The Seattle Tower Records which is located near the Experience Music Project & the Space Needle is within walking distance of my place of employment. Last week I walked over there to browse (I rarely buy from Tower anymore - too pricey) and happened to see fliers for an in-store listener appreciation concert by the Cowboy Junkies. I've been a fan of this band for several years and since the start time was an hour after I got off work I figured this was very doable with a minimum amount of hassle. So tonight I bopped over to Tower and got there about 45 minutes before the start of the concert. There were already around 30 or so people there, most of them sitting on the floor directly in front of the performance set up. At some point some wisenheimer instructed everybody to stand up so they could squeeze more people in at the back. After the band had played their first song, lead singer Margo Timmins expressed her dismay that she wasn't taller so more people could see her. I don't think she especially liked singing to a wall of bodies standing directly in front of her. Some other much wiser wisenheimer in the audience says 'Wouldn't it be nice if we all sat down?' Margo agreed and so that's what we did. She seemed much more comfortable and relaxed after that and the result for me was that I had an unobstructed view of the band from about 15 feet away. It was an amazing and wonderful experience to watch these very talented musicians work from that close. The first thing that drew me to this band was Margo's incredibly expressive and lovely voice. Watching her sing at close range was so cool. I've always felt that all of these musicians are very down to earth people, not caught up in any kind of star trip. They just love making music and they work hard doing it. Margo said they had just come from Minneapolis to Seattle on their bus. I remember making that drive when I first moved here in August of 1978. I was only 24 at the time but we still took it in 2 days. Had to pull into a rest area in Montana to get some shut-eye. I can't imagine the grueling schedule performers on tour in a bus have to put in. The band performed some of my favorites - 'This Street, That Man, This Life', 'A Horse in the Country', 'Misguided Angel', 'Anniversary Song' - plus a few songs from their new release 'Open'. Michael & Margo Timmins seem to have a magical brother/sister thing happening onstage. She looks at him to get her cues for the next song and he has an expression on his face while she's singing & he's playing that is nearly ecstatic. I really felt that he was digging the shit out of hearing his sister express his words so beautifully. It must be great to have that kind of talent for writing and know that someone so close to you can get up and interpret it so perfectly & so beautifully. I took my copy of 'Waltz Across America' because I knew they always stick around to talk to the fans and sign cds and things after their shows. Unfortunately I haven't yet received my copy of 'Open' from Maple Music which I ordered online a couple of weeks ago. After doing the powerful 'Hunted' the band was done and we were herded outside to wait in line for the signing session. Once the line started moving I was at the table in no time & Alan Anton, Peter Timmins, Mike & Margo Timmins each scribbled something vaguely resembling signatures on my cd cover. I got a chance to tell Mike that I love his writing and to tell Margo I love the way she sings what Mike writes. They both seemed kind of at a loss for words and looked a little sheepish but they both thanked me very humbly. Real talent, real musicians and real people. Nice, down to earth people. That's my impression anyway. After that some Tower Records employee handed me a bag full of promotional stuff for Rhino Records' Aptitude Test (anybody know exactly what that's all about?) with some other assorted goodies, I walked across the street, got in my car, got on I-5 and zipped on home. I had never been to an in-store concert before this evening and I must say I enjoyed the experience a whole helluva lot. An intimate space, 45 minutes of free, high quality music, no money paid for parking and no problem getting out & home. Plus an autographed cd and a chance to express my appreciation to one of my favorite singer/songwriter duos. Who could ask for anything more? (except maybe rhythm which I'm sad to say I don't got much of) Mark in Seattle
