Show Review

The Cowboy Junkies are always looking for a show. From Stavanger, Norway, to Bozeman, Montana, you name the city, they have probably been there. This can be a good and bad thing for this tireless band, now in their 19th year as a touring act. On this evening, with a long bus drive back to their hometown Toronto looming after the show, their professionalism with stood their probable need to sleepwalk through the performance.

Playing their fourth show in as many days, the Junkies had good reason to be tired. However, having already learned time and again that rest is never factored into a touring schedule, the Junkies stood (well, actually sat) tall on the Hemmens’stage and delivered two solid sets of delicate music.

For this mini-tour, the Junkies decided to kick each show off with a very quiet 70-minute acoustic set, featuring only guitarist Michael Timmins, multi instrumentalist Jeff Bird, accordionist Jaro Czerwinec, and lead singer Margo Timmins. From the opening a cappella “Mining For Gold,” to the closing “Escape is So Simple,” the simple acoustic format allowed the strong and storytelling vocals of Margo Timmins to shine. Especially in a live setting, Timmins has the wonderful gift of confidently expressing a sometimes complex song through her elegant stage presence and clear voice that never seems to grow tired. Although not quite as chatty as usual, she perfectly guided each song’s story, owning the silent audience’s eyes and ears. She took us through the Dakota Territory during “Pale Sun,” expressed the need to break away on “Misguided Angel,” and hinted playfully through “Black Eyed Man.” She even dedicated a new song, “Cold Evening Wind,” to a group of ever-present fans whom she refers to as “llamas.”

The electric second set added to the band drummer Peter Timmins and bassist Alan Anton, which delivered a much fuller sound. “Me and the Devil” allowed Michael Timmins and Jeff Bird to match each other’s wicked solos, while Jaro Czerwinec gave an impressive showing on the accordion. Czerwinec, who was a key contributor to the band’s signature sound on The Caution Horses album, has only been touring with the band recently. Judging from his impressive and inspiring play on this night, you may be seeing and hearing a lot of him in the near future.

Speaking of the future, it looks to be a very bright one for this fine Canadian band. They gave us an encouraging preview of their new material that will take form as the follow-up album to 2001’s Open next spring. “Morning Cried” featured Michael Timmins’ Hendrixesque guitar work, while “IKEA Parking Lot” had some listeners chuckling, although its lyrics suggested a sad moment between a man and a woman, with words crystallizing on cold car windows. This could happen only in a Junkies song.

Closing out the second set was a rare and exceptional performance of “Lost My Driving Wheel,” which led into encore performances of “Townes’ Blues” and the crowd-pleasing favorite “Sweet Jane.”

As the show ended, I had these feelings about the well-rounded performance. One, this is a band that can perform well under any kind of circumstance (e.g., quiet or noisy audience, nice theater or stuffy rock club, sleep or lack of). And two, this is a band that is ready to make a great statement with their next record.

Make time on your concert calendar to catch the Cowboy Junkies next year as they will tour in support of their new album. Once the cold Toronto winter ends, there is no telling where they will be able to take you.

Set list

First Set:

Mining For Gold, I'm So Open, White Sail, Pale Sun, Misguided Angel, Cold Evening Wind, Black Eyed Man, Escape Is So Simple

Second Set (Full Band):

Crescent Moon, Me &The Devil, I Don't Get It, Come Calling (His Song), Morning Cried, IKEA Parking Lot, Hunted, This Street, That Man, This Life, Common Disaster, Miles From Our Home, Lost My Driving Wheel

Encores:

Townes' Blues

Sweet Jane

Photos by Jason Gonulsen