A very nice review form the first LA show from @SteveHochman, a long time reviewer from the LA area and champion of the band in those early years: Seeing Cowboy Junkies at Largo last night for first time in I dont know how long (Margo Timmins said on stage it had been decades since they last played L.A., and maybe so) had to wonder how it is that this band is not hailed as one of the leading lights in what continues to be called Americana (Canadiana Division). They were great back when, but theyre better now. The years have brought great depth to the darkness in Michael Timmins songs (echoes of such clear touchstones as Leonard Cohen and Kris Kristofferson, as well as cover honorees Lou Reed and Townes Van Zandt) and solid oomph to the music. If you only think of them as the atmosphere peddlers of their shadow-dream Sweet Jane and Blue Moon Revisited covers, their early breakthroughs, youve missed a lot. Several songs from their fairly recent Nomad album series (now packaged as five CDs together, sold at the show and on their web site for a bargain total of just $25) were stunning in their power and grip, both in the music and the words turned through Margos richly understated voice) and several times they went all-out psychedelic-blues, with Pete Timmins drums and Alan Antons bass making a jazzy rumble under which Michaels guitar and Jeff Birds highly distorted electric mandolin (sounding more like a guitar and bringing to mind John Cipollina at his most Quicksilver inventive) going full Fillmore on us. The highlight may have been the wild, hypnotic interpretation of the gospel classic Working on a Building, while an encore of Neil Youngs Dont Let It Bring You Down provided some levity with the power as Margo forgot the lyrics and, with clear chagrin, had to just let the guys play, chiming in only for the choruses.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 01:45:02 +0000
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