French Quarter Fest: Susan Cowsill

After the show I was talking to Mary Lasseigne, who play guitar with Susan and is an accomplished singer/songwriter in her own right, and told her how much I enjoyed their performance and she said "We had a lot of fun on stage."  I don't think I could sum it up any better than that.

When you go to a Susan Cowsill show it's going to be fun.  No one has more fun than Susan on stage.  I love her stage banter, she'll start on one subject and veer off on a tangent and forget what she started talking about, only to remember it at the last moment and finish her thought.  Her enjoyment is contagious.

I've said it before and I'll continue to say it.  Susan is one of the best that we have.  Her songwriting is as good or better than just about any song out there right now.  Her singing is as good or better than just about anything on the radio right now.  For the life of me I can't understand why she isn't a bigger name.

She's got a new album coming out this month.  (She was selling advance copies at the show, but ran out by the time I got over there to buy one.  Drat!)  It's called Lighthouse and she did a few numbers from it.  Her opening number "Dragonflies"  was in memory of her brother Barry who died in Katrina.  It's a sweet song, with memories of the two of them as kids.  She followed that up with a song written by Barry that's become a staple of her live shows.  Than a song from her former band The Continental Drifters.  This woman has a treasure trove of songs to pick from

Another new song from her forthcoming album was "Oh Nola."  It was written not long after Katrina when Susan and her husband were planning on leaving the city and moving elsewhere.  I remember picking up an issue of Offbeat at the time with Susan on the cover and the headline hinting that she was moving and I can still feel the sadness I felt at that moment.  We've lost too many musicians since Katrina, moving away for newer and I hate to say better places, and I can't blame them.  When they can find a better home and a city that encourages and pays them better in their profession you can't lay blame, but it still is a sad thing when a city built on music can't support its musicians.  Even though I would have understood it would have broke my heart to see her leave.  I was so happy to read that they had decided to stay in the city.  "Oh Nola" was written as a lament to the city when she thought she was leaving.

Along the way we were also treated to a song from the talented Mary Lasseigne.  While Mary was playing she has a habit of staying towards the back and even when she sang her song she didn't come forward.  But as Mary played guitar on Susan's songs you could see she was having fun too, she would pogo up and down, her hair whipping around.  Mary sang her song "Rebecca Sunshine" that we featured as a Song of the Day recently.  Her new album Mary Jane and the Brain Surgeon comes out this coming week.

At the end Susan had to chose between songs left on her set list, she had talked too much to fit everything in.  She gave the choice to the audience.  When one of the songs was "Crescent City Snow" there wasn't much of a choice.  She ended with this song, written shortly after Katrina when Susan and family were exiled to Tenneesse, and an ode to life in the city.   Susan may not have been born in this city, but she has become one of its true daughters.

SONG OF THE DAY

Today we feature a song from the amazing Contintental Drifters, who unfortunately are no longer together, singing "Na Na" from their album Better Days.

SIMPLY SIX: Annie Clements

Annie Clements is from New Orleans and the daughter of noted blues guitarist Cranston Clements. She began playing bass at 13 and is currently the bassist and background vocalist for the country group Sugarland.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

I was always involved in something musical ever since I was a small child. Having Cranston Clements for a dad will pretty much guarantee that. If I had to pick a particular moment though, I'd say it was in 5th grade. I was cast as the lead in the school play and sang a solo piece in front of the entire lower school. I made my teacher cry! It was the first moment where I felt like, "I can do this. This is what I want to do."

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

All time favorites include The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, The Beachboys, The Continental Drifters and Aimee Mann. I'm currently really into the new Racconteurs record, the new Kings of Leon, and this crazy band called Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears. They're awesome!

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

I've been fortunate enough to have a few of these. Theresa Andersson and I got to play the 50th Anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster at Wembley arena alongside David Gilmour, Brian May, Ron Wood, Joe Walsh and other legends. We got to spend a week rehearsing on a soundstage in London with them, hanging out. Standing onstage for the finale with those guys was one of the defining moments of my life. Another was the first time my band with my dad - The Chillun's - pulled off "Good Vibrations" at Tipitina's in 2004. It was one of the most triumphant musical moments of my life.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

I think music can dramatically effect change. I recently posted a video on my youtube channel and Warner Brothers muted the sound because I'd used a 20 second clip from En Vogue's "Never Gonna Get It" and they claimed copyright infringement. The video was completely lifeless without the music. Once the music was added back in, the video made people laugh and cheer. I think that microcosm of an example works one hundred fold in the larger scheme of things. When presidents are elected it seems like the first thing they do is plan a huge concert. People want to come together and celebrate their victory with good music.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

The music industry has been turned upside down by technology. Sugarland may be one of the last bands out there that can still make money selling cd's. Labels are having to re-work their entire infrastructure and most of them are going down. It's a crazy time, but at the same time there's so much more opportunity for anyone and everyone to be heard. It's scary but it's exciting. Technology affects my life every day. You contacted me here on a social networking page. How on earth would we have gotten in touch before all of this? I've made so many connections with people as a result of all this new media stuff. I can even sing background vocals on someone's project, post the files online, and be a part of a record for someone I've never even met. Plus I'm totally addicted to Twitter now which is so much fun.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

