Striking Copper

We are so grateful to Striking Copper for driving all the way from Wilmington, NC to join us at the WAME Studio last night. They are a great band and we really enjoyed having them in the studio. Striking Copper will be playing at this years Carolina Jubilee, September 29th and 30th at Van Hoy Farms Family Campground in Union Grove, NC. You can also pickup their album "Mirror" on iTunes, Spotify or where ever you get your music. - WAME 92.9 FM, The Little Toe and Frankie Show

“Today we’re going to focus on action, dynamics and knowing your parts,” Matt Donnelly clarifies to his Striking Copper bandmates. It’s about 7 p.m. on a Thursday night, and it’s mic check before practice. Not long after, a haunting and familiar lullaby begins:

Come little children I’ll take thee away, into a land of enchantment…

“Come Little Children,” from Disney’s 1993 flick “Hocus Pocus,” isn’t the band’s typical warm-up of choice. Usually, they start with the national anthem. But the spellbinding cover is a special Halloween treat for Striking Copper’s upcoming performance at Satellite Bar and Lounge (120 Greenfield St.) on Friday, Oct. 30.

Hailing from Long Island, New York, Matt Donnelly (vocals, guitar), his wife Allie Donnelly (vocals) and her twin sister Jacquie Lee (vocals), moved to North Carolina together two years ago. Matt has family in the Hampstead area, but it wasn’t until they attended a bluegrass festival with their old band Everything Grey that they decided to make a permanent move South.

“We thought we were going to move down here and find a band just like that,” he admits. “But it turned out to be really hard.”

Once Striking Copper picked up Frank Cacciutto (drums), John Stewart (bass) and Dan Bennett (electric guitar), everything changed. Not unlike chameleons, the group has adapted and evolved. They feed off the energy and talents from their collective influences in rock, folk, blues, and Americana.

“I think the lead guitarist actually tends to be the driving force of who we are,” Allie says of Dan. “He’s a little Southern rock and bluesy, and that’s where we’ve kinda gone with him.”

Striking Copper began officially playing around town in March of 2015. Since, they’ve been regulars at Satellite, The Whiskey, Sea Witch in Carolina Beach and ¾ Time Tavern, to name a few. “It feels longer though—in a good way!” Allie says. “I feel like I’ve known these guys forever.”

The band unanimously agrees the two sisters—red-headed twins with alabaster skin, who are clearly the “copper” heads of the group—are the nucleus. Or more apropos, they’re the ruling matriarchs who run the show.

“My sister and I will give them ‘looks’ when we hear something wrong,” Allie says, “and they hate us for it, but thank goodness they’re all just kind of …”

FINDING HARMONY: Striking Copper plays Satellite Bar and Lounge before heading into the recording studio
OCT 27 • ARTSY SMARTSY, FEATURE MAIN, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS AND SUCH, MUSIC • NO COMMENTS ON FINDING HARMONY: STRIKING COPPER PLAYS SATELLITE BAR AND LOUNGE BEFORE HEADING INTO THE RECORDING STUDIO

“Today we’re going to focus on action, dynamics and knowing your parts,” Matt Donnelly clarifies to his Striking Copper bandmates. It’s about 7 p.m. on a Thursday night, and it’s mic check before practice. Not long after, a haunting and familiar lullaby begins:

SPELLBOUND: Check out the eclectic combinations of blues, rock and folk harmonies of Striking Copper this Fri. Oct. 30 at Satellite Bar and Lounge. Courtesy photo.
SPELLBOUND: Check out the eclectic combinations of blues, rock and folk harmonies of Striking Copper this Fri. Oct. 30 at Satellite Bar and Lounge. Courtesy photo.
Come little children I’ll take thee away, into a land of enchantment…

“Come Little Children,” from Disney’s 1993 flick “Hocus Pocus,” isn’t the band’s typical warm-up of choice. Usually, they start with the national anthem. But the spellbinding cover is a special Halloween treat for Striking Copper’s upcoming performance at Satellite Bar and Lounge (120 Greenfield St.) on Friday, Oct. 30.

Hailing from Long Island, New York, Matt Donnelly (vocals, guitar), his wife Allie Donnelly (vocals) and her twin sister Jacquie Lee (vocals), moved to North Carolina together two years ago. Matt has family in the Hampstead area, but it wasn’t until they attended a bluegrass festival with their old band Everything Grey that they decided to make a permanent move South.



“We thought we were going to move down here and find a band just like that,” he admits. “But it turned out to be really hard.”

