Submitted Photo Company Townes is from left Nate Black, Jody Aiello, Sara Aiello, and Eric Morelli.

When you first hear Company Townes, you may think you are in a different decade.

You’re not.

You’re grounded firmly in this decade and the members of Company Townes aren’t just playing their interpretation of cosmic country, they are performing original songs, and progressing the genre.

“Currently there are a lot of interesting things happening in alternative country,” guitarist/vocalist Eric Morelli said. “There are a lot of great bands that are outside of what you would consider mainstream country doing interesting work, and it harkens back to cosmic country of the late 60s and early 70s.”

Some of the bands who performed cosmic country, he said, were The Byrds, Graham Parsons, and The Flying Burrito Brothers.

Depending on who you ask, cosmic country or sometimes to referred to as cosmic American music, is a genre that merges psychedelic and exploratory music with traditional American roots music.

“People call it cosmic American music which was basically a funk(y) rhythm section with country music,” Morelli said.

The rest of the members are Jody Aiello, vocals and guitar; Sara Aiello, vocals, harmonica, bass; and Nate Black on drums.

Morelli said there is no one songwriter in the band. Jody Aiello, Sara Aiello, as well as Morelli present ideas to each other, and bring their ideas to rehearsal. Morelli said that in recent years the band has moved toward Jody’s ideas as Morelli has transitioned into playing more lead guitar and singing harmonies, but their songs still go through a team-editing process.

“We all sing lead, but every song goes through our songwriting team. If we get stuck, where we just have a verse, and we don’t have a chorus, we’ll kick it to the group, and someone else will solve the problem. It really helps to alleviate any sort of writer’s block. Every song goes through that process of questioning the lyrics,” Morelli said.

Morelli added that he, Jody, and Sara have different writing styles where they are able to bounce ideas off of each other.

“We all have different writing styles. Jody is a narrative writer –a kind of linear storyteller. Sara is really an emotionally-centered writer — the feeling is really important to her. For me, I’m more into abstract, and surreal imagery, and leaving question marks in songs,” Morelli said.

Morelli said the band is from rural Northwestern Pennsylvania. Following their debut album of original music, Canyon (2016), Company Townes released a collection of reimagined Townes Van Zandt classics entitled Van Zandt in April 2019. The band has performed at Struthers Library Theatre, appeared on Penn State University’s WPSU programs, and toured with Dwight Yoakam. Company Townes is currently recording their third full-length album of original songs. The songs are being recorded in Morelli’s home studio. He said it’s an analog-digital hybrid studio, complete with vintage microphones, reel to reel tape machines and Apple’s Logic Pro program to record music into a computer.

The band has developed a new stage show, including a modern vaudeville light design, custom-made Nudie Cohen or “Nudie” style suits, and projections.

The band is scheduled to perform Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Woman’s Club of Warren, 310 Market St. Alan Getto, an indie/folk songwriter based in Pittsburgh, will open the show.

For more information visit cotownes.com.