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'We just keep doing what we do'; Junkies busy making music

The Cowboy Junkies will be in Cochrane April 18, playing to a sold-out crowd at the Cochrane Alliance Church, and bringing with them a mix of new innovative sound and the classic Junkies mood.
The Cowboy Junkies will play the Cochrane Alliance Church April 18.
The Cowboy Junkies will play the Cochrane Alliance Church April 18.

The Cowboy Junkies will be in Cochrane April 18, playing to a sold-out crowd at the Cochrane Alliance Church, and bringing with them a mix of new innovative sound and the classic Junkies mood.

“It’s always so nice to tour here in Canada,” said bassist Alan Anton, over the phone from British Columbia. “We just keep doing what we do — it’s getting a little different now that we all have families. But as long as we enjoy it, we’ll keep doing it.”

The Canadian alt-country/folk band kicked off the western leg of their Nomad Tour April 17, after a whirlwind tour through the eastern United States.

Promoting their four CD collection, The Nomad Series, and celebrating the 25th anniversary of their 1988 release, The Trinity Session, the band shows no signs of slowing down.

“We set it as a challenge for ourselves,” said Anton. “We wanted to see if in our elderly age in rock and roll, we could still do it.”

The challenge began in earnest for the band when guitarist and songwriter Michael Timmins returned to Canada from a trip to China.

With a head full of ideas and loops of sound from the bustling foreign streets, Timmins presented his vision of the rest of the indie band, consisting of Anton and Timmins siblings Margo and Peter.

In the end, the band decided to cut four records in 18 months.

“It was another challenge for us, and we were having fun trying something a little different,” said Anton. “We got to play with sounds, create some really nasty-sounding psychedelic rock, cover the songs of Vic Chestnutt and come back to our classic Junkies folksy sound.”

The Wilderness, the final volume of the series, was in the works prior to Michael Timmins’ trip abroad.

“It was our next record — about exploring and being lost in life, which is typical Junkies,” said Anton. “I think our fans were relieved when we came back with The Wilderness. We came full circle.”

The sold-out audience at the Cochrane Alliance Church can expect to hear Margo Timmins’ smooth pipes over the course of two sets: the first dedicated to the sounds of The Nomad Series, and the second to crowd favourites.

Following the western leg of the tour, Anton will be joining the rest of the band in Toronto, where they are setting up a new studio.

He said they hope to begin recording again in the fall.

Doors open for the Cochrane show at 7 p.m., with the show slated to start at 7:30 p.m.

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