A family trio of two brothers and their dad playing their favourite songs delivering an authentic 50's sound.
What's 2026 looking like?
2026 is looking good.
January we will be performing at the European Elvis Championships after party, later in the year we are at the Carrington House Hotel for Boogaloo Promotions again, they say we're are the only band they have ever had three years running! We will be alongside The Jets that night.
We have new Rock and Roll circut gigs in as well as the pleasure of being invited back to clubs we have already done.
And we're taking bookings for 2027.
Let's delve into the band.
What we're about.
What do we do, what do we sound like and where do we play?
We're a 50's Rock and Roll trio, a professional, smart band playing a list of our favourite songs, most from the 50's, mainly the hits, but there is other stuff in there as well. Some of our favourite country songs, a little blues, maybe even a few from the 60's, 70's and 80's. All with that great 50's sound. Basically whatever we choose to do. From Devil in Disguise by Elvis, to The Searchers Needles and Pins, back to Suspicious Minds. All played with enthusiasm with our own little spin on things.
What's going on in Dads head regarding our sound.
Our sound.
Just three elements to our sound, one guitar, double and electric bass and drums.
So a basic sound, but basic is hard to pull off properly. The bass and drums are thumpy and tight allowing the guitar to chug along in the background on the vocal parts, then step forward for the lead break. A carefully balanced mix keeps the sound nice and full.
Naturally we embellish a bit, a few more drum fills etc. Leadbreaks where there might not be one on the original. Very rarely do we do a song like the record, but we aren't trying to be a tribute to anyone. We are just doing it our way. We are trying to recreate the essence of the era but not necessarily mimicking it. If we play a Johnny Cash song it may not be note for note, but if you shut your eyes we hope you're thinking of Sun Studios.
A little bit of Original Cool's history.
Being the oldest we have to start with dad. Sorry dad but you are the oldest.
He was born in the USA back in 1965, he grew up in a house where the music played by his mum was American folk, Joan Baez, Simon and Garfunkel, The Brothers Four etc. His dad however was a fan of Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and that country/rockabilly sound.
Mark was really influenced by the mid west sound and by the time they returned to the UK he was a fan of Elvis, Cliff, Buddy, Eddie and all the other 50's entertainers. He was soon playing drums around the pubs and clubs in Portsmouth, moving onto guitar and singing. The venues got bigger, national, then international. Working in a lot of bands and as a soloist he gained masses of experience.
During this time he met mum, they got married and we and our two sisters came along.
Then it was us growing up in a house filled with music, guitars, basses, drums, rock and roll, american cars, dad's band members coming around, different musicians coming and going and going to see all these different bands play.
He met a guy who became one of his best friends and part of our family and with him and dad's cousin, they formed the first 'Original Cool'. They became professional and lasted a few years before going separate ways.
Then we all moved to Spain, Benidorm to be precise and dad started working solo in The Western Saloon. We all used to go and watch him so we knew the songs inside out.
So, a few years on, back in the UK, dad's back with different bands and we are in school playing double bass and drums in the school bands. We actually did a performance one night for the school music evening with our sisters, one on guitar and the other singing. We performed 'Burning Love' by Elvis.
We did various things with local Rock and Roll bands and deped in dad's bands if a player went down.
It wasn't until covid and lockdown that we started playing together for something to do and it started to click.
As soon as lockdown finished we were together as the new Original Cool in the big holiday parks and haven't looked back.
So there we are, interestingly the double bass and drums are the same instruments that were in the original Original Cool all those years ago.