Once Striking Copper picked up Frank Cacciutto (drums), John Stewart (bass) and Dan Bennett (electric guitar), everything changed. Not unlike chameleons, the group has adapted and evolved. They feed off the energy and talents from their collective influences in rock, folk, blues, and Americana.

“I think the lead guitarist actually tends to be the driving force of who we are,” Allie says of Dan. “He’s a little Southern rock and bluesy, and that’s where we’ve kinda gone with him.”

Striking Copper began officially playing around town in March of 2015. Since, they’ve been regulars at Satellite, The Whiskey, Sea Witch in Carolina Beach and ¾ Time Tavern, to name a few. “It feels longer though—in a good way!” Allie says. “I feel like I’ve known these guys forever.”

The band unanimously agrees the two sisters—red-headed twins with alabaster skin, who are clearly the “copper” heads of the group—are the nucleus. Or more apropos, they’re the ruling matriarchs who run the show.

“My sister and I will give them ‘looks’ when we hear something wrong,” Allie says, “and they hate us for it, but thank goodness they’re all just kind of …”

“Forgiving,” Matt interjects.

“Not just forgiving, but they all kind of roll with the punches—except for my husband, he can be a little hot-headed,” Allie jokes.

The band’s dynamic as a whole is not unlike a new marriage or budding relationship. There’s a level of comfort achieved—the ability to be unconditionally supportive, as well as brutally honest.

“But that’s normal with any band,” Allie continues. “People get frustrated, and it’s not usually for each other. It’s if something doesn’t sound right or if they aren’t happy with themselves.”

Though the band thrives on playing music, each member has a day job: Jacquie Lee is a paralegal. Allie works for an interior design company. Matt’s a carpenter; John is a graphic designer. Frank works at a local montessori school. Dan, an electrician and “sound guy” for various local bands, is also the worship leader at the church where Striking Copper holds full band practices.

They’re currently preparing to go into the studio for their first record as Striking Copper in November. Working with Worth Weaver at his Red Room Recording studio (120 Bridle Way SE) in Leland, they’ve continued to pinpoint where the band wants to adjust and improve.

Matt, Allie and Jacquie have been through the recording process once before with a previous band. Though they brought in songs recorded six years ago, including “Sweet Love,” “Siren Song” and “Burn,” it’s been important for them to re-approach them as Striking Copper. Many of the new songs were written and developed collectively—enough for a full-length album.

“Sometimes [writing songs] just happens here [in practice],” Allie adds. “Someone’s just jamming and it becomes a song. It can be that easy, or, it can be the exact opposite.”

One of the new songs, “Guilty Man,” written by Jacquie, is based on an online film series called “One For Ten.” Produced and broadcast over five weeks in 2013, the series highlights the fact that since the United States reinstated the death penalty in 1976, for every 10 people executed, one person has been exonerated after spending an average of 10 years in isolation.

“Initially it was a capella, but then we added a little bit of guitar and realized maybe we should make it a full band,” Jacquie tells.

Matt sets the tone with his guitar intro and is quickly joined by vocal harmonies as the story unfolds of a “forever guilty man,” a chosen fate and unseen truth. Three- and four-part harmony is a major aspect of Striking Copper. Allie and Jacquie excel and thrive in this contribution.

FINDING HARMONY: Striking Copper plays Satellite Bar and Lounge before heading into the recording studio
OCT 27 • ARTSY SMARTSY, FEATURE MAIN, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS AND SUCH, MUSIC • NO COMMENTS ON FINDING HARMONY: STRIKING COPPER PLAYS SATELLITE BAR AND LOUNGE BEFORE HEADING INTO THE RECORDING STUDIO

“Today we’re going to focus on action, dynamics and knowing your parts,” Matt Donnelly clarifies to his Striking Copper bandmates. It’s about 7 p.m. on a Thursday night, and it’s mic check before practice. Not long after, a haunting and familiar lullaby begins:

SPELLBOUND: Check out the eclectic combinations of blues, rock and folk harmonies of Striking Copper this Fri. Oct. 30 at Satellite Bar and Lounge. Courtesy photo.
SPELLBOUND: Check out the eclectic combinations of blues, rock and folk harmonies of Striking Copper this Fri. Oct. 30 at Satellite Bar and Lounge. Courtesy photo.
Come little children I’ll take thee away, into a land of enchantment…

“Come Little Children,” from Disney’s 1993 flick “Hocus Pocus,” isn’t the band’s typical warm-up of choice. Usually, they start with the national anthem. But the spellbinding cover is a special Halloween treat for Striking Copper’s upcoming performance at Satellite Bar and Lounge (120 Greenfield St.) on Friday, Oct. 30.

