The Peachbones

In their 12 years of playing music together, Ron Copenhaver, Matthew Hoover, and Donne Copenhaver have solidified their distinct rock and roll sound by drawing from diverse influences, both modern and classic. The Peachbones have crafted a work of rock music influenced as much by their own imagination and creativity as by rock from the 60's, 70's, and 90's. Throughout the 90's, the band played for ruckus college crowds around Ohio under the name Uncle Cedric. The band began writing more original material, eventually playing long sets of mostly original music.

Throughout the 90's, the band played for ruckus college crowds around Ohio under the name Uncle Cedric. The band began writing more original material, eventually playing long sets of mostly original music. The late 90's brought about change for the band, as members were graduating from college and making the transition from college life to the ?real world.? Bassist Johanssen amicably left the band, and soon the band that had been known as Uncle Cedric had nothing left but a four-song demo recorded at a Columbus studio.

In 1998, though, the band reformed with a new influence. Singer Hoover began writing alternative country rock songs in the vein of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. The rest of the band followed suit. With new bassist Vern Miller, the band focused on their live show. They played Columbus regularly and earned a reputation as one of the best live shows in the city. With the changes in lineup and style came a new name: the Peachbones. With a string of shows lined up and no name, Hoover told the band the story of his grandfather, who'd made a set of pocket knives from peach pits, or peach "bones." They played the shows under this name and were so well received that they kept the name.

After years of playing in Columbus in an attempt to earn money for a debut album, the band longed for another change. But before they would do so, they recorded Big, Ohio, their first full-length album. The album received good reviews in the Columbus media. Many of the band's influences became evident on the album: Hoover's love of old country, along with the Copenhavers' allegiance to harder rocking modern bands like Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine, and Miller's discovery of Wilco and Son Volt all contributed to the rock sound of Big, Ohio. This diversity of influence, along with a general love of classic rock from the 60's and 70's, made up the Peachbones' trademark sound. Instruments like pedal steel guitars, pianos, accordions, and mandolins deftly made their way onto the album, providing an alternative country texture to their songs.

Once Big, Ohio was behind them, the band began writing new material. The band once again underwent a personnel change, departing with Miller in 2002. Enter Andrew Ditlevson, a much needed spark to the band's creativity and direction. Andrew's presence opened doors of creativity for the band, allowing many ideas and concepts to develop that an earlier version of the band might have prevented. A new style of rock had emerged.

Revenant, released in the summer of 2005, showcases this new sound, offering up both more contemplative and intense rock. Slower, darker songs find their way onto their second effort, yet the rock offerings eclipse even the hardest heard on Big, Ohio. Although a big departure from the alt country overtones of their previous album, the album was still well received in Columbus and around the state. More experimental guitar sounds and synthesizers aid in distinguishing this batch of songs from those on Big, Ohio, but the core of the Peachbones' sound?booming drums, driving bass, melodic vocals, and superb guitar tone?makes this album a quintessential Peachbones work.

"Monster, Monster," the latest single from the Peachbones, can be heard on their site-wide music player and marks the genesis of new material being written.