In Magazine
By Lea Rittenhouse
Paul Cauthen and David Beck formed Sons of Fathers after one too many run-ins at local San Marcos music venues while playing their solo acts. Previous to making it official, the duo joined together on a New York trip to play at various clubs and their musical chemistry led to forming a band.
Now a six-piece ensemble complete with perfectly blended harmonies, their indie-folk-rock-Americana sound resembles The Avett Brothers, The Byrds and The Everly Brothers, with a Texas flare. Paul plays the acoustic guitar and David plays the upright bass.
The band’s self-titled freshman release “Sons of Fathers” débuted last November, and Cauthen says their next album should release in January. The band has toured nationally, opening for big-name acts such as Elsa Crause, Union station and Counting Crows.
Sons of fathers, originally known as Beck & Cauthen, hit a slight bump in the road when they received a cease-and-desist letter from popular musician Beck Hansen, during the production of their first album. After the shock, the duo simply changed their name to the pre-planned album title and continued recording.
David was raised in San Marcos, TX, and as son of touring musician Bill Whitbeck, music is in his blood. Paul is an East Texas native, born in Tyler, TX. At the age of 7, Cauthen began singing in church and learned how to play guitar from his grandfather, a preacher.
A few weeks back, I spoke with Paul in further detail about the band.
Q: How did Sons of Fathers get started?
A: Dave and I started it in San Marcos, TX about two years ago and we started out as a duo, writing songs and singing a two-part harmony. Then we moved to a three piece with another drummer at the time, and then we moved in and out of different musicians for the next year…finally a year ago we got a full band the way we want it. We have a six piece.
Q: How did you choose your band mates?
A: We kind of picked and chose who we wanted and we ended up finally lucking out with a good crew that really mesh and feed off of each others vibes. It’s really dynamic.
Q: Tell me about your new album coming out in January. What is it to be called?
A: It’s kind of up in the air, what we’re going to call it. As of right now, we’re going to call it Big Diamond Waltz.
Q: What was the inspiration for the Sons of Fathers record?
A: It was Dave and I just being homeless, strumming around and playing music. It’s not just a love song record, it’s not just a rock record, it kind of shares all of our emotions and everything that describes us a band when we started.
Q: What are some of the songs on the Sons of Fathers album that you like the best? Why?
A: I would have to say, Sons of Fathers. It’s one of those songs you feel like you were just kind of in on the song writing.
Q: How does the band get along?
A: We all act like a bunch of kinfolk. We’re just in here rolling down the road. We don’t really bicker or anything—we’re all in it for the right reasons and just have a mindset that there is going to be tense times but we just gotta breathe through it.
Q: Why do you play music?
A: A lot of people in this world go through their days without thinking about anything left behind after them…I feel better if I had something left behind and what I shared was something worthwhile.