Hailing from Long Island, New York, Matt Donnelly (vocals, guitar), his wife Allie Donnelly (vocals) and her twin sister Jacquie Lee (vocals), moved to North Carolina together two years ago. Matt has family in the Hampstead area, but it wasn’t until they attended a bluegrass festival with their old band Everything Grey that they decided to make a permanent move South.



“We thought we were going to move down here and find a band just like that,” he admits. “But it turned out to be really hard.”

Once Striking Copper picked up Frank Cacciutto (drums), John Stewart (bass) and Dan Bennett (electric guitar), everything changed. Not unlike chameleons, the group has adapted and evolved. They feed off the energy and talents from their collective influences in rock, folk, blues, and Americana.

“I think the lead guitarist actually tends to be the driving force of who we are,” Allie says of Dan. “He’s a little Southern rock and bluesy, and that’s where we’ve kinda gone with him.”

Striking Copper began officially playing around town in March of 2015. Since, they’ve been regulars at Satellite, The Whiskey, Sea Witch in Carolina Beach and ¾ Time Tavern, to name a few. “It feels longer though—in a good way!” Allie says. “I feel like I’ve known these guys forever.”

The band unanimously agrees the two sisters—red-headed twins with alabaster skin, who are clearly the “copper” heads of the group—are the nucleus. Or more apropos, they’re the ruling matriarchs who run the show.

“My sister and I will give them ‘looks’ when we hear something wrong,” Allie says, “and they hate us for it, but thank goodness they’re all just kind of …”

“Forgiving,” Matt interjects.

“Not just forgiving, but they all kind of roll with the punches—except for my husband, he can be a little hot-headed,” Allie jokes.

The band’s dynamic as a whole is not unlike a new marriage or budding relationship. There’s a level of comfort achieved—the ability to be unconditionally supportive, as well as brutally honest.

“But that’s normal with any band,” Allie continues. “People get frustrated, and it’s not usually for each other. It’s if something doesn’t sound right or if they aren’t happy with themselves.”

Though the band thrives on playing music, each member has a day job: Jacquie Lee is a paralegal. Allie works for an interior design company. Matt’s a carpenter; John is a graphic designer. Frank works at a local montessori school. Dan, an electrician and “sound guy” for various local bands, is also the worship leader at the church where Striking Copper holds full band practices.

They’re currently preparing to go into the studio for their first record as Striking Copper in November. Working with Worth Weaver at his Red Room Recording studio (120 Bridle Way SE) in Leland, they’ve continued to pinpoint where the band wants to adjust and improve.

Matt, Allie and Jacquie have been through the recording process once before with a previous band. Though they brought in songs recorded six years ago, including “Sweet Love,” “Siren Song” and “Burn,” it’s been important for them to re-approach them as Striking Copper. Many of the new songs were written and developed collectively—enough for a full-length album.

“Sometimes [writing songs] just happens here [in practice],” Allie adds. “Someone’s just jamming and it becomes a song. It can be that easy, or, it can be the exact opposite.”

One of the new songs, “Guilty Man,” written by Jacquie, is based on an online film series called “One For Ten.” Produced and broadcast over five weeks in 2013, the series highlights the fact that since the United States reinstated the death penalty in 1976, for every 10 people executed, one person has been exonerated after spending an average of 10 years in isolation.

“Initially it was a capella, but then we added a little bit of guitar and realized maybe we should make it a full band,” Jacquie tells.

Matt sets the tone with his guitar intro and is quickly joined by vocal harmonies as the story unfolds of a “forever guilty man,” a chosen fate and unseen truth. Three- and four-part harmony is a major aspect of Striking Copper. Allie and Jacquie excel and thrive in this contribution.

“I play melody a lot and if I can’t find the harmony, [Allie and Jacquie] find it for me,” Matt says. “It’s just natural for them and it’s awesome.”

As captivating as the girls’ voices are, it’s Dan’s electric guitar solo that walks “Guilty Man” down the green mile, so to speak. It makes the song a little more complex and reminiscent of Delta Blues.

Nowadays Striking Copper is trying to perfect songs they’ve collected. They stand alone individually, as some bask in clear electric and rock leads, while others illuminate with acoustic folk harmonies. It’s a collection they hope paints a portrait of their influences and continuous growth across multiple genres.

