Episode 46: Levi Cooper – Raccoon City

For about 15 years now, Adelaide has been home to a stellar outfit called Raccoon City. Though not exactly trailblazers of the screamo and post-hardcore genre in the city, for a while, they were arguably one of the most prominent, setting themselves apart as a leading figure within those circles at a time when the genre du jour was a breezy indie-rock.Personally, Raccoon City were one of those groups that became rather formative for me during the time I would find myself at gigs in Adelaide. They were a constant presence, played intensely arresting live shows, and became a favourite of mine and others that I knew.After releasing their debut album ‘Nightlife’ in 2014, Raccoon City existed for about another year or so before putting things on ice for a while. All the while, folks like myself hoped that a return was inevitable, and thankfully in the midst of COVID the group did indeed return, this time with a stellar new record called ‘For Nobody, Nowhere’.It was the sound of a group having evolved. After all, their lineup had shifted somewhat (to actually include a friend I went to school with), and their music felt bolder, more adventurous, and more mature. Fast-forward another couple of years, and this year they’ve returned again with new album ‘FUGUE’.Once again, it’s a truly impeccable album and one that – if you’re a big fan of emotive vocals, crushing compositions, and passionate performances – you definitely need to listen to.At the front of the band is Levi Cooper, the vocalist of Raccoon City, which he co-founded with brother Dylan. Over the years, he’s been in a number of bands – a number likely too big to truly do justice to. But this week, he’s managed to find the time to have a chat to me about his most notable band ahead of their new record.Frankly, it’s just great to have more folks with South Australian accents on the podcast.Anyway, I strongly urge you to check out Raccoon City’s ‘FUGUE’, and once you’re done giving that a spin, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.