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The Cowsills will make their first public performance in eight years at 6 p.m. today at the University Student Center.
The band, now pared to four members, had several hits during the late 1960s, including the song, "Hair."
"We want to play for the colleges because they're great in spreading the word. Our roots are with the colleges," Bob Cowsill said.
According to Paul Cowsill, students provide a challenging audience because their free time is precious and their pocketbooks are limited.
"We are really excited about doing this because this is our first gig in eight years and we are really ready," Paul said.
There will be no admission charge, "If there is some good music going down and a student has been studying for a test, he is going to need a break. When good music comes along, college students grab at it," Paul said.
"The Cowsills have been preparing for the comeback for a year," Bob said. "We've been doing nothing but getting new material ready."
The group, which once contained the Cowsills' mother and a few other brothers, split up in the early 1970s because everyone in the band wanted time to grow and be on their own, Susan Cowsill said.
"We wanted to get as far from the family as possible. At one point we saw our parents every day for 10 years straight. I came to feel I was in the military," Paul said.
New motivation brought the current Cowsill band back together, according to John Cowsill.
"Paul and I were listening to some tapes one night that the four of us made for fun a year and a half ago. It became obvious what we should do," Bob said.
"The three brothers from the original group were not here because they simply don't want to be in it. We feel the four of us work well together," Paul said.
Still, the band feels the challenge of taking its act on the stage again after eight years.
It is harder to play for 200 people at the student center than for 18,000 people at a hall like the Froum because they're all moving each other, John said.
"With 200 people, it is up to the group to communicate," John said.
During its performances, the band will rely on material from an album scheduled for summer release, but will also include some contemporary music and a touch of past Cowsill music.
"The very first song at Northridge will be the first song on side on of the new album," Bob said.
"If we get a response, we will be back," Paul said, adding if the album becomes a success, it won't mean the band will avoid playing CSUN in the future in favor of larger venues.
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