Coheed and Cambria have been pigeonholed in many ways. Critics have labeled them the "emo Rush," and fans and critics alike have targeted them solely as a concept band. But according to drummer Josh Eppard, Coheed is just your average rock band trying to have a little fun. While Eppard is flattered that his band is so often compared to Canadian prog-rock legends Rush, he feels it is important to realize that Coheed is its own band.
"It's a fair comparison, but it's really just because [lead singer] Claudio [Sanchez] has a high voice and we have long songs," Eppard said. "People are always going to try to pigeonhole you in with something that's already happened."
Coheed has been labeled progressive rock, probably due to their similarities to Rush, and emo time and time again, but Eppard refuses to put Coheed into a specific genre.
"I'd just call us a rock band," Eppard said. "People can call us whatever they want to call us. I think all these bands are rock bands. If there's drums and guitars and shit, it's a rock band to me."
Coheed has been called a concept band due to the fact that they are releasing a set of four albums that tell a science-fiction based story about a mythical couple named Coheed and Cambria and their son Claudio. The idea for the story originated with Sanchez, who will be releasing a comic book based on the story later this year. While Eppard supports the idea, he didn't realize people would come to define Coheed by it.
"I thought it was an awesome idea, but I didn't think it'd be such a big deal," Eppard said. "Apparently people are really into it."
While the concept-based quartet of albums is certainly part of Coheed's identity, Eppard fears that some may see them as pretentious because of it.
"If there's one thing that I think people should know it's that we're not stuck-up, arty dudes," Eppard said. "We really do like having a good time. I think people think we're kind of pretentious, and there is a streak of pretension to it, but people think we've got sticks up our asses, but we don't."
Like any band, Coheed just wants to tour and have fun doing it.
"We just like to have a good time," Eppard said. "I think it translates to the audience when you're having fun up there. I think I probably have one of the best jobs in the world. We just want to have fun."
Coheed and Cambria's second album, "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3," was released in October on Equal Vision Records. The band will be playing the 9:30 club tomorrow night with Rainer Maria, Brazil and Funeral for a Friend. Coheed and Cambria will also be playing the main stage at Warped Tour this summer and hope to begin working on their third album following the tour.
