WHO: Zipcode
AKA: Leroy Champion, lead vocals and percussion; Shawn Sheperd, lead and rhythm guitar; Roland Cosby, bass guitar and vocals; Billy Beale, drums and vocals; Mark Slade, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals.
VISIT: www.sonicbids.com/zipcode
HISTORY: Twenty years ago, Leroy "Champ" Champion, Mark Slade and Billy Beale were band brothers in Midnight Special. Although disbanded for years, they united after a call from local music man Roland Cosby, who wanted to form a classic cover band. From there, rock and blues guitarist Shawn Sheperd was recruited and Cosby's dream R&B band, Zipcode was born. Drummer/vocalist Beale gave us the drop on Zipcode's 411. By Audrey Mangone Sun Correspondent
What kinds of songs do you cover?
We do a lot of dancing songs, stuff that people can move to. We really enjoy doing stuff from The Gap Band, Barry White, artists like that. We cover a band not many people remember, Hot Chocolate. We do their song, "Everyone's a Winner." I love that song. We just enjoy any song where we can make people get up and dance.
Who gets to decide what songs you do?
We generally let Champ pick most of the material, although I get to choose some too. I like to pick songs that no other bands in our genre are covering. A lot of R&B groups like to do K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Aretha Franklin's "Respect," common songs like that. There's a typical pattern to covering R&B classics, and we try to stay clear of that pattern.
Where did the name Zipcode come from?
Roland came up with the name before we even got together as a band. He was looking for a name nobody else in our genre had, and he found out that Zipcode was not taken. It was something he really liked, so we used it.
Your music gets a lot of people dancing. Is that your goal?
We want everyone to get on their feet and have a good time. When we start playing, we wanted people to realize that we are just regular guys playing great music. We want to get involved with the crowd, which is why for the most part, we have a G-rated show. When it's appropriate, we have some racy songs we can play, too.
You're a Lowell-based band even though you live outside the city. What kinds of ties do you have to Lowell?
Well, we rehearse part-time in the Western Ave. Studios in Lowell. We are so grateful to the place, and we are really trying to reach out to the Lowell community. We want to get involved with the city as much as possible, playing in concert series, benefits, anything like that. We want to really reach out to the Lowell people and get to know them; we want them to get to know us. We cherish the community.
Zipcode plays the Brockton Fair Sunday from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Suds & Sounds Pavilion, Belmont Street (Rte. 123 East). Free.