“I think we are more prepared [to record] this time around,” Allies says. “I feel like we really know what direction we want to go in and really make the album sound more like a story rather than just a couple of songs put together.”

Striking Copper hopes to have their first album out within six months. This weekend, however, they’ll be in Halloween garb, along with Neil Cribbs, at Satellite Bar and Lounge on Friday, October 30, at 10 p.m.

For more on Striking Copper, follow them on Facebook or at www.reverbnation.com/strikingcopper

DETAILS:
Striking Copper
Friday, October 30, 10 p.m.
Satellite Bar and Lounge
120 Greenfield St.
Admission: Free
www.reverbnation.com/strikingcopper - SHANNON RAE GENTRY

Six-piece Wilmington band has a penchant for harmony.

“My late aunt used to call us shiny pennies when we were little,” said Jacquie Lee, talking about her twin sister, Allie, and herself. “So the ‘Copper’ comes from that. And someone said that the overall aspect of seeing twin redheads onstage was ‘Striking.’”

Put those together and you have Wilmington folk rock act Striking Copper, six musicians with a penchant for harmony.

On Saturday, Striking Copper will be part of the Rock for Purple Heart Homes benefit at Ziggy’s By The Sea in downtown Wilmington. It’s a fundraiser for a program that helps injured veterans renovate their homes in ways that better suits their needs.

“It’s an amazing event and it’s great to see local musicians get together and help out this even more amazing organization,” Lee said.

In 2008 Jacquie and Allie started a band in Long Island with guitarist Matt Donnelly. They eventually found drummer Frank Cacciutto. Matt’s family had moved to the Wilmington area in 2008, and soon Allie, Jacquie, Matt and Frank followed them down. Guitarist Dan Bennett (from Virginia) and bassist John Stewart (from Ohio) also migrated to Wilmington and eventually hooked up with the other four to make Striking Copper complete.

Matt and Allie are now married and just celebrated their second anniversary.

“We truly love playing our originals,” Lee said of her band’s song list. “When we do covers, we have three catalogs: fun, classics and harmony-driven songs.”

So, at any given performance you may hear “Helplessly Hoping” by Crosby, Stills and Nash in the same set with “Seven Nation Army” by White Stripes, “Beat It” by Michael Jackson, “Jackson” by Johnny Cash and “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd.

Last month Striking Copper released “Mirror,” its first album of original material, recorded at Red Room Recording in Leland with Worth Weaver at the controls.

In an earlier band called Everything Grey, some of Striking Copper’s members gigged with fellow folk rockers Delta Rae in New York City. Like Striking Copper, Delta Rae is composed largely of family members (siblings Ian, Eric and Brittany Hölljes), and the band also includes University of North Carolina Wilmington graduate Grant Emerson on bass. (Delta Rae will be at Ziggy’s by the Sea on July 1.)

“We would love to share the stage with Delta Rae,” Lee said. “We genuinely respect and admire them as people as well as musicians. They were all incredibly nice and funny human beings.”

Speaking of being funny, when on the road, the Copper cutups tend to pull stunts on each other. “Usually it’s the guys playing tricks on Allie and I,” Jacquie said. “If we fall asleep, they like to change things in our phones.”

Contact StarNews A&E at 910-343-2343. - Mike Raab / StarNews Correspondent

On Saturday, Aug. 26, harmony driven roots-rock band, Striking Copper will make their debut performance in Brevard at The DFR Room. This high-energy band will hit the stage at 9 p.m.

Striking Copper is led by redhead twin sisters, Allie and Jacquie Lee, whose powerhouse vocals bring a feminine charm to their rock-and-roll band mates.

"There's something empowering about being on stage with the person you've known your entire life. It brings a sense of deep rooted love and respect to our performances, and that spills over to our entire band," says Jacquie.

The band is rounded out with Matthew Donnelly (vocals, rhythm guitar), Daniel Bennett (lead guitar), John Stewart (bass guitar) and Frank Cacciutto (drums).

On Aug. 11, 2017, the official music video for their first single "Turn Out the Light" was released to YouTube. - The Transylvania Times

NOTES OF LOVE: Three bands bring the jams just in time for Valentine’s week

FEB 6 • ARTSY SMARTSY, COVER STORY, FEATURE MAIN, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS AND SUCH, MUSIC • NO COMMENTS ON NOTES OF LOVE: THREE BANDS BRING THE JAMS JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE’S WEEK

“I’m not normally a big Valentine’s Day fan,” admits Dan Bennett, Striking Copper’s electric guitarist. “I think the romance should last all year, but this Valentine’s Day is exciting.”

