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Calgary group’s hot indie recording still selling well
Close to 18 months after the arrival of their debut album Live Recording Event, Calgary’s Co-Dependents are still riding the wave of approval the hot indie disc generated.
Undeniably the most popular indie disc of any genre to come out of this province in a few years, the earthy collection of classic roots-rock tunes and a handful of originals continues to amaze even the participants who gathered around the microphones of a funky little diner known as the Mecca Café, on the western outskirts of Cowtown.
Bassist Tim Leacock, one of three vocalists in the group along with Billy Cowsill and Steve Pineo, chuckles when he talks about how the disc continues to sell so well off the stage.
“We’ve seen some fans buy up to half a dozen copies over time. They give them away as presents, it’s great,” says Leacock.
A man with a rock ‘n’ roll heart, he paid his dues with bands like The Burners, Beautiful Joe and National Dust.
Co-Dependents gigs sell as well as the discs, as two recent Edmonton dates attest. Last June, the group packed Tin Pan Alley in what was one of that nightspot’s finals shows, and two months ago the group handed Full Moon Folk Club patrons a rare “plugged in” evening at St. Basil’s Cultural Centre that was sold-out weeks before the quartet roared down Highway w. This time around it is a two-night stand that begins tonight at The Sidetrack Café.
That the band is having as much fun making music and entertaining crowds as they’ve ever had pleases the musician, who has had his share of ups and downs with this crew, which also includes drummer Ross Watson.
“Material is never an issue and we’re keeping things fresh. Right now we seem to be working our way through the entire Blue Shadows book,” says Leacock, in reference to the popular Sony recording group Cowsill was in from 1993 to ’96. That unit produced a handful of hit singles that were pulled off the discs On The Floor of Heaven and Lucky To Me.
Leacock and Cowsill also have a few new co-writes on the go and as the bassman so succinctly states, “Steve is just so bloody prolific.”
Pineo continues to shine as a songwriter whose musical reference points are incredible varied and whose lyrical insights and images impressive. His tune Canadian man was snapped up by Paul Brandt last year and turned into a top-five country hit.
Vocally, The Co-Dependents are as soulful as it gets in this earthy style of roots rock that embraces everything from the grit of Hank Williams Sr., the snarl of early Stones, to the layered harmonies of a vintage Beatles recording.
“After seeing Springsteen down here on Sunday night it’s pretty hard not to be even more excited and honoured to be part of his whole rock ‘n’ roll tradition. His performance was so uplifting,” adds Leacock who sounds like he’s more than ready to rip the roof off the Sidetrack tonight and do it all over again Saturday.
Tickets are $15 at the door. For more info, call the club at 421-1326.
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