Those addictive sounds

Toronto merchants of melancholy Cowboy Junkies to turn 20

Considering that her band's excellent current album, One Soul Now, is their tenth studio effort, it comes as something of a shock to hear Cowboy Junkies singer Margo Timmins confess to problems in its recording.
"For quite a long time with this album, I just wasn't feeling it. I could sing the notes, but I wasn't feeling it. It was like I could have been singing in Italian! That was a little disappointing, as it usually comes really quickly to me. I don't like struggling or working hard, so it kind of threw me," she laughs.
Fortunately, Cowboy Junkies had the luxury of time in the recording. They laid down the songs over a one-year period in their own small studio, The Clubhouse, in what Margo describes as "a casual way, without the deadlines and expense of a big studio. Mike told me, 'we can do the songs 500 times until you're happy with them. It doesn't have to be in a day.' Once I calmed down, I began to feel the songs my way, as opposed to just singing them. I find a lot of music now is really soulless. It's on the perfect key, but there is nobody home."
The Mike she refers to is her older brother Michael Timmins. He writes and produces all the CJ material, while a third sibling, Peter, is the group's drummer. Along with bassist Alan Anton, the foursome have had a long and fascinating journey, one that has taken them from the Queen Street club circuit of the mid '80s to international recognition as one of the most accomplished and interesting purveyors of roots-based music.
They may never have quite repeated the impact made with their ground-breaking second album, The Trinity Session, but the consistent quality of their recorded work since has ensured the retention of a loyal fan base.
Such longevity is a real achievement. "We do not take it lightly," says Margo. "In this industry, it is hard to keep going, but we have managed. We have never had big hits, but we just somehow manage to go on. With our 20th anniversary coming up, there is pressure to put out something special. We may put out a songbook, as there has been a lot of requests for that."
Margo Timmins was nearly paralyzed by stage fright early on, but that has definitely changed. "I love being onstage now. Some people might miss the mystery or drama of someone on the verge of a breakdown onstage though! When I turned 40, I really wanted to be on a stage, the place where I am now most comfortable, so Mike arranged for us to play a charity show in Buffalo then. That was great. I'm not a big party person, and that saved me from arranging one."
Her confidence as a performer has doubtless been helped by her increased technical ability as a singer. "Singing now is just so easy for me. I don't have to worry about it, I just do it."
Margo's ethereal yet somehow sultry vocal delivery has always been a key part of the Cowboy Junkies appeal. It perfectly matches the understated melancholy of Michael's songs, and is able to breathe life into the well-chosen covers (Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane," Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," several Townes Van Zandt compositions) the band has tackled.
Expect some of those covers in the set they'll play at their favourite Toronto venue, Trinity-St. Paul's, on Nov. 7th. "It has great acoustics and sightlines and a nice vibe," she says. "If I can feel that an audience is comfortable, then I can feel comfortable."
Bars are certainly not favoured venues. "I hate having to argue with the cash register. When we go into those places and ask them not to serve during our set, it seems so ostentatious. They don't realize just how quiet we can get. There have occasionally been shows where I've had to ask for quiet, and that is really hard."
She envies the Bruce Springsteen approach. "I still remember seeing him at Massey Hall on the Tom Joad tour. He said, 'this will be a quiet set, so you have my permission to turn to the person next to you and tell him to shut the f** up!' I could never do that."
One Soul Now is out on Maple Music/Universal. Cowboy Junkies play Trinity -St. Pauls (427 Bloor St. W.) on Nov. 7.

Publication Date: 2004-11-07
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4589