SUSAN COWSILL
Gosh that was sweet (albeit bittersweet) to read Susan Cowsill’s cover story in March issue. I caught her for the first time at Louisiana Music Factory a couple of Jazz Fests back and was blown away. I knew her brother Billy’s music from Blue Shadows live dates and recordings here in Canada, and her show filled in some of the biographical blanks and Alex Rawls’ fine piece filled in some more. Sounds like Susan’s still got more space to fill. I look forward to hearing her fill it down in New Orleans real soon.

—Joseph Blake, Victoria, BC, Canada

NEVILLES
Always hard to believe, but it’s that time of year again—thinking about and planning for Jazz Fest. My husband and I have missed only one in 18 years—and that was for the birth of two grandchildren right in the middle of Jazz Fest weekends. We have come often with a steady group of up to 20 friends, and we now look forward to sharing our love of Jazz Fest with our grown children.

This time of year always leads me to reflect on how my husband and I got to this love of the fest and its city. It had to be Spring of 1989 because I was hugely pregnant with my fourth child. The San Diego Union-Tribune had a small article about a group coming the next day to a small club—The Bacchanal. I was struck by what I had read and wanting any excuse to hear some music with some friends, I got tickets. The article was about the Neville Brothers. The trip was made, the crowd small, but the opening “My Blood” was all it took to capture me for good. That song remains a favorite for me since that concert. The time I spent with the Nevilles music that night would permanently affect me in all aspects of my life. Thus began my life long love affair with New Orleans, the music and its people. I can hear the naysayers crying out there their objections to the Nevilles, but I can’t wait to be at that stage the last weekend Sunday of this year’s Fest. The Nevilles are the reason I started coming to the Crescent City, and they are the reason I return.

—Cherie Misas, Hummelstown, PA

ABSENT RADIATORS?
I just renewed my subscription to OffBeat for not one, but two years. Thought that might give you enough time to recognize the Radiators for their 30th anniversary, an acknowledgment that so far has been conspicuously absent from your pages.

Can you name another New Orleans band whose members don’t share the same last name that has lasted longer than the Rads? Another New Orleans band that has closed out Jazz Fest for as many years? Another New Orleans band that just returned from its second solo Caribbean cruise with a boatload of fans?

Come on, OffBeat. If you spent a little less time at the Grammys and South by Southwest, you might not forget about the stories right there under your nose. Give the fishheads some!

—Karl Bremer, Stillwater, MN

An Editor’s Note: We received some questions about Glen David Andrews’ account of his experience with Musicians’ Village in March’s “Backtalk.” We take Andrews at his word about his relationship with the Village, but to be fair, the experiences we have heard from musicians who received housing in the last year have been more positive than his.—ED.