National Public Radio (NPR)’s Stephen Thompson and Bob Boilen were at a coffee shop in Manhattan when they heard a band warming up in the back. Though the broadcasters had never heard of The Kopecky Family Band, both Boilen and Thompson decided to stay and listen.
The Belmont University-born band was impressive as Thompson wrote on NPR.com: “We found ourselves sticking around for an entire set – the Kopeckys’ sweet, swollen songs kept blooming into something we couldn’t resist.”
Although some of the youngest band members just graduated from Belmont in May 2011, the band has been very busy recently performing at South by Southwest (SXSW), Bonnaroo and other venues as well as being chosen as a No. 1 pick by College Music Journal (CMJ). This week the group is also featured as a “Tiny Desk Concert” on NPR.com—Tiny Desk Concerts are video performances, recorded live at the desk of “All Songs Considered” host Bob Boilen at the NPR Music office in Washington, D.C.
All seven members met at Belmont and thrive off making the unique music their listeners enjoy. Band member Gabe Simon says it’s important to keep their sound diverse. “As much as we want to make great music, we want to be different,” he said. “We want to make it special.”
To hear music and learn more about The Kopecky Family Band, visit www.kopeckyfamilyband.com.