Copilot is having a moment.
The rock-pop Boston band recently released their new single, “Let Me Down,” and has a release party for their upcoming EP on March 1 at The Rockwell in Somerville.
But the group may be most excited about their invite to perform at the Boston Calling music festival this spring. They’ll take the stage on May 25 before Dave Matthews Band, Vampire Weekend, Sublime, Public Enemy and more acts.
Band member Ry McDonald broke the news to his bandmates during a recording session last fall.
“It was a game changer,” said vocalist and songwriter Maggie Hall during an interview with GBH News anchor Henry Santoro. “We were all super stunned.”
Jake Machell, one of the band’s other vocalists, called the news a “day flipper.”
“I had just finished unloading a terrible story about my work day and [Ry] was sitting on this news listening to my whole story,” Machell recalled. ”And, you know, he said, 'I’ve got some pretty great news for us. And I said, 'What? I can quit my job?’ And he said, 'We’re on Boston Calling.’“
Copilot formed in 2018.
The band’s name comes from long drives McDonald had growing up, when he would create music playlists and be the “copilot” while his father drove the car.
McDonald and Hall teamed up with others through their high school and college years, playing at backyard parties in Massachusetts and Vermont.
Now the trio vocals from Hall, McDonald and Machell create a smooth blend of harmonies, and the band’s sound centered by the rhythm section with Austin Beveridge on bass, Dylan Allwine on drums, and Jack Snow as lead guitarist.
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McDonald describes the band’s sound as “roots rock.”
“We started off as big Lake Street Dive fans and Alabama Shakes,” he said.
“We get attached to the word 'soul’ because Maggie’s got such a soulful voice. But I think it’s really like roots rock with a little bit of indie in there,” he said. “And then we also just love our pop songs.”
Everyone in the group has their hand in song writing.
“Our bass player has a song he wrote that’s coming up on our EP that Jake sings. And he’s [written] a song on our last record called 'Bang Bang Boogie,'” said McDonald.
Copilot performed at the 2023 Levitate Music Festival with such headliners as Brandi Carlile, Shakey Graves, Peach Pit and more.
Still, band members said they are a little bit nervous — but also excited — for their upcoming performance at Boston Calling.
To celebrate the release of the EP, Copilot will headline at The Rockwell Theater in Somerville on March 1. The band is scheduled to perform at Boston Calling held at the Harvard Athletic Complex on May 25.
