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Resurfacing in L.A.'s sprinkling of new wave venues, the Cowsllls have shed the sugary, G-rated image of the '60s as evidenced by its 10-song set here Oct. 4.
Kicking off its 37-minute set with "Cocaine Drain," a sultry rocker, the five-member unit weaved a tapestry of clean, hook-filled tunes, uplifted by the lack of past hits, with Susan Cowsill's sterling vocals and brothter Bob's no-nonsense guitar work pulling it all together.
The impetus of the Top 40 material, almost all Cowsill originals, was undeniably rockabilly, but the group which signed with Columbia last February proved its accessibility to a broad audience by easily pivoting from a staccato style of power pop to broken hearted ballads.
The jean-clad, loose-shirted quintet performed as thougn its 10-year stage absence; never happened. Belying her Rachel Sweetish deliverance by her plain, earthy stance, 20-year-old Susan has seasoned a skillfull, even powerful voice since her prepubescent singalong days.
Joined by brothers Bob and frenetic drummer
John on vocals, Susan dished up a convincing
rendition of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby," capitalizing on the band's knack for spanning musical time barriers.
Hardly discernible from the patrons as they
socialized before the set, the Cowsills were
boldy applauded after each number by the punkish crowd. The band amiably acknowledged occasional spurts of hooting with brief chatter,
succeeding in both familiarizing ana winning over the audience.
While plunging into the thriving club circuit here, the Cowsills are setting the stage for the release of a nearly completed album.
- SHAWN HANLEY
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