Let Us All Praise Dave Cousins!

Dave Cousins, the long-time frontman for British folk-rock-prog band the Strawbs (shown above, performing with violinist Ian Cutler), is an underrated treasure in the world of rock & roll. Forming the Strawberry Hill Boys in the late-60s, recording their first album with vocalist Sandy Denny (who would go on to Fairport Convention), the Strawbs would go on through the '70s to record brilliant albums such as Grave New World (1972), Hero & Heroine (1974), Ghosts (1975), and Burning For You (1977), among others.

As related in an interview that I did with Cousins in 2007, the singer/songwriter "retired" from full-time performing with the band to take a job in commercial radio in the U.K. After appearing at the Strawbs' 30th anniversary celebration with other former bandmates in 1998, Cousins "re-started" the band in 2001, touring the U.S., Canada and Europe with a revolving line-up that has included such stalwarts of the '70s-era bands as guitarist Dave Lambert, bassist Chas Cronk, and keyboardist John Hawken, among others. Sometimes they tour as "Electric Strawbs" with full gear, sometimes as "Acoustic Strawbs," just three or four guys sitting on stools with their instruments.

Cousins recorded his first solo album, titled Two Weeks Last Summer, in 1972 and then didn't record a follow-up until The Boy In The Sailor Suit in 2007. Of the more recent album, which the Reverend reviewed for Harp magazine, I wrote "Cousins’ intricate wordplay is on display throughout, the album offering a balance of acoustic folk and electric rock, an appropriate soundtrack for this lyrical celebration of life and love." In 2008, Cousins released a follow-up and his third solo effort, Secret Paths, a collection of his favorite story-songs re-cast in a mostly acoustic light.

To promote Secret Paths, Cousins booked a short acoustic tour in the U.S. and Canada in the spring of 2008. He was accompanied on the first few dates by the talented violinist Ian Cutler, rounding out the tour with strictly solo performances. If you missed any of these shows, you missed out on one of the most intimate and breathtaking performances that you'll ever witness.

We caught Cousins and Cutler at The German House in Rochester NY, a cool old venue that began life over 80 years ago as a church hall. Booked by our buddy Tom Kohn at The Bop Shop record store, unfortunately Cousins was suffering from a touch of the flu during his visit, and was visibly ill before the show. He wasn't one to let down the 100 or so fans that had assembled to see him perform, though, so Cousins and Cutler carried on, weaving a magical spell created by Cousins' wonderful stories and well-worn voice, accompanied by Cutler's sometimes mournful, sometimes incendiary violin playing.

But you can witness Cousins' talents for yourself, as some fan has provided video from the singer's Kent, Ohio performance of the beautiful songs "Grace Darling" and "Blue Angel." The third video here, is a heavy reading of the Strawbs' "Grave New World" from a couple of years back, a mesmerizing song in spite of the video/sound quality.

Several of Cousins' performances from the 2008 tour were recorded, and recently released as an album titled Duochrome. Either the new album or Secret Paths (or The Boy In The Sailor Suit and Two Weeks Last Summer, for that matter) would make a great gift for the singer/songwriter fan in your life, all four albums showcasing the incredible talents of Dave Cousins. (Photos from the Rochester show by Rev. Keith A. Gordon, subsequently "freaked-out" in Photoshop Elements)

(Click on the CD cover to buy Secret Paths from Amazon.com)


Dave Cousins - "Grace Darling"


Dave Cousins - "Blue Angel"


The Strawbs - "Grave New World"