Ferguson & The Copper Dogs

The beginning of The Copper Dogs began not too long ago in 2011 when singer/songwriter Sarah Ferguson and guitarist Dan Walker got together to begin writing songs. The duo lasted alone for a year together until they met drummer Michael Ray in Tuscaloosa’s own Green Bar during an open mic night, later to bring on bass player, Matt Young. The four piece group that we know as The Copper Dogs today began their embark in Tuscaloosa’s music scene officially in December of 2014 and have now reached the verge of out growing one city and have begun to run out into others, including Birmingham.

Ferguson and her fellow band mates wanted to dish out the “rawest” representation of their sound possible when recording their first EP, and in order to do so they reached out to Magnetic Audio. The band and well-known local studio together recorded the five-song EP that many in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham alike have come to listen to and enjoy. Listening to them, you can definitely feel the “old dirt country” aspects that come into play with other blues, old soul, and the right touch of unique elements that make the band stand out from anything else that had ever been done. Ferguson herself has a strong, feminine, voice that takes you back in time the best way possible while backing her is clean, perfectly rhythmic, music that complements her voice. Not to mention that Ray has built a reputation alone from offering consistently tight drumming that touches near perfection. Every member of this band is capable of standing alone in what they do, but the energy and collaboration between them together is what makes the group work so well. That’s been about a year or so now since the EP release, but they are reassuring that they’ll be beginning to work on their first full-length album once final recording decisions have been made official.

Personally not being all too familiar with Tuscaloosa, I couldn’t help but to wonder and question whether or not the band felt that being an original band in a cover-band college town was limiting to them or not.

” Compared to some other cities, yes. Especially with cities like Austin or [of course] major cities like New York or Los Angeles. Being in those places can create some opportunities that you can’t always find in smaller towns, especially college towns.” Offered Ray.

But other members agreed that being in such a diverse group of college students offers networking opportunities with other musicians from across the country. And, in fact, all agreed that there is a demand and market for original bands to have a place but lack of venues that will allow original artists. And the lack of support from a major group of the bars that make up Tuscaloosa is one of the most limiting factors of all, but with new projects in the work, it looks as though Tuscaloosa may be finally giving the original bands the space that they need by opening new breweries, bars, and other live music venues that feature live original bands, while alongside supporting and encouraging more outdoor festivals that would feature local talents.But despite all of these “limiting” factors that come into play at times, The Copper Dogs rise up against the odds to play their hearts out. And any band that has the guts and talent to do that, is a band I want to support.