Listen to COPE (either “live” or recorded), and you will hear an audial smorgasbord of influences and styles. Rock passages blend seamlessly with reggae, roots rock, and soaring vocal harmonies to provide a smooth swagger that makes the ladies dance, and the lads bob their heads. Dennis Stadelman offers his chops on vocals, guitar, and banjo, while his brother Kenny shares vocal responsibilities and lays down his delicious grooves on bass guitar. Brad Elliot (drums) and Juan Montero (keys / saxophone) add their own flourishes and musical pedigrees to the mixture. The result is a pleasing combination that hearkens back to the days of yore, while also hinting at the promise of the future. COPE offers an excellent blend of melody and harmony, aggressive runs on guitar, powerhouse drumming, and scintillating horn and keys. Unlike other bands in the genre, who linger in incessant, loping jams, COPE originals are tightly-arranged, well-composed numbers that show an appreciation for song craft, both from a lyrical and musical perspective.