To no one's surprise, the Coward Brothers blew through all the money they had made as successful folk music ikons/sex symbols in the 1960's and 70's.
Henry's much-touted attempt to become a successful music producer floundered after the abortive attempt to have Blue Oyster Cult cut an ABBA covers lp.
His solo album, "Stephen Dedalus On The Half Shell", was savaged by critics and the song 'Smells Like Jean Seberg' was found by many to be offensive.
Howard tried his hand at acting, beginning with a role in a Spice Girls flick, but his attempt to play a rapper/mime in an Antonioni adaptation of The Merry
Wives of Windsor forever relegated him to b-movie roles and Madonna vanity productions. Similarly, Howard's attempt to design a line of custom
acoustic guitars proved to be a disasterous investment when the quaalude dispensers failed and Yoko Ono threatened a lawsuit over inappropriate
use of the Two Virgins album cover likeness.
And to top it off, both suffered failed marriages to the same woman and, as the tabloids reported, they were bilked out of their inheritance by Madoff.
So, as circumstances necessitated, the duo reunited for a one-off concert to keep all the creditors and ex-wives at bay. Howard was obviously still
intimidated by Henry's large stature, yet the pair delivered a solid set of original tunes, bolstered by a back-up band to prop up any lapses in playing or
unconventional harmonies. Things became slightly tense on stage when Howard inquired if Henry was hiding royalties from a song they wrote, but they can
still joke about their failed marriages. They reprised their hit, the upbeat Tom Dooley, which, as Henry noted, was unethically stolen from them by a pop group
many years ago. Both brothers stepped out for solo spots, in the great tradition of feuding brothers like Karl and Harpo Marx.
After years of speculation in the British press, the brothers did indeed reveal their sister, Emmylou, a striking silver-haired beauty who came out to
sing a new song called 'The Scarlet Tide'. Critics agreed that if the sister could overcome her stage fright she might have a bright future as a country singer.
Some have speculated that embarassment over her brothers' public feuds and the well-known "Barbados Foam Frog Incident" have kept her out of the public
eye, but the brothers have denied this in a recent interview with Mojo magazine.
The Coward Brothers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco
October 8, 2006
cdr(1)>eac>flac
1. Ragged But Right
2. She Thinks I Still Care
3. Tom Dooley
4. I Threw Away The Rose
5. The People's Limousine
6. Be Real
7. A Matter of Time
8. <intro>
9. San Francisco Medley
10. So You Want To Be a Rock and Roll Star
11. The Butcher's Boy
12. The Scarlet Tide (with sister Emmylou)