Despite lacking true familial ties, the Kopecky Family Band still has the taste of a home brew. Out of Nashville and into the national scene the Family has been building a name for itself since their start in 2007, moving up with help from appearances at Bonnaroo and on NPR. In their first full-length album, titled Kids Raising Kids and released yesterday, this six-piece crew flaunts their smooth polyrhythmic style and folksy male/female croons.
Combine dynamic percussion with simple melodies from a cello, keyboard, two electric guitars, and one bass, sprinkle on a thin layer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros style vocals, and voilà: “Heartbeat” is born. However simple, this foot-tapping, hip-swaying, hand-clapping track will wedge itself into the back of your mind and won’t hesitate to send you a friendly nudge from time to time. Leaving nothing hidden, this charming concoction wears its heart on its sleeve. Though their Nashville origins ring through the steel strings in their intro track “Wandering Eyes,” Kids Raising Kids boasts a fair variety of styles; some slow and ballad-like in “Change,” others more sharp and energetic like the catchy choruses of “The Glow” and “Angry Eyes.”
Searching for their place in the ever-expanding indie-folk scene, this bunch brings their blissful tunes to the table through their simplistic but plentiful instrumental layering and wispy vocals that instill a dull sense of yearning. “Heartbeat” serves as a friendly introduction to this blossoming group, giving a good reason to be hopeful for their future creations, so long as they continue to set themselves apart in their genre and not get lost among the rest. After a few years of touring and a handful of EP tracks, Kids Raising Kids proves that the Kopecky Family Band has chemistry and the substance to effectively spread their Family jubilee.