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NEW YORK – Rain, parking and other things worked again the Cowsills, but the tremendous drawing power of their “Rain, the Park and Other Things” outdid the worst weather of this winter and pulled a large throng into Town Hall for the first New York appearances of the family group.
Few, if any, were disappointed by the performance, which coupled the appeal of a number one record, with pure showmanship, fine entertainment and a grand helping of solid music. The epitome of an “All-American Family” act with four brothers, a sister and mother on stage, and more behind the scenes, the Cowsills were more than cute, they were terrific.
A few original numbers and some recent hits made up an overall revue of the publicized act for the first segment of the evening; and the second half featured the talents of Bill, Bob, John and Barry Cowsill in a medley of “institutions” by the Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Beatles and Herman’s Hermits as well as a few rounding out sets to close the bill.
Act I was the family hour, with the spotlight shifting from one youngster to another in a bevvy of cute renditions that offered a picture of the individual talents behind the Cowsills. Mother Barbara’s ”Time,” Barry’s “Mr. Postman,” and a hammy “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” with brother John were all but eclipsed in the glow of the youngest member of the team, Susan. The pixie-angel figure demonstrated a showmanship usually found only in performers with more stage experience than she has years (8 to be exact). Strolling, prancing, swaging and boogaloo-ing across the apron of the stage, she showed no fer or nervousness in delivering “Hello, Hello” and “Sweet Talkin’ Guy” for a chilled crowd which thawed before her, and melted under the warmth of her style.
Aside from the introductory section,t he combo excelled on sets featuring “You Were On My Mind,” “On The Other Side” and a few other sounds that were generally of an early-‘60’s – plus-amplifer genre.
Act II showed a complete shift into blues at the outset, with highlights emphasis moving to Bob Cowsill at the organ, but the funk condensed into a salute to the groups that have raised rock from its early regard to its dominant state today. Rolling off a string of hits from the ’64-’67 roster, the Cowsills proved apt imitators of styles ranging from the Stonesy “The Last Time” to the more complex “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” and a “Good Vibrations” that out-Beach Boy-ed the California crew.
Susan returned for “To Sir With Love,” and it wa a romp from there on to the closing recap of “We Can Fly,” the newest single by the family.
Playing alone, the Cowsills were a tremendous bundle of energy, mirth, warmth and entertainment which ranged from Blue-eyed (and blonde haired) soul to the individual sound that projected “The Rain, the Park and Other Things” to the top spot on sales charts. When they return with a 20-piece orchestra (Jan. 19) for a show at Philharmonic Hall, the group should really be something to behold.
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