Cowboy Junkies (with Jeffrey Gains) - Live @ The Chance, Poughkeepsie, 6/23/01. Gains looked like Dan Akroyd on the train in Trading Places. Weird. He was good, but creepily plastic or sweaty, or something. Known only or best for his cover of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes,” he could surely define himself as more than a one-hit wonder, if he got his act together. The Cowboy Junkies were more psychedelic than a year earlier, certainly than in the folk-heavy 1980s. I guess that’s the new darker, moodier direction other critics say the band is headed in. Margo Timmons set up “Cuz Cheap is How I Feel,” with a story about some sleaze in the lobby of a Poughkeepsie hotel, who asked her if she wanted a friend. Some songs from the new CD “Open,” including “Close my Eyes,” “Bread and Water,” were well received by the devoted. I’m sure that part of the reason the band likes to play The Chance is that there’s a true fan base there. It’s not a top-40 driven crowd. Preceding a pair of quiet songs, Margot said “I know this is a bar, but if you could just be quiet for these two songs, I’d really appreciate it,” Sad she had to ask, but the fans basically obliged. The title track from the new disc came toward the end of the set, which came too soon. - Ment