Band of the Week

Band members, instruments and day jobs:
Sam Franklin: Lead vocals, national account manager
Rick Aron: Drums, national account manager
Shawn Carlton: Lead guitar, technical service rep for Cobb Vantress
Jay Hughes: Bass, product manager for Cobb Vantress
Malcom McLaurin: Rhythm guitar, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at St. Thomas in Springdale and Director of College Ministries, St. Martin’s at University of Arkansas

Band born: Spring 2002 as a small acoustic act. The first place we played was “The Bar” in Springdale. We shuffled in and out drummers, guitarists and keyboardists. The current members started playing together in 2006.

Type of music: ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s rock, pop and blues.

Originals or covers: Covers, people like to sing along.

Sounds like: No other band in Northwest Arkansas.  We have meshed such an eclectic group from age to music preferences that it created our own sound.

Songwriter’s muse: I wish we wrote our own songs, but we play what the crowd wants to hear. They’re our muse.

Influences: John Cougar, Poison, ZZ Top, Jeff Healey, Cindy Lauper, Snoop Dog … extremely eclectic.

Accomplishments: Opened for Eddie Money at The AMP

What kind of crowd do you draw?: Ages 20s to 50s. A wide array of folks who want good music that they know the words to.

When and where do you practice?: We are the epitome of the garage band … a garage at the drummer’s house in Rogers and a garage at the lead singer’s house in Farmington.

Any albums: We recorded a live album at George’s on New Year’s Eve 2003.
Total number of tattoos and piercings: The guitarists have a few tattoos. The drummer and lead singer are o’natural.

Backstage ritual: Band huddle

Funniest or strangest thing that ever happened during a performance: There was a marriage proposal in the middle of the dance floor. That’s the strangest thing you could print without us getting in trouble with our wives.

Plans: Keep learning new songs so the crowds keep coming to see us.

Goals: Revive the live music scene in NWA

New Projects: We are contemplating writing some originals, but we’ll keep churning out the classics.

Dream act to open for: “I’d like to open for Jesus like with giant eagles wings, and singin’ lead vocals for Lynyrd Skynyrd with like an angel band and I’m in the front row and I’m hammered drunk!” (Inspired by Cal Naughton Jr. from “Talladega Nights”)

Last CD purchased: Monte Montgomery

Most played song/s on your iPod? Anything ‘80s

Upcoming shows:
Dec. 19: George’s Majestic Lounge
New Year’s Eve: We are open and ready to be booked!
Jan. 17: Boomer’s Time Out — Bentonville

Web site: http://members.cox.net/cousineddieband