What started as a side project, a supergroup of sorts, one that would allow famed pianist Earl Poole Ball to explore his rock & roll side, has blossomed into a full-fledged band.
Alongside the guy that manned the keys for Johnny Cash and Gram Parsons, the Cosmic Americans feature Austin’s guitarist supreme, Caspar Rawls; bassist Glenn Fukunaga, best known for his work with Joe Ely and Eliza Gilkyson; Dony Wynn, the longtime drummer for the late Robert Palmer; and, last but certainly not the least, local songstress Jodi Adair.
I caught the Cosmic Americans for the first time at one of their recent Friday happy hour gigs at the Saxon Pub. Even with all the talent that surrounds her, I was struck by Adair’s stage presence. She pranced around, banged on her acoustic guitar, and the smile on her face lit the room.
It’s been 20 years since I first saw Kelly Willis at the Continental Club and since then no one under the lights has grabbed my attention the way Adair does. My favorite part is that it seems genuine. Whether moaning the blues or shouting out, it’s from the heart, without a hint of imitation, and she appears to be having the time of her life.
Born in Houston, Adair spent a year and a half traveling Europe, working on her craft and playing wherever she could. “It was awesome,” she recalls. “You could get so spoiled so quick. Europeans have a different mentality when it comes to art. They actually appreciate it a lot more. Around here people are like ‘Get a job. What are you doing?’ But over there it’s like [in a French accent] ‘Thank you so much. I think my day at work is going to be so much better.’”
About five years ago she moved to Austin, after spending some time in Jamaica and a year in New Orleans. “It was just time to go, I guess, and right after I left there comes Katrina. So I guess I got out at the right time.”
In 2008 Adair released Settle Down Easy, a melange of roots and blues featuring friends like Carolyn Wonderland and W.C. Clark. While an agreeable first effort, it displays very little of the confidence she displays with the Cosmic Americans.
About a year ago, she met Ball at a Johnny Cash birthday tribute at the Mean Eyed Cat. “After that,” she relates, “he came to one of my shows. He said he was thinking of forming a band and wanted me to front it with him and Casper. I was like, ‘Are you kidding? Of course I will. Let’s start tomorrow.’ Yeah, I was a little intimidated at first. These guys are amazing. They don’t have influences. They have references. So I was a little nervous the first couple of shows. But I just did my best. What else could a girl do, but give it your all.”
She claims there’s a live Cosmic Americans disc on the way and maybe she’ll start another solo effort by the end of the year. Right now Adair is holding onto a dream.
“What a blessing,” she declares. “I think God sneezed and smiled at the same time.”
This article appears in June 11 • 2010.