Friday show celebrates 25 years for Charlie C & The Cuzamatics
In 1996, a group of guys from the rock band "The Latest" decided they'd had enough.
"We didn't like that name, for some reason," said member Charlie Casmus. "We just quit playing for about three or four months."
Rebranded as Charlie C & The Cuzamatics, the band played its first gig on Jan. 25, 1997, in Montgomery at the now-gone Sports Palace Cafe. They've been performing '60s, '70s, and '80s rock songs with some soul mixed in ever since.
"We have played 812 gigs from that time," Casmus said.
Number 813 is Friday from 7-10 p.m. at Jan's Beach House Grill in Montgomery for the band's 25th anniversary show.
"We just try to play danceable rock and roll music," Casmus said. "It's basically the same. We just try to change the songs around... A lot of Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin. Stuff like that."
Through the years, there's been several members. Along with Casmus, their original lineup had Donnie Sheehan, Bruce Lovett, and Neil Young. The band has also had Tony McCarty (now with Jeff & The Johnsons) and all the members of Outside the Inside (Young, Mark DePlanche, and Steve Wingard.)
"I've got to mention Steve Long. He was our sound and light guy for years," Casmus said. "He passed away about six months ago."
The current lineup is Casmus, Lovett, Pat Rance and Johny Moses (who was in the original The Latest group).
Casmus offered his thanks for all the fans who have come out to hear them over the years.
"We're going to keep paying as long as people keep coming to enjoy it," Casmus said.
Follow them on Facebook at Charlie C & the Cuzamatics. To book them, call 334-277-5980.
So what are Cuzamatics?
It's pretty easy to see where the first part of the band's name comes from in
Casmus' name, but what in the world are Cuzamatics?
Casmus said it didn't have anything to do with music.
"I play softball also, amateur softball, and my nickname is Cuz," Casmus said. "I had a softball season in the summer where I was just getting base hit after base hit. Instead of them saying I was an automatic hit, they'd say I was a Cuzamatic instead."
The name stuck, and carried over into the band.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Friday show celebrates 25 years for Charlie C & The Cuzamatics
