Sons of Fathers Make the Most of Getting Sued by Beck Over Band Name

Paul Cauthen and Dave Whitbeck were in the studio recording when the e-mail popped up: A cease-and-desist letter from lawyers representing Beck Hansen, who was concerned that the Texas roots duo -- then known as Beck and Cauthen -- would somehow sow confusion in the hearts of 'Odelay' fans.

"It was shocking at first," bassist Whitbeck tells Spinner. "We literally had the red light on in the studio, Paul was running the session and I was recording something, and it just put a halt to everything."

Nobody wanted to make trouble, though, so Cauthen and Whitbeck promptly changed their name to Sons of Fathers, which was also the title of the duo's soon-to-be-released debut. Except that changing their name meant redoing the album artwork, altering the website and adjusting everything else Beck and Cauthen had already put its name on.

"That slowed us down two months and pushed us back, but we took it for the good," guitarist Cauthen says.

For one thing, it's generated some publicity for the group, which has drawn comparisons to the Avett Brothers and Crosby, Stills and Nash thanks to twangy Americana songs packed with close vocal harmonies. Also, though, there's more to Sons of Fathers than just Cauthen and Whitbeck: They write the lyrics, but the other three musicians they play with help flesh out the songs.

"This band really just became a tight force," Cauthen says. "We're all collaborating, and changing our name to Sons of Fathers, it's a deeper bond. It's not just me and Dave. And it's easier to say! People mispronounce my name every day."

The two had seen each other around on the scene in San Marcos, Texas, but didn't really start talking until the day each showed up to write songs in the same secluded spot in a local park.

"There had been a lot of instances before we had run into each before at clubs and playing music, and that one was too freaky not to notice," Whitbeck says. "It was an awakening to us to start playing music together."

Cauthen and Whitbeck began helping each other on individual projects and, after discovering they had a knack for singing harmony together, they started working as a team, writing songs and recording 'Sons of Fathers' last winter in Brooklyn.

Now, with the name issue resolved and the album finally out, Sons of Fathers can spend some time on the road introducing the band to listeners.

"We're really excited to be touring," Whitbeck says "We've played in New York City already since this band started three different times, in Brooklyn especially, so that's exciting."