Staying Loaded

The Loaded 44rz started with Loren Cooper writing three original tantalizing old school rockin’ country rhythm style songs, "Just Can't Settle Down", "Fuck The Law", and "Baby's Doin' Me Wrong". August of 1999, Loren started looking for a musical partner. He contacted life long friend and habitual guitarist, Troy Dering. Both had the same musical influences and both had played in various local punk, metal and pop bands throughout the late '80's and '90's in their hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The two debuted themselves as the "G-Spot Wranglers" in May 2001 opening for a local metal band, Choke. Loren and Troy pulled off an amazing feat by not only pleasing the metal crowd but also enthusing them with their own brand of steroid pumped redneck Elvis style songs. Several name changes then followed, seeing the two bill themselves as "Transistor Rodeo" and "The 1/4" Jacks".

In April 2002 an accomplished drummer, Kory Fontenot, joined the group and learned to play the upright bass for the sole purpose of being in the band. This addition brought a new percussive aspect, a driving low end, new ideas, and the ability for the band to incorporate punk, metal, and lounge-jazz influences. A new musical phenom was unearthed, The Loaded 44rz.

June 2004 saw the group enter Wisdom Records studios to begin recording their full-length CD debut titled “Stay Loaded”. Kory left the band in February 2005 upon completion of the recording. Following Kory’s departure two brothers, Mark and Dan Robertson, joined the 44rz on drums and electric bass. The 44rz maintained this lineup until Kory Fontenot rejoined the band only to play drums in the summer of 2010. This time the 44rz picked up local bluegrass influenced musician, Michael Chavez, on upright bass.

The band is thankful to have shared bills with diverse local and national acts. These include, but are not limited to: Ten Seconds Flat, Lingus, Choke, Pete Chaney, Cortez Del Mar, Slim Pickins, The Two-Timin' Three, Kitchen Syncopaters, Thingfish, Turbo AC's, Ashes of Babylon, The Von Dukes, The U-Joints, Scott H. Biram and Wayne "The Train" Hancock.

The Loaded 44rz combined musical influences include some of the following: Chet Atkins, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, REAL Country Music, Stray Cats, Brian Setzer, 50’s Rock’n’Roll and All Rockabilly, Early Pop/New Wave Music, 80’s Punk, The Beatles, Ace Frehley w/ KISS, RUSH, Pre-90’s Metallica, The Police, Velvet Underground, Bluegrass Music.