If you prefer your county a little rough around the edges with a cold beer and a shot of whiskey, then a little Huckleberry Blue might be in your future.Huckleberry Blue, a six-piece band from Columbia City, Indiana, clearly prefer the traditional side of country music. They call their music “honky grass“- old-style honky-tonk with a side of bluegrass for good measure. They cite Johnny Cash, John Prine, Merle Haggard, Sugarland, Bonnie Raitt, Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and the three Hanks as influences. Songs about drinkin’, lovin’ and fightin’ are usually at the top of their play list.
The band consists of Josh Copp on lead and acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle and vocals; Anna Copp (Anna and Josh are married) on bass, mandolin and vocals; Sarah Marshall on keys and vocals; Brandon Marshall (also, married) on drums; Doug King on banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals; and the mysterious & bearded Johnny Morton (aka, Morty) on harmonica, bass and vocals.
Though together just over two years, Huckleberry Blue exude confidence and depth usually reserved for older bands (everyone but King is in their mid- to late-20s). With the exception of Anna Copp, each member of Huckleberry Blue has spent time in previous bands.
Huckleberry Blue, in their present form, first got together when Josh, who attends church with Brandon and Sarah, called Brandon to sit in on the drums at a gig that day. After that, things gelled and Huckleberry Blue was born.
Listen to Huckleberry Blue for yourself HERE.
I sat down and spoke with Josh Copp- he is the founder and starting force with the band.
That Nashville Sound- What brought you to music in the first place?
Josh Copp- For me my mom and dad. My mom played when I was real young, and I just kinda took it on myself and learning what i could with music. Now the same goes for Brandon (drums, vocals) and Sarah Marshall (keyboard, vocals,) Brandon's dad Roger was a up and coming music performer as was Sarah's. Our parents for at least 3 of us are really our way of loving music.TNS- Describe your music, it crosses lots of lines & genres- what's the mission behind the music?
JC- Our music plain and simply word for word - Real True Non Commercialized Music.
TNS- What are a couple of your career highlights so far?
JC- Honestly every show is a highlight. It just humbles and amazes me to see while we are up on stage playing all the people. And age range of our following, seeing 21 year olds excited to spend there first legal night at a bar listenin’ to us play Cash, Haggard, and Jones. Then seeing right beside them the 50's, 60 year old range that just enjoys hearing the music they enjoy. Now that’s a highlight every time.
TNS- What kind of music are you listening to?
JC- Talk Radio (as he laughs) but no I’m actually right now I'm really into some Jerry Reed.
TNS- What inspires the band currently?
JC- Well there’s so many especially if you've been to a show. A few we enjoy Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, John Prine, Bonnie Raitt, Conway Twitty. Some of the modern day guys we enjoy are to name a few Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Old Crow Medicine Show.
TNS- What's next for you?
JC- Well honestly, just to keep playing and doing what we are doing. God gave us all a little talent to go up on stage and play our kind of music, and sing our songs, and we all love it." Where do you hope to be career wise a couple years from now? "Well obviously if we can grow fan wise and venue wise that’s a plus. But if we are still doin’ what we do now two years from now we will still be happy. To us its all about our families, and music wise getting up on stage and havin’ fun with our fans with whom we appreciate greatly. But we will take what every the Good Lord has in mind and go with it.
TNS- Which do you like best? Big Stage or dive bar?
JC- "DIVE BAR if that was diva bar we still prefer dive bars. (laughing)
TNS- Record stores or downloads?
JC- Record stores. Hell I aint even got a computer. (laughing again)
TNS- Fine dining or southern cooking?
JC- Aww yeah southern cooking!
TNS- Baseball or fishing?
JC- Fishing.
TNS- Nickname for your guitar's?
JC- Well, none of our guitars have names but "Morty" (harmonica, vocals, slide, bass and electric guitars) calls his harmonica "BAZOOKA'S."
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