Kid Sister reunites for coverfest

By Rhonda Simmons

Published: July 17, 2008

A once disbanded power pop group will reunite for a special Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute Saturday night at the Hazel River Pub.
Last summer, when “Kid Sister” lead guitarist Scott O’Brien’s son, Cory, went off to college, he wasn’t quite sure of the band’s future.

Well, he’s back and the music will go on.

Cory O’Brien, 19, will join Scott O’Brien, 49, Chris Hansohn, 35, and Danny Lawhorne, 33, on stage this weekend.

The four-member band plans to hit the stage around 9:30 p.m.

“Having him back playing again has just been amazing for us because he’s such an important part of our sound,” said Scott O’Brien. “He plays so many different instruments, he’s singing more now, and there is a chemistry there that’s just born into him. We could never replace that by going out and recruiting a new member. Never.”

While Cory studied film and writing at Watkins College in Nashville, the band continued to rehearse and send the performances to the young scholar.

“We knew we had to try and do a show when he came back this summer,” Scott said. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to do this, and we realize that with Cory now basically living in Nashville, the future of Kid Sister as we know it is pretty uncertain.”

“We are writing material, and going into the studio in the fall to record, but every show we do could possibly be the last,” Scott O’Brien added.

Why Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers?

Scott O’Brien said his fans suggested the idea after hearing some of the cover songs during local shows.

“They are the ultimate American garage band,” Scott said. “They’ve never changed their music or their style through all the musical fads and has beens of the last 30 plus years.  They (have) an incredible list of hits through those years.”

Scott O’Brien said Tom Petty’s long and flourishing success is “truly an amazing and storied career in a business where so many come and go so quickly.”

“And today, so many people have discovered what I’ve known all along — it’s actually really cool to be a Tom Petty fan.”

The playlist includes “Free Fallin,’” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Into the Great Wide Open,” “A Woman In Love,” and “Handle With Care,” just to name a few.
The band will perform 32 songs.

During the show, musician Candice Dunlop will play keyboards and sing along with four-member band for 10 to 12 songs.

“She’s a talented musician,” Scott said.

Hazel River Pub Entertainment Manager Mary Lou Hamilton of Unicorn Sound will provide the sound for Saturday’s gig. For bookings call her at 729-3924.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .