently completed for the track you hear on this edition of the Austin Music Minute, called “Avenue H.” He’ll be kicking off a West Coast tour with a show tomorrow night at the Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St. at Navasota. This is a fantastic bill that includes performances by Christian Bland (The Black Angels) and Chris Catalena (The Tunnels, The Ghost Songs). Get there after 9 p.m. Highly recommended. - KUT Radio, Texas Music Matters

For songwriter Wil Cope, his debut album Sunset Craves is a collection of images captured in his mind’s eye - places he’s been, sights and sounds along the road, striking landscapes that trigger certain memories. Produced by Heartless Bastards’ drummer David Colvin and featuring some incredible backing vocals by Bastards’ lead singer Erika Wennerstrom, the album has been getting reviews that compare his work to Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt and Graham Parsons. Cope couldn’t be more flattered, but takes it all in stride.

Cope sat down with KUT’s Laurie Gallardo for a casual chat and shared some thoughts on his songwriting process. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the mp3 below.

He’s playing a show tonight at the Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St. at Navasota. The bill includes solo performances by Christian Bland (The Black Angels) and Chris Catalena (The Tunnels, The Ghost Songs). Doors open at 9 p.m. - Laurie Gallardo @ KUT Radio

I met Wil Cope at the Cactus Cafe a couple of years back, but hadn’t seen him in a while. I noticed he was having a CD release at The Scoot Inn last night, so my friend Dan and I went to see the show.

His CD is entitled “Sunset Craves” and features a top notch band, including three members of The Heartless Bastards, two of whom played with him on stage last night. The drummer of The Heartless Bastards, Dave Colvin produced the CD as well.

I would have liked a more attentive and less raucous crowd, but the Scoot Inn is in general a more rowdy place, meant for rowdy bands. Wil’s music does not really fit into that category. His music is slow and laid back, with some tracks singer/songwriter song with a hit of country. Then some songs are more in the vein of old-time country, featuring a lot of slide guitar. Through it all is a laid back vibe, which certainly fits Wil’s personality.

Wil doesn’t mince words. The words are simple and to the point, but poetic in their bareness. His CD has a vibe of some of the work of now disbanded The Scud Mountain Boys. Hard to say at this point if the songs will get under my skin like The Scud Mountain Boys, but to me it’s a CD meant to enjoy when you just want to enjoy sitting under the sun enjoying the beauty of the small things in life.

- By: Robert Steel

It's said Dayton has a wicked cosmic undertow — some powerful force that seems to draw its wanderlust-inflicted citizens back to town. Local singer-songwriter Wil Cope is all too familiar with that concept, which he explores extensively on his new album, "Farewell Patterns."

"It's a 16-song goodbye love letter to Dayton, Ohio, and all that's happened to me, leaving and returning to this city," Cope said. "Even as a kid I left to live in Michigan and Georgia, then found myself back and wondering how I was gonna get out again."

ExtrasAs an adult, Cope lived briefly in Florida, California, Mexico and Texas, but always drifted back to Ohio, where he returned to the familiar routines of working, performing, drinking and always — always — planning his next escape.

"There's the high feeling of endless possibilities upon leaving and the lows upon returning feeling beaten," Cope said. "It's like a hopeless drunk night that seems like it will never end, but you're slowly regaining confidence in the morning sunlight."

Cope used these feelings of restlessness, insecurity and doubt to fuel his latest batch of songs, which were recorded as solo numbers or backed by Bill Alletzhauser and Tony Franklin of the Hiders. "Air City Taxi," a somber, acoustic tale of loneliness and regret, takes its name from the local cab company. "Airport Lounge," the album's most rocking cut, is the nickname of a now-defunct bar Cope used to frequent.

"If you're familiar with this city, little insights are scattered throughout," Cope said. "Like, 'Misery Boulevard' is my nickname for Fifth Street, and '3rd and Huffman' is where I lived a strange, lost year. "Poor Block" is for all the poverty I've seen in Dayton neighborhoods all my life. I wrote "Nowhere City Night" the night I got back after an extended stay in Austin.

"A very personal story lies within these songs but I'm not gonna share much more," Cope added. "Listen and it's all in there. I've done a lot of learning and growing up in this city and this is almost a song diary to go along with my memories. For better or worse, it's a love-hate thing for sure. I feel I've written Dayton out of my system, well, at least for now, I guess."

Cope, who is relocating to Nashville in a few weeks, celebrates the release of "Farewell Patterns" at Canal Street Tavern at 9:30 p.m. Thursday with special guests The Hiders and Chris McCoy.


- By: Rock Insider writer Don Thrasher

Wil Cope has always been something of a wandering troubadour. The Dayton-area native has used his hometown as a base of operations through the years, but he's also spent time in Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; and other locales. For now, it seems, he's happy to call Austin home.

"I spent three months in East Nashville," Cope said. "It was all right, but it was just kind of gloomy. It's sunnier in Austin, and I have friends here, so I decided to move down in April. I came here for all the culture, and I love it. Every night of the week there's tons of stuff going on. There's all this amazing music and art and food. I don't have a car and I can get around town here with buses or a bike. It's super easy to do and really cheap."

Cope has released stark solo acoustic albums and projects where he's been backed by musicians, such as his old band, The Busted Lovers, or members of The Hiders. His latest release, "Dead Moon Motel," melds the two extremes, with austere folk songs fleshed out by drums, keyboards, vibes and more. At the same time, the material recorded in Austin by former Daytonian Dave Colvin sounds different than anything else Cope has released.

"This is the best recording I've done so far," Cope said. "I took the recording process much more seriously than in the past and allowed more time. I wanted to do something different, and it just worked out well. I wanted the songs to tell a story, almost like a play. I was reading a lot of Sam Shepard plays at the time. He was a great inspiration, and still is.

"I wanted this recording to be a snapshot of a couple living on the fringe, in hotels and motels, totally codependent on one another and nursing chemical dependencies," he added. "The lyrics refer to all these things. It's things I lived, and things I observed."

Cope, who performs at Canal Street Tavern on Wednesday, Oct. 29, with Andrew and the Pretty Punchers and Theresa Andersson, has been on the verge of breaking through to a larger audience for years. However, until that happens, he'll continue performing and self-releasing his own albums.

"I'm trying to make this thing what I do full time," Cope said.

- By: Don Thrasher/Dayton Daily News

"We’ve been talking about this one for a while now, but tonight is finally the night that Kris N. gets to celebrate the release of his new album, Lo-Fi Movement. We’d highly recommend heading out to Canal Street Tavern to catch Kris live, as he will be joined by Poptek Records mainman, Andy Ingram, on drums. We had them at the NTRO/XPO back in February and it still ranks as one of our favorite sets that we’ve seen. Also on the bill tonight are a pair of our favorite Dayton songwriters: swinging back through town from his new base in Austin, we’ve got Wil Cope, who is soon to release his new album, 1977 Again, and Joe Anderl. We’ll see you there…."
- The Buddha Den

"With a harmonica wrapped around his neck, a guitar strapped to his back, and a glass of Jamison on the rocks sitting stage right; Wil Cope effortlessly sang somber songs with powerful imagery and range to a relaxed crowd at Canal Street Tavern last Wednesday, October 11th. Cope has mastered the lost-on-a-highway sound that reminds the listener of days gone by.

The intimate rapport that he builds with his audience is why Cope has been a big part of the Dayton singer/songwriter circuit for more than three years. He just released a new full-length cd that he was playing in support of.

Also on the bill Wednesday was a solo Billy Catfish. Without his band, Billy could not let loose as much as usual, but his set still provided the energy of the evening. He played songs for the potheads, cokeheads, junkies, and his friend’s meth lab with a slightly distorted acoustic backdrop. He finished off his set with a cover called The Mailbox Blues and a noisy banjo.

Wednesday was the first of three dates that Cope and Catfish would play together. The two are off to play Columbus and Nashville over the next week."

- By: Kris Neises

Wil Cope is an American folk musician and artist, both intimate and free. Son of a farrier, a constant traveler, washer of dishes and writer of songs, his debut album "Sunset Craves" harbors the sounds and images of the desert, the ocean, small town ghettos, farms and freeways. Recorded in Austin, Texas in 2010 and exceptionally produced by Heartless Bastards drummer David Colvin, the album is heavily influenced and comparable to Neil Young, Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt. Featuring Colvin on drums, Erika Wennerstrom of the Heartless Bastards on stunning backup vocals as well as Jesse Ebaugh of Heartless Bastards on some westward steel guitar, the album gives the listener a feeling of a long respected kinship. You can press play and hear sounds that are as genuine and familiar as an old car radio. Like catching a glimpse from the corner of your eye, and when you turn, there is nothing there but a good feeling. A memory you love to revisit time and time again, comforting, warm and true.

"Sunset Craves" is due to be released in December 2010, and is an album for all music lovers, all genres, young and old alike. No matter who you are, what you like, or where you’re from, Sunset Craves demands every minute of your attention. Currently recording his 2nd album, "The Future Never Looked So Hot" in Los Angeles followed by the official release of his "Avenue H" music video, the future is perhaps already beginning to look hot for Wil Cope. Armed with poetry, empty pockets and open heart, Wil Cope heads into the open road for his West Coast “Stumble Creek Tour” in the early spring of 2011.

- Laura Wallgren