GET YOUR FIX Cowboy Junkies show at zoo will feature songs from first album in 6 years
It has been six years since Canada’s Cowboy Junkies released new music.
Songwriter and guitarist Michael Timmins blames the hiatus on his lack of drive to write new music.
“I was burned out from songwriting and producing, and because of that point of view I think that break lingered on,” he said. “I didn’t really feel obligated to get back to writing. I was doing other things musically and creatively. The songwriting bug I really never got. About a year ago, we started talking about a new record and whether we should be thinking about one. They gave me ideas, and things began to start rolling in. It was helpful for me. It sort of stopped momentum of making records. We were making one every two years. For sure, we had to actively jump-start the creative process for the (‘All That Reckoning’) record.”
The new album, “All That Reckoning,” which comes out on July 13, has been described at the band’s most powerful yet.
“I think it’s up to the listener to decide that,” Timmins said of the description. “It’s definitely a very deep record. Lyrically, it’s delving into personal politics as well as social politics, but that is sort of my determination from a writing point of view.”
Audiences on this tour will be able to hear a few songs from the new album. The alternative country, folkrock band tries to add new music into its set list but focuses on putting together a good representation of its music catalog.
The band has developed a loyal fan base since the late 1980s, when it released its classic album “The Trinity Session.”
“We’ve never stopped the continuum of what we do,” Timmins said. “We love recording. I think we’ve been true to who we are as musicians and people. People connect with that. … We try and connect as much as we can with people listening to the music. We are always trying to focus on what we do, whether it’s life on stage or in the studio. We’ve been relatively successful. Once they’ve connected, they sort of stay connected.”