BOB Profile: Susan Cowsill

Forget the Partridge Family, Susan Cowsill’s the real deal.

The Cowsills – Susan, brothers Bob, Barry, Paul, Richard and John, and mom Barbara – charted in the Sixties with “The Rain, The Park & Other Things,” “Indian Lake,” the title to the musical “Hair” and a slew of other hits.

TV’s Partridges were fashioned after the family band. For more than a decade, they toured, landing regular appearances with Ed Sullivan, Johnny Cash and even their own TV show.

To the world, the Cowsills’ lives were, well, groovy. “Family Band: The Cowsills Story,” a behind-the-scenes documentary exploring the true family dynamic, told a different story.

But like many children of the ‘60s, Susan Cowsill survived, grew up and has lived to sing about it.

For years, Susan traveled with Continental Drifters, an indie-rock/power-pop supergroup out of Los Angeles, and she continues to occasionally perform with surviving members of the Cowsills.

But Susan’s musical rebirth as a solo act springs from her masterful songwriting and singing.

She’s backed by hubby Russ Broussard on drums, rubboard, percussion and occasional guitar; Mary Lasseigne, bass and vocals; Sam Craft, violin, guitar, keyboards, mandolin and vocals; and Jack Craft, guitar, keyboards, cello, mandolin and vocals.

The group has been touring the country promoting Susan’s 2010 release, “Lighthouse,” a heartfelt follow-up to her 2005 “Just Believe It” CD, both on Threadhead Records. “Lighthouse” has received critical acclaim from every major international music publication – Rolling Stone, the Washington Post, No Depression and All Music.

A blend of rock, pop and Americana, Susan writes about heartbreak and hope, optimism and spirituality. Along with a stripped-down reworking of “Galveston,” a classic hit co-written by her songwriting hero, Jimmy Webb, the CD includes emotional odes to New Orleans circa 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Susan and Russ evacuated as Katrina neared the Gulf Coast. Her brother Barry opted to stay. Upon their return, Susan and Russ discovered they’d lost their belongings. Months later, Susan would receive the news that Barry’s body had been identified. The day of his memorial in Rhode Island, the family’s home state, Susan’s older brother Bill died.

“Lighthouse” bravely returns to the emotions that followed in “ONOLA,” “River of Love” and “Sweet Bitter End.”

Susan told Roch Parisien’s Rocon Communications she was proud and relieved at the album’s release. “And hopefully, or not, to be done needing to express those Katrina feelings anymore.”

The monster storm served as the impetus for several of the CD’s songs, but the universality of heartbreak speaks to audiences everywhere, the songwriter is quick to note.

“I hear from people all across the U.S. when we tour,” she told RPRC. “They insert their sorrow and challenges into my music wherever it applies for them. Strife is hard no matter what container it comes in. It’s all the same message, which is: It’s going to be OK. Life is good. And we’re all gonna make it.”

Susan Cowsill is making it, and she’s hoping you’ll make it, too, to hear her live at BoB.

Susan CowsillCOURTESY RICARDO OSMAN ZENTENO HIDALGO