Local Cover Band "CopOut"

Their name is CopOut. However, they are by no means a "cop out" band. They are made up of five local good looking guys: Benji is the lead singer, Ryan is on lead guitar, Rich is rhythm guitar, Ryan is on drums, and the newest member, Tony, is on bass guitar.

They started as a no name group in the basement of lead singer, Benji house in 2004. Back then there were only four members, with a different bass player. The original bass player quit to become a cop. Some say that was how the band's name came about: the cop was out-thus CopOut. However, if you ask the guys, that wasn't how it happened. Coincidence? Who knows. When the "cop" bass player quit, Rich joined as the new bass player. A few months later, with a new member, and a name, they started playing out. They began doing Graduation parties then to bars.

The first year went well for the four rockers. Word of mouth about the guys spread quickly through the small community and the guys began to develop quite a following. That first year, they had shows where there were only a few people, to shows with over 100 people. The largest show was when they were one of the opening acts for The Red Ball Jets at the 2005 Spring Bash in Mansfield Ohio. With two of the band members sick, they performed for over 350 people without a hitch. Not bad for a group of guys that had only been playing out for nine months.

The second year, still going with four guys, their crowds were getting larger. Some of the small venues could no longer hold the crowds-a VERY good sign for the guys. They were learning new songs, gaining more confidence, and soon to gain a new member.

Every year the guys have to take off a few months because the drummer, Ryan, is a farmer by day. The months of April and part of May is planting season and September & October is harvesting season. Due to the time that Ryan needs off, the other guys take that time to make changes and learn new songs. Everyone then decided one change would be to get a new member. Ryan went to lead guitar, Rich went to rhythm guitar, and Tony was added to be the new bass player.

Now, three months later, they are going strong. The transition from four to five members has been smooth and rewarding. People that had heard the guys in the past, and hear them now, say it was a positive change.

Now it's my chance to hear what all of they hype is about. They are playing in a local bar in Millersburg. On this particular day, it is PACKED! Wow...these guys are popular. I've been in this particular bar before and the most I've seen is twenty people on a non band night. By the end of this night, it will show 197 people paid to see these guys play for four hours.

They start their first set with the guitar starting "My Own Worst Enemy". The lead singer, Benji has an awesome voice! Rich, on guitar, harmonizes well and I can tell that he is the lively clown in the bunch. Ryan, on lead guitar is the quiet talent. He plays very well. Ryan, the drummer is the good ole country boy that loves to beat on his drums. The new guy, Tony, bops, sings, and plays his bass pretty well for a newbie. Their next song, "Cumbersome", proves to be one of the crowd favorites. By the end of the first set, they all have the crowd eating out of their hands.

During the break, I walked over to check out their merchandise for sale. While I was looking, Benji comes over and shows me the woman's tank tops, t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, hoodies, and stickers that they have for sale. I start talking about the band. He tells me about everyone, what they do, and the band's history. I ask him where he wants to go from here. He tells me that they have done graduation parties, benefits, the Holmes County Fair, bars, and he just wants to keep working up and out of Holmes County to bigger venues to eventually a record deal and playing stadiums. But, he insists, this is his home and that he will always come back to Holmes County to play. I asked him if it's feasible for a small town local band to make it? He reassures me that if they play crowds like this and get this kind of crowd reaction in just their second year, it can only get better and that their is nothing standing in their way of going ALL THE WAY!

I asked Benji if they do their own music. He said "not yet" but that they want to. Benji has words for some, and him and Ryan have started putting music to it, but nothing is done as of yet. He reassures me that they are working on it and that is one of their short term goals for the future. He tells me that their break is over and time for set two, but that we can talk later.

Set two starts off with a rocked out version of "Brown Eyed Girl" which is a song that Benji lets the crowd help him sing on the chorus. And they LOVE it! People are crowding up front for a better view. Those patrons sitting at the bar and at the tables are bopping to the beat. Everyone seems to be enjoying the band. Benji then walks out into the crowd with the aid of a wireless microphone. He goes to people and sings, sometimes even hopping up on one of the tables. He is thoroughly enjoying himself. When asked what is so great about these guys, one of the "CopOut" fans says that she doesn't know exactly what it is, but she just loves Benji's voice. She must love the beat too because she has been dancing all night.

Sets three and four bring the CopOut fans to the height of their musical enjoyment. More people dancing, more people rocking with songs like "Sweet Emotion", "Ring of Fire (rocked out version-truly awesome!)", "Basketcase", "TNT", and "Enter Sandman" to name a few. The crowd is totally under CopOut's spell now, without question. Everyone is dancing, singing, waving their hands in the air. They truly can not get enough. The guys on stage are totally into it as well. They are jumping and singing and having a great time.

The crowd favorite seems to be CopOut's last song: their own version of "Bad Moon" by CCR. People come out of hiding for this last song of the night. I don't know what it is about this song, but in the middle of the song the lights over the guys go out and all of a sudden drummer Ryan has lighted drum sticks. He starts in on a drum solo that involves a crowd chant in certain parts of the solo. Hearing the crowd chime in at the exact right time, shows that they are return fans that have heard this song before. Watching Ryan play with his red glow sticks is COMPLETELY mesmerizing and hypnotic. At the end of his solo, they guys jump right in with the rest of "Bad Moon" without missing a beat and finish the song as the crowd explodes begging for more. They play one more song. That was not good enough for this crowd. Sorry, the fans will just have to come back next time to the next gig at the next location.

What is nice about these guys is that they are just your average group of good looking guys that get together for the love of the music and for the energy of the crowd. They aren't crazy drunk guys that act obnoxious and stupid by the end of the night. As a matter of fact, Benji and Tony don't even drink when they are on stage. You will see Benji chugging water the whole time while Tony goes back and forth from water to pop.

CopOut plays everything from a rocked out Johnny Cash to Kid Rock, from a rocked out George Micheal to AC/DC. Their music runs the gamut and everyone loves them. They are respectful to the crowds and they have fun. They are not only great to listen to, but fun to watch. They play the crowd and each other. CopOut is lively and energetic without being crazy. Maybe they WILL make it. Until then, I WILL come back to "Rock Out With My CopOut".

At the end of the night I ask Benji why he does it besides for the love of the music and the crowd. He tells me that it just amazes him how something that they all love to do can affect the crowd the way it does. That when he looks out into the crowd and sees people dancing and singing, it never fails to amaze him. Maybe because they are amazing!