Sons of Fathers

Burning Days (Blanco River Music)

The remarkably short time frame in which these CenTexans have followed up their acclaimed 2011 debut demonstrates the continued growth as songwriters and producers (with an assist from Lloyd Maines) of David Beck and Paul Cauthen. Burning Days finds the pair leading a group that expands upon what worked so well before, primarily the vocal interplay between the frontmen and the elan of their youthful storytelling. Breakout single “Roots & Vine” showcases the symbiotic relationship between Cauthen’s wise baritone and Beck’s buoyant tenor. “You’re the roots and I’m the vine, together we can make wine,” they sing, voices entwined and creeping up to a crescendo marked by whoops of joy, while Regan Schmidt’s workmanlike slide guitar keeps them tethered. What’s more, Burning Days proves that Sons of Fathers knows how to structure a song, when to sculpt and where to keep it shaggy and infused with the kind of jouissance on display in “Feel the Fall,” a loose-jointed bullshit session among bros talkin’ ’bout love, man. (10pm, Saxon Pub)

***.5

This article appears in March 15 • 2013.

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