Hmm... Shoes... I'd probably be like a pair of Doc Martin's or something. I'll bet Susan Cowsill answered that too. Or maybe she said moccasins? Those were the only two shoes I ever saw her in all the years I nannied for her. Mostly she was barefoot. I'll have to check her answers! Yeah, Doc Martin's. Sort of rebellious, a little goth, waterproof. Sounds like me!

photo copyright by Annie Clements

French Quarter Fest: Susan Cowsill

Today at the French Quarter Fest Susan Cowsill performed another amazing show. Paul Sanchez sat in for a couple songs. Mary LaSang played bass with the band and did one of her own songs.

Susan, as always, put on a great show. Her shows are always good and they are so much fun. She likes to talk to the audience and let them know what she's thinking and what was on her mind when she wrote some of the songs she's playing. This is her first show I've seen in awhile and she's brought a new mix of songs to the table. For the first time that I've seen she does an old Cowsills number. She drops in more than a few Continental Drifters songs and quite a few new ones from her upcoming album. The new songs sound great and I can't wait for the new album.

Everytime I see her live though I come away with one burning question. Why isn't this woman a star? She writes some of the best pop songs ever and her voice is as good or better than just about anyone on the radio today. I just can't understand why she is still struggling to put her music out and so much of what we hear on the radio is dreck.

Jazz Fest Highlights: Susan Cowsill

I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen Susan Cowsill perform. She's one of those singers that I'll listen to anytime. For this Jazz Fest she was the opening act for the Fest, starting off at the main stage, the Acura Stage. For my money she should have been one of the closing acts. This woman is one of the most talented singers and songwriters in the entire industry. She's been performing since she was a child with her family the Cowsills and than later with the group Continental Drifters, a group which was filled with talent and she was one of the highlights. She introduced a few new songs in her set which is good news. Hopefully this means a new album is on the way.

Susan Cowsill

This week’s voice to hear has been singing for over thirty years, but only recently released a solo album. Susan Cowsill has been singing and playing guitar since she was in kindergarten. Her family The Cowsills were the real life inspiration behind the television show The Partridge Family. In the sixties they had hits with the songs "Hair," "The Rain, the Park and Other Things (Flower Girl)," and "We Can Fly." At the tender age of twelve Susan decided to retire from the music business.

Her retirement didn’t last long. Before almost any time she was back performing with acts such as Dwight Twilley, Hootie and the Blowfish and other musicians. She still was singing in the background, not taking the forefront yet. In the 90’s her musical family reunited for a new album and tour.

Living in L.A. she met Vicki Peterson, formerly of the Bangles and the two formed a power pop duo called the Psycho Sisters. The basis of this musical act became a life long friendship and years later they became sister-in-laws when Vicki married one of Susan’s brothers.

While performing in L.A. the two met some other musicians that were forming a new group called the Continental Drifters. One of the members of this group was Peter Holsapple, formerly from the critical acclaimed group the dBs. Peter and Susan ended up marrying and having a child together. The group slowly found its way to New Orleans until all the members were living in the Big Easy.

For ten years the Continental Drifters put out five albums of quite simply wonderful glorious music. The group has multiple singer/songwriters so every album is a mixture of songs from the different members. Unfortunately great music doesn’t always equal great sales and finally after a decade the group and marriage of Susan and Peter go their separate ways.

Finally Susan is ready to release a solo album. Just Believe It comes out and is proof that Susan is just a talented lead as she is part of a band. Susan’s songs are Pop music mixed with some of the Louisiana flavor and a sprinkle of country and rock. “I Know You Know” is one of those songs that just makes you want to sing along. Instead of the…I’ll be nice and not say what I think of a lot of the current “musical hits,” this song should have been a hit.

After Katrina every other artist from New Orleans had a “Katrina song.” Susan was no exception except I think she had one of the best, if not the best of the bunch. Her song was called “Crescent City Snow” and it incorporated so many elements from New Orleans in it.

I’ve seen Susan live multiple times. She always puts on a fun show. She loves to talk to the audience and have fun with them. I’ve seen her open for the Bangles, play Jazz Fest, open for Better Than Ezra, headline her own show. Every month at Carrolton Station in downtown New Orleans she does a Covered in Vinyl show, where she recreates a classic album in its entirety. She’s done songs from Fleetwood Mac, U2, Led Zepplin, Joni Mitchell, Mamas and Papas, Jimi Hendrix, Beatles and many others.

In addition to her solo album she has released an album of live outtakes from different Covered In Vinyl shows and has two live albums from her appearance at Jazz Fest available. Also check out her albums with the Continental Drifters and her family The Cowsills. For someone with just one album out officially she has a lot of music out there to sample.

"Just Believe It"