Local band gears up for midwest tour
The local band Cinnamon Brown & the Eskimos are here to stay.
Unlike many bands which come together in college and play at local venues, the boys from Cinnamon Brown are making their way up in the music world and plan on sticking to it.
“We’re not going anywhere. We want to take this as far as we can,” said drummer Leo Denoyer, a sophomore studying business administration.
The band, which describes their music as feel good rock and roll music with gritty guitars, formed four years ago in Rexburg, Idaho, when lead vocalist Quinn Brown, a Utah State University graduate and his brother and Latin percussionist Xaq met lead guitarist Bill Weidner.
The Browns and Weidner played for a year in Idaho before moving to Logan where Denoyer joined the band.
The music of Cinnamon Brown & the Eskimos includes a little bit of everything. The band members admit to liking everything from Willie Nelson to spiritual music and there are hints of blues, funk and country in their music.
Everyone in the group is involved in the lyric and music writing process.
“It’s a real collaborative effort,” Quinn said.
“We just write about the good times,” Denoyer said.
Even more unique than the band’s music is its name. “Cinnamon Brown & the Eskimos” just came together, Quinn said.
“Cinnamon Brown is just a nickname I got. It’s really not that cool. We got called it once or twice and it stuck,” Quinn said.
Now after three years of not keeping a single dime of profit from the band but putting it all into equipment and recording Cinnamon Brown has just released it’s second CD and is preparing for their November tour “Midwestern Miles.”
The tour is self-supported, and will kick-off in Logan.
The band has become increasingly popular in Utah and also in states such as Colorado, Wyoming and Iowa.
The band plays everywhere from music festivals to ski towns. However, the band members always love playing in Logan and wish they could do it more often.
“We love to play here when we can,” said Quinn, who also plays rhythm guitar, harmonica and trumpet occasionally for the band.
“We do have a great music scene here in Logan. There’s a lot of talented musicians. There’s just really nowhere for us to play,” Denoyer said.
As for their success as a regional band, it’s all about stay power, loving the experience and loving each other.
“There’s a lot of sacrifice and dedication that goes into it,” Quinn said. “As a college band we’re kind of living out a dream. Everybody has kind of grown up together. “
“Being good friends has helped us stick it out,” Denoyer said.
The band has opened for national acts such as Exile, The Kentucky Head Hunters, The Urge, Bacon Brothers and 10,000 Maniacs.