Still flying high from his Christmas engagement to Missy Boneske, executive director of local nonprofit Operation Pretty Things, the couple also make up folksy-soft rock collaboration Falling for Tuesday. While in the throes of planning their wedding, which is just weeks away, Falling for Tuesday is preparing for a Valentine’s date-night show at downtown’s The Loft.

“It’ll be intimate (only 20 couples) with limited space and appetizers,” Bennett details. “A real ‘date night’ experience, and all of the profits will go to Operation Pretty Things.”

“Playing on Valentine’s Day this year is special because it combines three of my favorite things: Daniel, music and Operation Pretty Things,” Boneske adds. “It’s one big night of love. Doesn’t get any better than that.”

Falling for Tuesday’s love story is simple and sweet: Boy meets barista in a coffee shop; boy sings for her and melts her heart; they fall in love and make beautiful music together. “Or something like that,” Boneske quips.

“Obviously, there is something other than GenX in our local water supply,” Bennett adds. “I feel like I’m surrounded by friends (especially in the music community) that are falling in love and getting engaged. For Falling for Tuesday, it’s hard to separate the love story from the music. The first night we hung out, Missy came to see me sit in [to play] guitar with Crystal Fussell (who is also engaged). The next night we sang together for the first time. The rest is history.”

“Dan is easy to write love songs for,” Boneske says. “I’m excited to spend the evening with my love, doing what we love and for a worthy cause.”

Aside from Falling for Tuesday’s February 14 show to benefit Operation Pretty Things—a year-round service program that collaborates with community partners and other nonprofits to support domestic violence shelters—Bennett’s Striking Copper crew has added some extra notes of romance to their music this year, too.

Made up of Bennett, John Stewart (bass), Matt Donnelly (vocals, guitar) and his wife Allie Donnelly (vocals), Striking Copper’s Jacquie Lee (vocals) is engaged with drummer Frank Cacciutto. Like Matt and Allie, who instantly gravitated toward each other, Jacquie and Frank met at an early age and reunited as a band.

“Frank and I went to the same high school together; he didn’t know I existed but I had a huge crush on him,” Jacquie recalls. “Years later we were looking for a new drummer for our band in New York. . . . He auditioned. It took about half a year from when he joined our band for Frank and I to make our relationship official, and we’ve been together ever since!”

Jacquie and Cacciutto’s Valentine’s celebrations are typically low-key evenings of takeout and movie marathons. This year, however, they’ll celebrate with what brought them together in the first place: music. Striking Copper will play at Bourgie Nights on Feb. 10, alongside Rebekah Todd’s electric duo with drummer Logan Tabor. Not to be left out, Todd and Tabor just got married on Feb. 3.

“Love is most certainly in the air,” Todd agrees. “The show at Bourgie will be our first show together as a married couple. . . . [The electric duo is] something like the White Stripes meets the Black Keys!”

They plan on sharing their latest material, as well as a few covers and original love songs. As for Striking Copper’s set, Donnelly promises to make the evening all about a “whole lotta love,” with both originals and covers, too.

Striking Copper have been working on songs for upcoming EPs and will play a few of them at Bourgie, including a single they’ll release this summer, “Running to You.” Starting with a riff he once shared with his Uncle Jim Oliver, also a singer-songwriter, Donnelly and Oliver began writing what became groundwork for “Running To You.”

“It went unfinished for years, and eventually I introduced it to the band,” Donnelly details. “We finished writing it and everyone put really great parts to it. I’m super proud of what it turned into! ‘Running To You’ is about holding onto something you love, keeping it with you through hard times, and realizing it’s still there waiting whenever you need it.”

As for Falling for Tuesday’s Valentine’s show at The Loft, lovers can expect tunes from their forthcoming live album and a few new tunes as well. They’ll include the first song they wrote together, “Tuesday,” which was meant to be included on their “No Parking” EP before they realized it didn’t fit.

“‘Tuesday’ is about how Missy fell in love with a homely construction worker that used to come in the coffee shop she worked at every Tuesday,” Bennett details.

“When we perform it live, we get to tell our story along with it,” Boneske adds. “And ‘Tuesday’ is on that live album, story and all.” - Encore Magazine