COYLE — Explore the endless depths of “dream-prog” Saturday with musical group, The Receiver, at the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center as part of the ongoing Concerts in the Woods series.
The Receiver — based in Columbus, Ohio — is a duo consisting of brothers Casey Cooper, 35, and Jesse Cooper, 39. They currently are touring to support the release of their latest album, “All Burn.”
Dream-prog “is a genre that someone over at Prog Magazine came up with for us,” Casey Cooper said during a recent interview with Peninsula Daily News.
“I guess it makes sense, because we’ve been labeled ‘dream-pop’ by many listeners, as well as ‘prog-rock.’ We fit somewhere in between the two, hence dream-prog.”
Prog Magazine has described the band’s sound as Pink Floyd meets electronica.
Dream-prog, Cooper continued, employs a “hazy sound — with a lot of melody and layers — and that’s the type of music we love to listen to. We have pop melodies, but the song structures have a slight progressive aspect to them. We like having aspects to our music that might surprise the listener and take them places — musically — that they might not expect.”
Something new and fresh
He invited the public to attend the free show, saying the audience will experience something new and fresh.
“We certainly are influenced by our favorite bands, but we try to never sound derivative,” Cooper said.
“Our live set ranges from dark and aggressive to soft and melancholic.
“Everything has an electronic feel. It’s hard to describe, which is why we’d rather people just decide for themselves. Our music hopefully provides a little escape from reality for the listener.”
Something special
Norm Johnson, Coyle Concerts founder, said the show will be “something special and different.”
“I wouldn’t call it folk music, but it is original,” Johnson continued.
“Perhaps it could be called ambient electronica, and it is definitely groundbreaking. It’s new to our ears, but it’s also beautiful and I think [the] audience is going to love it.”
The music mostly is uplifting, Casey Cooper said.
“We try to make it that way,” he said.
“Many of the lyrics are somber, but always with hope. It’s our goal to make music that promotes something positive and good in the end.”
“Hopefully,” he continued, “our music is edifying for the listener. But everyone reacts differently to different types of music. I just try to write in a style that is uplifting in a way to me, so that’s the best way I know how to try and give that effect to our listeners.”
The music includes electronic samples, but in the live show Jesse Cooper plays the drum kit and Casey Cooper plays bass guitar, as well as keyboards and vocals, Casey Cooper said.
The brothers first began jamming together when Jesse Cooper was in college and Casey Cooper was in high school, they said.
“Naturally we played in several bands together before starting The Receiver,” Casey Cooper said.
“We played in a psychedelic band at first, and we’ve played in a ‘pomp-rock’ band, which focused on four part harmonies and progressive instrumental parts with old suits and top hats before exclusively focusing on The Receiver.”
Great ‘in small doses’
Working together with his brother “is great,” he said, “especially in small doses.”
Touring “does become difficult, regardless of who you’re touring with,” Casey Cooper continued.
“We know each other well enough to be quiet and take personal time when the friction builds. So we’re pros at getting under each others’ skin, and just as good at avoiding it.”
The two brothers have “very differing roles in the band, which helps a lot,” Casey Cooper said.
He does most of the writing, while Jesse Cooper focuses on public relations and booking, they said.
The band is signed to Kscope, and has released three albums so far.
“We’re very happy with our latest album, ‘All Burn,’ ” Casey Cooper said.
“It’s tough these days to get new, original music to peoples’ ears, but we’re trying our best.”
The duo also has “a couple newer music videos we’re proud of,” he said.
Concert
The Receiver will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center, 923 Hazel Point Road.
Admission to the all-ages show is by donation.
Complimentary cookies and coffee will be offered at intermission.
The community center is located at the southern tip of the Toandos Peninsula and is operated by the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation District with help from area residents.
For more information about the band, visit www.thereceivermusic.com.
For more about the center, see www.coyleconcerts.com.
