Cope

A mainstay of the Tampa scene, Cope returns Friday to the Dive Bar for the second time in 2010. Riding a wave of support for its new, sophomore album, Going Home, and continuously touring the Southeast, this band is really pulling into the barrel.

It's the project of the Stadelman brothers, Dennis on guitar/banjo/percussion and Kenny on bass. Musically, the act is rooted in its lifelong journey through folk and bluegrass, mixed with a passion for classic rock. A four-piece, the lineup is rounded out by the jazz/funk rhythms of drummer extraordinaire Dave Gerulat and the wailing saxophone and upbeat keyboard of Juan Montero.

Going Home encompasses each member's personal style, fusing every genre from rock and bluegrass to reggae and electronica. And live, the band focuses on a polished sound based on melodies and harmonies. The result is a mix of improvised jams and unmapped arrangements along with compositional, instrumental breaks. It's a blend that's proving increasingly popular, and 2010 looks to be busy for the band across the whole country.