At Least We Have Each Other

Named after a brand of dishwasher found in commercial kitchens, The Hobart Brothers reflect on their early days working in restaurants, featuring songs such as "The Dishwasher," "Almost Dinnertime," and "First Day on the Job." The group features all-star singer/songwriters Jon Dee Graham (of True Believers), Freedy Johnston, and Susan Cowsill. Together with Fighting Cocks' bassist Andrew DuPlantis and Cowsill's husband and bandmate, Russ Broussard, on drums on seven tracks, the Hobarts play a bright, straightforward roots-pop that's captured in a minimum of takes with a minimum of fuss. The loose, playful atmosphere brings out the best in them, with Johnston's "I Never Knew There Would Be You" bouncing out of the box and Graham's "All Things Being Equal" grumbling with authenticity. Johnston's eye for detail tells a touching story of a man apologizing to his girlfriend to get a ride home on "I Am Sorry." It's affecting stuff. The album, funded by a Kickstarter campaign, includes an entire demo-session set.