Citizen Cope
Liner notes: Memphis-born musician/DJ/producer Clarence Greenwood adopted the Citizen Cope persona in the early '90s, when—armed with an oddly-tuned guitar, verses of poetry and a rudimentary knowledge of studio sampling—he began laying down his own unique mix of folk, blues, hip-hop, rock and soul.
Sounds familiar: Following a successful grassroots push of his demo tape, "Cope Citizen," Citizen Cope landed an unsteady series of record deals. His most recent full-length, 2006's "Every Waking Moment," rides a somewhat too-steady wave of sleepy pop over catchy riffs.
On stage: Strum, croon, shuffle, repeat. Like most guitar-wielding singer-songwriters, Citizen Cope relies on quiet charisma rather than high-flying theatrics.
Hit or miss: Depending on your disposition, Citizen Cope's set could be a nice breather or an excuse to take a nap. Either way, you'll be well-rested.—Tom Korp
Citizen Cope plays the South Stage Aug. 9 from 5:45-6:35 p.m.
