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Album Release - Dave Cope and the Sass

"Rock 'n Roll is here to stay
Come inside well it's okay
And I'll shake you, ooh ooh ooh"
Big Star

Dave Cope and the Sass are shaking  it up.  This tribe of seasoned musical gypsies went deep to bring us this album that will delight, insight, and may make you shed salted tears for another era. But they are the NOW and WOW. Let me present to you one of the most real deal albums of 2019. 


 The first time I heard the "If Your Mama Only Knew" on WXPN. I tweeted at DJ Dan Reed. "Did I miss a long lost Big Star song". The response was something like this "No. It's Sass.Dave Cope." Well I did that Google thing   Mr. Dave Cope, singer songwriter located in Philadelphia, popped as the search winner I went straight to the source. We became Facebook compadres.  I told him girlfriend, Sarah, is way cool. (She sings on the record).  I kept listening to the song. It wouldn't leave my head in a good way. I  went on to write a review of the song which ranks High (track #4) on my favorites of 2019.  I sent it off to my editor at Niche-Appeal.  He posted it then promptly asked so when are we getting more Sass?  We music geeks don't fk around. We know good music and we are determined to bring it to you.  Back to more Sass.

This album provides a myriad of sounds. Scratch my head. Did someone find some long lost tapes? Is this something Alex Chilton and Chris Bell (on a good day) formed with George Harrison in a pub in the back edge of London. I picture lyrics scrawled on bar napkins. The bar maid looking the other way while, Harrison noodles on a  ukulele he just happened to have with him.  I see them laughing while they create major blister biscuit of a guitar solos. The conspiracy theory is a good one.  But the  truth is Dave Cope and his band of Sassy classy creatures are real and out to turn all that is 2019 on it's head.

The initial track where he lets us know "I'm seeing things for the first time" is an eye opener. The Beachboyesque choir like harmonizing plus the slither of the guitar rips open a wound that is essentially healed by being "woke".  This track sets the tone for the album. "I am seeing things for this first time seeing things more than black and white. Everyone feels real and full of life" Oh the bliss of seeing the good in the world.

Hippiefied

Another stand out and my personal favorite has to be hands down the Cat woman anthem "Nine Lives' I bleed these lyrics "Nine Lives...born to survive she's been to hell back and back again". I feel the pulse. The floating flute captured me. The rumpled velvet guitar tones spills the musical story about a "libertine" who has seen it all yet still finds a way to giggle at something others might miss. This song need radio play. Yes you read that.  

"Dog Days'" rolls on about the heat waves of Summer. How apropos for the past five days of heat waving and thunder storming.  How easy going would it be to leave the gadgets at the door. Let your curly hair down, lightly spray on the patchouli, head down by the sea. Let yourself "stare at the ships as they sail away". The  acoustic guitar playing proves extraordinaire  Dave's steady voice, with a slight British lilt, comes off as  the leading actor. He needs an award for this one. There is a windy slide out to the ending. It's as if you are really lounging at a seashore cabin.

 The Sass goes on to sing about "Josephine" who he really loves but he questions "Why are you bringing me down?"  Is Josephine the girl who drove her Mama crazy. Is there a story line threaded through these songs My mind goes there. This album renews my faith in breaking from the norm, going back in time, bringing on the flower power for those music lovers who dig going deep.

"Give your spirit wings"
 GET ON THE SASS TRAIN

THE WHO:
The band on the record is Fred Berman (drums), Ethan Rider (bass) and myself on pretty much everything else including bass and drums on a couple songs. The live set up is Fred Berman (drums), Lucas Rinz (bass), John Cunningham (guitars and keyboards), Andy Keenan (guitars), Darryl Preston Hill (vocals and percussion), Hannah Taylor (vocals and guitars), Sarah Biemuller (vocals) and me (vocals and guitars).

THE WHY:
We were going to call the band Sass but so many bands are called Sass that we decided to go with Dave Cope and the Sass since it incorporates my name with the originally intended name this making it unique in a world filled with Sass. It's cool performing with my fiance... Though I know if I step out of line I'll be singing soprano at the next gig.

https://sasskicksass.bandcamp.com/track/if-your-mama-only-knew



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