KCRW ADDS BRIAN CARPENTER & THE CONFESSIONS AS STEREOGUM, OTHERS RAVE

KCRW has added Brian Carpenter & the Confessions’ debut album ‘The Far End of the World’ on the heels of press and blog raves. The band has also released its debut music video, filmed in the Mojave Desert and directed by Dan Huiting (Pitchfork.TV):


Here’s what we’re reading:

“Bound to become a big name… dignified darkness.”
- Chris Deville, Stereogum, September 2, 2015

“Noir-ish Americana.”
- Linda Laban, Village Voice, October 30, 2015

“Dark, introspective territory with some Southwestern twinges.”
- Chris Steffen, All Music, September 30, 2015

“Haunted-twang tales of loss and woe drawing on chamber pop, sea shanties, and old-timey folk in their most haunting representations, all shrouded in a cinematic melange of strings, theremin, organ, and nyckelharpa.”
- Shaun Brady, XPN.org The Key, November 10, 2015

“Stunning... avant-noir”
- Adrien Begrand, Pop Matters, September 10, 2015

“A fitting soundtrack to an episode of True Detective or a David Lynch film.”
- UTNE Reader, September 24, 2015

Bostonians: the band will play Great Scott on December 2, 2015.

THE AMERICAN SONGSTER DOM FLEMONS ANNOUNCES 31-DATE TOUR AS ESQUIRE, CMT EDGE, PASTE, XPN THE KEY PREVIEW ‘PROSPECT HILL’ (JULY 22 / MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION)

“CENTRAL TIME TOUR” WITH POKEY LAFARGE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK, KICKS OFF SEPT 10

Dom Flemons – the founding member of the GRAMMY-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops who has left the band to go solo – has announced a 31-date tour, including a date at Lincoln Center and thirteen tour dates with Third Man Records’ Pokey LaFarage on the “Central Time Tour.” The new album by the American Songster ‘Prospect Hill,’ comes out July 22 on Music Maker Relief Foundation. Here’s a behind-the-scenes teaser video.

Esquire called ‘Prospect Hill’ “finger-pickin', good-old-fashioned tin-cup barn-dance fun.”

Paste said, “Flemons’ harmonica-heavy, foot-tapping folk makes for the perfect hot summer soundtrack.”

XPN The Key blog said, “Flemons adds some spunk with crisp instrumentation and upbeat syncopation… classic frontporch twang.”

CMT Edge says, “Dom Flemons satisfies” in its premiere of the East Nashville-inspired original song “Hot Chicken."

Dom Flemons Tour Dates

June 13 – Eden, NC – Charlie Poole Music Festival
June 14 – Telford, PA – Xfest
June 27 – Walton, KY – Stephenson Mill Tavern & Grill
June 28 – Buchanan, MI – Buchanan Common
July 2 – Boston, MA – Museum of Fine Arts
July 12 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Pour House
July 17 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Museum of Industry
July 19 – Winchester, VA – Dancing Beagle Events
August 2 – Madison, WI – Sugar Maple Festival
August 8 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center for the Arts
August 10 – New York, NY – Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors
August 15 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena
September 10 - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom *
September 11 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads Saloon *
September 12 - St Louis, MO - Old Rock House (outside) *
September 13 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge *
September 15 - Charleston, IL - Dvorak Concert Hall at Doudna Fine Arts Center *
September 16 - Middletown, OH - Finkelman Auditorium at Miami University *
September 17 - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall *
September 18 - Bloomington, IL - The Castle Theatre *
September 19 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music *
September 20 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House *
September 21 - Minneapolis, MN - The Cedar Cultural Center *
September 23 - Iowa City, IA - The Englert Theatre *
September 24 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note *
September 27 – Peninsula, OH – G.A.R. Hall
September 30 – Lancaster, PA – Tellus 360
October 3 – Arden, DE – Arden Gild Hall
October 4 – New York, NY – Madison Square Park
October 9 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse
October 10 – Cambridge, MA – Club Passim

* Central Time Tour with Pokey LaFarge; Joel Savoy, Jesse Lége & The Cajun Country Revival; The Tillers; and The Loot Rock Gang

Sons of Fathers self-titled debut out tomorrow

Sons of Fathers bio

Trends and styles may change in music, but there are just some things that are timeless…like songwriting from the heart with ear-catching melodies and rich harmony vocals. The team of David Beck (a stage name as his real name is David Whitbeck) and Paul Cauthen has created Sons of Fathers, a band with a soaring, original sound that belies their young age. They have been compared to the Avett Brothers, The Byrds, and The Everly Brothers, albeit with an infusion of Texas grease.

Beck and Cauthen came together when each was working on a solo project in San Marcos, Texas. Though the two had met casually, a chance encounter at Thompson’s Island in a park on the Blanco River led them to join forces. Paul remembers, “I was walking in with my guitar and my writing notebook and Dave was walking out with his guitar and book.” As soon as the Texans starting writing and singing together, they realized that they had found something special. “We knocked out an incredible number of songs in two days,” says Paul.

Singing together came just as easily. “It’s the weirdest thing. The harmony is the last thing we worry about. We just fall into sockets of harmony naturally,” says Paul.

