Genes Key for Sons of Fathers

A bridge here. A melodic hook there. Add in some lyrics – poof! – you have a song.

This is how the self-described “mad scientists” David Beck and Paul Cauthen work on their music. The pair represent the nucleus of the Austin-based band Sons of Fathers.

“We love to experiment while we’re in the studio,” Beck says during a recent phone interview from Austin. “We like to see how far we can stretch ourselves musically. We’ll try it out and if it doesn’t work, we’ll move on.”

	Sons of Fathers WHEN AND WHERE: 8 p.m. Tuesday at Cowgirl BBQ, 319 S. Guadalupe, Santa Fe; 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at KTAOS Solar Center, 9 State Road 150, Taos HOW MUCH: Santa Fe show is free and Taos show is $5, tickets available at www.holdmyticket.com

And move on they have.

When the duo first started they went under the name Beck & Cauthen. But after receiving a letter and potential lawsuit from alternative singer Beck, the duo changed the name quickly. This also resulted in their debut album being pushed back in October last year.

“We had used the phrase ‘Sons of Fathers’ long before we wrote the song and we changed the band name,” Beck says. “It was a sign for us to change the name to something that included the whole band, not just a duo. We are all in this together and we all play a role.”

Beck says Sons of Fathers is an especially appropriate name as Beck and Cauthen’s heritage has helped make them who they are.

Cauthen, a native of Tyler, Texas, bega n singing in church at the age of 7 and learned guitar from his grandfather, a preacher.

“Granddad was a hell of a musician,” Cauthen says. “He chose the Church of Christ instead of the church of rock and roll. I remember learning to sing harmonies in the bathtub at 6 years old in Tyler, Texas.”

Beck was reared in San Marcos, Texas, the son of Bill Whitbeck, a respected and renowned touring musician.

“It was a different lifestyle for a young son,” he says. “Dad was always on the road for business. We’ve learned from what our fathers and grandfathers have done and put those lessons into our lives.”

The band now includes Regan Schmidt on guitar and lap steel and Dees Stribling on drums. The band has been compared to the Avett Brothers, The Byrds, and The Everly Brothers.

“We take all of those comparisons in stride,” Beck says. “We’re just trying to put out great music and keep our harmonies tight.”

With both members as songwriters, Beck says there is plenty of writing going on, which is a good problem to have.

“We both write on our own and will bring each other some material to work with,” he says. “It’s important for us to keep our line of communication open when we’re working on music because it really does affect the songs.”

The band’s debut album came together quickly and Beck says they worked with legendary producer Lloyd Maines.

“He’s the one who made the entire process easy,” Beck explains. “When you work with someone who has made so many records, the process is easy and the energy is high. It took us about three days to complete the album.”