Copeland (band)

Copeland
200px Copeland
Background information
Origin	Lakeland, Florida
Genres	Alternative rock, indie rock, slowcore, acoustic rock, indie pop, ambient, baroque pop
Years active	2001–2010
Labels	Tooth & Nail Records(2008-2010) Columbia Records(2006-2007) The Militia Group(2002-2006) Theory 8 Records(2001) Academy Fight Song
Associated acts	Anchor & Braille, States
Website	www.thecopelandsite.com
Past members	Aaron Marsh Bryan Laurenson Jonathan Bucklew Stephen Laurenson James Likeness Rusty Fuller Thomas Blair Jarrett Smith

Copeland was an indie rock band, originally formed in 2001 by singer Aaron Marsh (who also plays the guitar, mellotron, organ, and piano) with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida.

History

Inception

Aaron Marsh attended a performing arts high school, Harrison Arts Center. Bryan Laurenson, guitarist, and Jonathan Bucklew, drummer (who took the place of Rusty, current drummer of SisterBrother out of Harrisburg, PA). In 2002, they signed a record deal with independent label The Militia Group and released their debut album, 'Beneath Medicine Tree', a year later. In 2004, 2005, and 2006 they performed at the annual Cornerstone Florida Festival in Orlando, Florida. 'In Motion', Copeland's second full length CD, was released on March 22, 2005—it was produced by Matt Goldman and Aaron Marsh, and mixed by Ken Andrews. The early copies of In Motion that were issued included a four-song acoustic ep (a compilation of lo-fi versions of songs from 'In Motion' itself), as well as 'Beneath Medicine Tree'.

2006 to 2008

Columbia Records announced their signing of Copeland in a press release dated November 14, 2006.

Beneath Medicine Tree features a heavy medical theme. Aaron Marsh admits that the lyrics in this album were inspired by the hospitalization of his girlfriend and the death of his grandmother. The album booklet includes photographs by then-bassist James Likeness of hospital scenes. Marsh cites that, "With Beneath Medicine Tree, I wanted to make a record that moves people," while "With In Motion, I wanted to make a record that makes people move."

Lead singer Aaron Marsh has also been featured with other bands such as The Morning Of on their album The Way I Fell In, Underoath on their album They're Only Chasing Safety, Anberlin on their album Cities and Lydia on their album Illuminate.

On July 18, 2007 James made public his decision to no longer be a part of Copeland. He cited pursuing a career as a graphic designer (a field in which he has a college degree) as a chief reason in his decision to leave the band.

As of September 6, 2007, Copeland announced that they had officially split ways with Columbia Records.

About a year after ESR they released a B-side album entitled Dressed Up & In Line. It was released on November 20, 2007 and is composed of B-sides, remixes, and a few new songs as well.

Although stated by some to be a Christian band, Aaron Marsh has said that they are not. "I think that's kind of a defective term," Marsh says. "It's not our nature to have religious connotations. We are not a ministry band. We have some people in the band that are Christian, but that is not the focus of our band" and "We have no agenda in our band other than art."

Members

• Aaron Marsh - lead vocals, guitars, piano, organ, mellotron
• Bryan Laurenson - guitars, piano
• Stephen Laurenson - guitars
• Jonathan Bucklew - drums, percussion

Other projects

• Copeland was involved in To Write Love on Her Arms.
• Aaron Marsh was involved with the band Anchor & Braille along with Anberlin's Stephen Christian, producing the band's debut album Felt, which was released on August 4, 2009. Marsh is currently involved with a new project called The Lulls In Traffic.
• Bryan Laurenson's first band was Last Kid Picked, out of Annapolis, MD
• Bryan and Stephen Laurenson have recently formed a band, States, with Mindy White (previously of Lydia).

Discography

Albums

• Beneath Medicine Tree (March 25, 2003)
• In Motion (March 22, 2005) - #115 U.S.
• Eat, Sleep, Repeat (October 31, 2006) - #90 U.S.
• Dressed Up & In Line (November 20, 2007)
• You Are My Sunshine (October 14, 2008) - #48 U.S.

EPs

• Copeland / Pacifico Split EP (2001)
• Copeland / The Pale Split EP (2003)
• Know Nothing Stays the Same (2004)
• Sony Connect Sessions (2005) - A bonus disc with the initial copies of In Motion.
• Best Buy Exclusive Bonus Disc (2006) - Included with the initial copies of Eat, Sleep, Repeat that were sold at Best Buy.
• The Grey Man EP (February 24, 2009)

Instant Live

Copeland teamed up with Instant Live to create a series of 21 limited edition CDs of many of the band's shows during their tour with Daphne Loves Derby, The Spill Canvas, and Melee, between October 13 and November 7, 2005.

Compilation Appearances

• From Brooklyn with Love (2001)
• Stepping Stone Volume 1 (2002)
• Take Action Volume 3 (2003)
• Hello. We Are the Militia Group (2004)
• Maybe This Christmas Tree (2005)
• Happy Christmas Vol. 4 (2005)
• ¡Policia! - A Tribute to the Police (2005)
• Punk Goes 90s (2006)
• The Mother of Invention (2009)
• Happy Christmas Vol. 5 (2010)

Covers

Punk Goes 90s:

• Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden

Policia! A Tribute to the Police:

• Every Breath You Take by The Police

Know Nothing Stays the Same (EP):

• Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins
• Coming Around Again by Carly Simon
• She's Always a Woman by Billy Joel
• Take My Breath Away by Berlin
• Part-Time Lover by Stevie Wonder

Friends of P - Tribute to the Rentals:

• Getting By by The Rentals

The Mother of Invention:

• The Tears of a Child by Vincent Dooly

Happy Christmas Vol. 4:

• Do You Hear What I Hear?

Happy Christmas Vol. 5:

• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Singles

From: Beneath Medicine Tree

• Walking Downtown

From: In Motion

• Pin Your Wings

From: Eat, Sleep, Repeat

• Control Freak

From: You Are My Sunshine

• The Grey Man

External links

• Official website