The Copyrights & Kepi Ghoulie – Observation Wagon • Bad Copy

Well Goddamn! This little 7” has been in constant rotation since I got my hands on it. Is there a more heartwarming punk rock bromance than Kepi Ghoulie and The Copyrights? This reviewer thinks not. Kepi and the Copys have been pals and collaborated for many years now. I was PSYCHED when they got together last year to re-create the classic Groovie Ghuolies album, Re-Animation Festival. If you dig both these bands and haven’t given that one a spin yet, hop to it! You won’t be disappointed.

This current 7” features a new song from each artist and a cover from one another’s past releases. The Copyrights’ opening track, Welcome Wagon, has a lyric video you can find here. It’s an insightful and melancholic reflection that can only be realized after around 20 years of dream-chasing. A meta-analysis, if you will. A state-of-the-union address. Well done, boys. I’m gonna go sit in the corner and stare at my hands for a while.

Next up is The Copyrights’ cover of Kepi Ghoulie’s solo song “Are You Passionate?”, a gentle reminder to have your heart in the right place in all you do. The Copys’ version is upbeat pop punk in classic Copyrights fashion, which is a fun and energetic repackaging of Kepi’s acoustic original.

Side B features Kepi’s original tune, Observation Day. To me, Kepi’s charm lies in his ability to seamlessly flow back and forth between realms of lighthearted silliness and profound insight. Observation Day belongs to the latter realm. If you’re not familiar with this flavor of Kepi, this tune is a great place to start.

Last is Kepi’s cover of The Copyrights’ Four Eyes. The song, capturing a starry-eyed crush on a girl with glasses, was already about as adorable as one could possibly ever handle. Kepi somehow makes it even more tender. I could just puke hearts and rainbows everywhere.

All in all this is a really solid release and fans of both artists are bound to enjoy. Hell, I don’t think it’s even much of a stretch to suggest this split would be a fitting introduction to either of these artists. Really well done.