by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Two weeks ago, I got to know Cosy Sheridan during our phone interview. We connected on the same wavelength, sharing certain consciousness-raising life experiences. Last Thursday, I met Cosy in person before her live set at the European Street in San Marco. It was like meeting an old friend. Cosy is accessible and charming, as I expected she would be. However, her live music exceeded my expectations. This is why, for me, it’s imperative to see singer/songwriters live to appreciate the full scope of their artistry.
Prior to Cosy’s set, Pete Kennedy performed a solo act. Pete and his wife Maura Kennedy frequently tour with Cosy and her bassist/covivant, J.R. Richie. Sadly, Maura had a family emergency and was in New York. Nonetheless, Pete is a trip to watch. He’s a skilled six-string innovator who possesses advanced chops on guitar and his Ovation ukelele. The highlight of his set was his virtuoso performance on the ukelele playing Gershwin and other non-ukelele compositions. Yes, Pete greatly expands the range of this funky looking four-string instrument.
Cosy and J.R. Richie launched their set with a selection of Cosy’s massive repertoire of original material. She said she was trying to read the audience and figure out what best to play, but she was befuddled by such an eclectic group, representing diverse ages.
“I had a consultant view one of my shows to see what I could do to improve my stage image. She said everything was fine from the neck down but I’d given up on my face. So this led me to writing the song ‘Botox Tango,’” Cosy said from the stage.
Interestingly, Cosy’s material falls into two categories – songs using Greek mythology applied to modern situations and satire of modern life, like the Botox song. She connects with the audience through her sharp sense of humor and keen understanding of human nature. Many of Cosy’s songs elicited laughter from her Euro St. audience.
On ‘The Land of 10,000 Mothers’ Cosy imagines a world run by mothers. It’s a utopia in which there are no wars or strife. “Someone loves you and knows you are good.” This song drips with satire. Of course, there is no world like the world of mothers of her imagination.
‘Walk On (through)’ supposes that all roads through life are hard, so press on into the fire just “Walk on through” the hot coals and grin and bare it. It’s a little sage wisdom from someone who has traveled far and experienced life to the fullest.
In between her songs, Cosy chats about the origin of her songs or just expresses anecdotes of her life on the road. To the Euro St. Audience she asks, “ Is Florida considered the south or do you Floridians consider you apart from the South?” Of course, the answer came back loud and clear, Florida is not the South but a separate entity.
“There are fires you have to keep tending and those that you let burn,” Cosy sings on ‘Some Fires’ Yes, her wisdom comes through in her savvy songwriting, tempered with humor like in the “Botox Tango,” which got a big laugh. “I’m thinking of getting injected I”m getting older than expected.” J.R. is Cosy’s straight person, like George Burns was Gracie’s straight person. When Gracie died, George had to take over her material and become a solo comic, which was very difficult. Yet, he lived to be a 100 years old and was still booked.
Many of Cosy’s songs are little vignettes–poetry of mythology and reality sung with her unwaveringly clear voice which is a joyful instrument of her soulful art.
On “Cannibal Crossed The Alps,” Cosy tells the story will humor, imagining the sight of those elephants trudging through the snow, “His men were very cold...in those sandals... Cannibal crossed the Alps, that’s all you need to know.”
Ah yes, witnessing Cosy live was a gloriously uplifting experience. Her live album Cosy Sheridan Live at Cedar House lets anyone relive that live experience. Go to www.cosysheridan.com for all things Cosy. This saucy troubadour brings the light of exceptional songwriting to the people across the land. “Long may she run.”
|
