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THE SHOW: The Susan Cowsill Band, Wednesday at Poor David's Pub
ANOTHER MUSICAL FAMILY RETREAD? Hold on, now – being the heir to a musical lineage doesn't necessarily spell certain doom. For every Osmond, there's someone like Ms. Cowsill. She's a member of the singing family that inspired The Partridge Family and has had a distinguished career as a backup singer and as a member of the critically acclaimed Continental Drifters. Wednesday, she exhibited a nuanced voice, guitar chops and a disarming stage presence.
WHO SHOWED UP: About 24 hardy souls braved the ice to see Ms. Cowsill and her band (guitar, bass, drums and a sax/keys utility guy). She's supporting her new album, Just Believe It.
WHAT SHE PLAYED: A seasonally flavored set that mixed tunes from Believe ("Christmas Time"), her three Drifters albums ("Snow," "Rain Song," "Spring Day in Ohio") and something she calls "covered in vinyl." She picks an album and performs it live, straight through. She didn't perform the whole thing, but chose a number of songs from Wings' 1973 classic Band on the Run: "Bluebird," "Mrs. Vanderbilt," "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" and a rousing show-ending version of "Jet."
The cover songs Ms. Cowsill chose were as interesting as her originals. Most compelling: Lucinda Williams' "Crescent City" and Joni Mitchell's season- and weather-appropriate "River."
BOTTOM LINE: An excellent evening of American roots rock with an added dash of Louisiana spice.
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