Originally called Beck & Cauthen, the group received a letter from representatives of Beck (the artist who performed ‘Odelay’ and ‘Mellow Gold’). “We had used the phrase ‘Sons of Fathers’ long before we wrote the song and we have changed the band name. 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.” Augmented with Corby Schaub, formerly of Ryan Bingham’s Dead Horses, Regan Schmidt on guitar and lap steel, and Dees Stribling on drums, the band functions as an organic unit.

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, began singing in the church at the age of seven and learning guitar from his grandfather, a preacher. He says, “Granddad was a hell of a musician. He chose the Church of Christ instead of the church of rock and roll. I remember learning to sing harmonies in the bathtub at six years old in Tyler, Texas.” Paul now has a tattoo of his grandfather’s signature on his arm and says that his grandfather influences his sense of spirituality to this day.

Beck was raised in San Marcos, Texas, the son of Bill Whitbeck, a respected and renowned touring musician. “It was a different lifestyle for a young son. 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,” he reflects.

The band also has tremendous respect for their matriarchs, having written the poignant song “Mother Dear.” David says, “We have really similar mothers, working hard every day, sacrificing for her kids.” Paul is also grateful, saying, “We both had solid rocks for moms. They were always there.”

The album has numerous other keepers. The rolling “Wind Turbines” is another album highlight. “It’s about finding who you are, finding your place in that. There are a bunch of turbines working and you’re just one of them,” says David. He came up with the idea for this song and the rocking, slide guitar-driven “Flatland” driving to a gig in west Texas. It captures the rhythm of the road and the wind-swept vistas only Texas can deliver.

“Adam & Eve” is a song of commonality and romance. Paul simply says, “Everything rolls around on itself.” The song may be among the most original metaphors for what it's like to find the kind of true love that is strong enough to beget a dynasty. Cauthen adds, “Written in Brooklyn, New York just before Christmas. Three heathens from Texas singing loud at a friend’s house in Williamsburg, harmonizing late into the night. Space Heater humming along, sirens slipping through the glass. Words from home, flown by doves came through the chimney onto the table, covered in magazines and cans. Sunday morning and Saturday night spinning in and out.”

“The Country” is a narrative about an interrupted rural existence, of a man forced to take a job in the city and his discomfort as he sits in his “ten by twenty room,” missing his former life.

The catalog they have written displays elements of all their most righteous influences. Be it a country shuffle reminiscent of Robert Earl Keen, an Americana folk song steeped in the lyrical weight of Bob Dylan, or a genre-bending tune recalling the Beatles, Sons of Fathers possess something unique. “Our favorite songwriters are the most timeless ones Dylan, Paul Simon, McCartney, Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. We also love the Texas writers: Robert Earl Keen, Willis Alan Ramsey, Roger Miller,” says Paul.

As they worked up their original compositions, they began to include finely tuned elements from their live show, incorporating tight Everly-esque harmonies and high energy live arrangements. In the spring of 2011, the band ventured into the studio in the hill country town of Doss, Texas. David says, “Being up there focused us and cleared our minds.”

Legendary producer Lloyd Maines joined them to co-produce their debut album. “Lloyd put the old soul way of doing things on our record, made sure everything was flowing,” says David.

For a new band, they have accomplished much in a short period of time. Most notably, they made their live radio debut on WXPN’s Free at Noon series in August, 2011, a rare event for a new band without a record out. WXPN’s Bruce Warren said, “Their rich vocal harmonies are nothing short of moving.” They have also played at the legendary Gruene Hall.

Radio programmer and media consultant Jessie Scott of Music Fog, who has spent her career bringing great music to audiences around the country; and Marty Schwartz, who knows something about harmonies having begun his career working with the Eagles and Elektra during the recording of ‘Hotel California,’ became involved after they heard startlingly amazing demos. Schwartz also works with McVay Media, a radio consultancy and currently with Gold Mountain Entertainment. Schwartz heard one song, Sons of Fathers’ “Adam & Eve,” and got on the next plane to Austin to see the band in person.

Soon, the music of Sons of Fathers will not only be timeless, but a timely reminder of how great music can be.

TEXAS SENSATIONS SONS OF FATHERS WILL BRING “MOVING HARMONIES” TO NYC FOR SERIES OF SHOWS TO PREVIEW DEBUT ALBUM

Indie roots combo Sons of Fathers (formerly Beck and Cauthen), who will release its highly touted self-titled debut November 1 on Blanco River Music, will perform a series of preview concerts in New York in October. The band is rapidly garnering a reputation for captivating harmonies and everything-on-the-line energy, earning them comparisons to the Avett Brothers, albeit with an infusion of Texas grease.

Sons of Fathers, from San Marcos, TX, tore through its live radio debut on WXPN in August. WXPN’s Bruce Warren said, “Their rich vocal harmonies are nothing short of moving.”

David Beck attacks the standup bass and Paul Cauthen puts everything he has into the acoustic guitar while the duo sings stunning harmonies. Beck is son of an internationally-traveling Texas musician and Cauthen learned to play music from his grandfather, a Texas preacher.

WHO: Sons of Fathers (formerly Beck & Cauthen)
WHAT: NYC concerts to preview self-titled debut album
WHEN: October 12, October 14, October 15 (respectively)
WHERE: Freddy’s Bar, Branded Saloon, Southpaw (respectively)
TICKETS: free; free; $10 via Ticketweb or Southpaw box office (respectively)

Sons of Fathers live in NYC

Video from last month:



Check out an mp3 and what WXPN has to say about the band.