Hey gang, this post is for all of you who, like me, had your concert life torn asunder by your personal life and missed the Cowboy Junkies over the weekend.

As unforgivable as that statement was for me to type, I immediately appeal to the greater good by providing the ATV community with a cure for the shakes; 45 minutes of vintage CJ tuneage live from Berlin, Germany on May 17, 1996.

An abbreviated and edited concert presentation in support of the then-current release Lay It Down, it contains a tremendous ten-song mix of Junkies originals alongside five covers including Hank Williams’ classic “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and Neil Young’s tale of death on the water, “Powderfinger.”

Kicking off with an appropriately paranoid and dynamic version of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper,” it’s directly on to another in the SD’s “Great Singles That Never Were” file, the ever-cool groove of “A Common Disaster.”

Keeping with the theme of self-reflection, murder and lawlessness, you’ll also be treated to early Junkies gems like “Sun Comes Up, It’s Tuesday Morning,” “Murder in the Trailer Park Tonight,” and the desperation that seeps through “’Cause Cheap Is How I Feel.”

Though it’s not all here time-wise, it’s all here.  Michael Timmins’ full range of guitar emotions from swinging country to angry rock, Alan Anton’s firm yet rolling bass foundation, Peter Timmins’ deft and rock-solid drumming, and Margo Timmins’ honest and beautiful narratives.

So while this is a second-rate fix, it’s still better than nothing at all.  Summon the gumption to rise up, download and groove on.

Until the next time I want you to hear what I want you to hear…

COWBOY JUNKIES SETLIST 5-17-96

complete zipped download

State Trooper

A Common Disaster

I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry

First Recollection

Sun Comes Up It’s Tuesday Morning

Powderfinger

Carmelita

‘Cause Cheap Is How I Feel

Murder Tonight in the Trailer Park

Sweet Jane