On that day in 1979 - 14 July

OK, a disclaimer. I love the Cowsills. I have always liked the Cowsills. I never had any of their records when I was young but that was mostly because I didn't really have an allowance and was given Monkees and Partridge Family records instead. I loved their version of "Hair" but if you didn't buy a single when it was in the Top 40 in those days, it was fairly difficult to purchase later on. (I know this is hard to believe in this day and age of instant gratification and universal access.) I had a big crush on John Cowsill and I wanted Susie to be my friend, and I followed their antics in 16 Magazine.

In 2013 I saw that documentary on the Cowsills (I highly recommend it but it's sad!!) and if you asked me then if I had ever seen the Cowsills I would have said that I saw Bob and Susie play an acoustic set once in 1989, and do a few songs at a charity gig earlier that year. And that's it. Even when I read the journal entry below, I was shocked; at first I couldn't remember this gig at the Troubadour at all! I must have blacked it out of my memory.

I should find those photos; they all had beards and were dressed like hippies. Not colorful psychedelic hippies, but drab brown hairy hippies! And remember this was 1979! I was soooo anti facial hair of any type! Plus re the music, I had not yet discovered decent country music (apart from Johnny Cash that is!) PS I just had a pretty thorough google and could not find a single photo online of the Cowsills in the late 70s! Perhaps they were embarrassed too?

Another note on technology; early 35mm cameras had a viewfinder screen which you found on top of the camera body. It was rather like the display on a digital camera but smaller - imagine trying to focus with that! (My first two SLRs had no auto-focusing or metering.) The Miranda I'm using here also had a viewfinder you could look through but you could remove that and walk around with the camera around your neck to take candid shots.

14 July 1979

When I woke up the next morning I was so depressed. And we had to go to [my cousin] Keith's wedding. It was way out in Riverside and so hot and icky. And it was so loooonnnnnngggggg.... It was kinda amusing how all the speakers were from the bride's side; not one from our side! I couldn't believe people were actually crying! I felt like crying but for my own reasons - how could they be so happy when I was so miserable?!

The reception was such a bore! We had to sit there three hours before the food came and it was pork and beans - yuk! I felt like crawling under the table and going to sleep!

When we got home I was so exhausted and undecided about going out. But we did.

When we were parking the car, Dwight walked by - with a girl! He stopped and kissed her too! [It just occurred to me that this was probably Susie Cowsill!]

Bates Motel were still on when we got in. The place was packed and we didn't know a soul! Luckily we got seats right in front, on the side.

These gross geeks were setting up and I made a joke about them being the Cowsills and Mary says, "No, they're just the roadies." (But why were they all wearing those stupid hats?!!)

But then the Cowsills came on... And it was THEM!!!! UGH!!!!! We could not believe it! We couldn't tell who was who!

I had to take pictures of them but I was so embarrassed I took the viewfinder off! [Why? I mean we didn't know anyone there; was I so afraid my reputation would be ruined?!]

The only decent one was John. (Thank God!!!) And their MUSIC - YUK!!!! They seemed to be ashamed of their past. I wonder how they became like that...

Oh well. Dwight was good, although he didn't move quite as much as usual. He did a couple new songs and luckily, "Marie's the Name" for the third encore... And "Tiger Eyes". I danced on the side to all the good songs and I swear he was looking my way!

Well, it was fun I guess.

The Cowsills; that kind of hairiness I did not mind!