Susan Cowsill Archives - Americana One

Review: The Hobart Brothers with Lil’ Sis Hobart

By Ken Paulson
— Crosby, Stills and Nash offered up a successful template, but the merger of singer-songwriters in a group can have widely varying results. Souther-Hillman-Furay fell short of their promise; Bryndle never took off; the Thorns (Pete Droge, Shawn Mullins and Matthew Sweet) sounded great together, but that’s apparently as far as the harmony went.

And then there are the Hobart Brothers with Lil’ Sis Hobart, the collective alias of Jon Dee Graham, Freedy Johnston and Susan Cowsill. From the band name taken from the dishwasher manufacturer to the loose spirit throughout, the Hobarts are clearly in this for the fun.

All three have had solid careers, and their songwriting carries the day on At Least We Have Each Other. From the driving “Ballad of Sis (Didn’t I Love You)” to the sweet “Sodapoptree,” the Hobarts range far and wide musically, but are bound by shared sensibilities.

“I Am Sorry” is a world-class apology song, beginning with Johnston singing “Can you come get me at the Citgo by the airport? My heart may be broken and my battery is dead.” It gets sadder – and more revealing – from there.

There’s a healthier relationship in “I Never Knew There Would Be You,” a lively pop song worthy of Susan Cowsill’s original family band.

The narratives are compelling throughout, particularly, “All Things Being Equal,” a haunting song about the economics of the cotton market sung by Graham.

The Hobart Brothers with Lil’ Sis Hobart is a loose and loving collaboration, fueled by fine songwriting, making At Least We Have Each Other a refreshing change of pace.

30A Songwriting Festival: Rodney Crowell, Steve Forbert and the Bangles

By Ken Paulson

Seaside, Florida – The third annual 30A Songwriters Festival, closed out its three-day run today, wrapping up an ambitious and entertaining celebration of songs.

Very similar in scope and approach to Nashville’s’ Tin Pan South Festival, run by the Nashville Songwriters Association International, 30A showcases a wide range of artists and genres in both open-air and intimate indoor venues. There are still some growing pains – parking can be tight and some audiences don’t get the whole “listening” thing – but the festival is clearly moving in the right direction.

Among the highlights:

– Rodney Crowell at the Gulf Place Amphitheater: Crowell is savvy enough to complement his most challenging and topical songs with his country hits, including “Crazy for Leaving” and “Stars on the Water.” His cover of “Like a Rolling Stone” was great fun.

– An impressive solo acoustic set by Vicki Peterson of the Bangles. Her “Mixed Messages” was recorded by both the Bangles and Continental Drifters, and it was a pleasure to hear it as it began. Susan Cowsill followed with a very brief and off-kilter performance, but somehow it was charming. The show featured cameos and heckling by assorted Bangles and Cowsills. Truly memorable.

– Steve Forbert at Fish Out of Water: His introduction – something about a Grammy-nominated songwriter from Mississippi – badly undersold one of the most literate, consistent and prolific singer-songwriters over nearly four decades. The audience enjoyed his energetic and entertaining set, and then roared as they recognized “Romeo’s Tune.” So that’s who that was.

– The Bangles: We reported earlier on their great set; it was one of the most memorable of the weekend. Rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t get much more joyous.

[cincopa AoEA0wKHgzcv]

Follow Sun209: The Americana Music Journal on Twitter (sun209com) and Facebook.