Sometimes depression can be a good thing, and the Cowboy Junkies concert Saturday night attested to the fact that some of the best music finds its genesis in the gutter of life.

The Cowboy Junkies treated concert-goers at a half-full Des Moines Civic Center to two hours of rock music that was delicately intimate, and at times, raggedly rocking in the free world.

The pervasive theme of the evening was the deep depression of the band’s guitarist and principal songwriter, Michael Timmins. Sister and vocalist Margo Timmins made several comments throughout the evening that alluded to her brother’s infinite sadness.

“Most of our songs are about heartache and misery. I don’t write the songs — my brother does — and he’s the one who’s depressed,” Margo said to an amused and appreciative audience.

The Cowboy Junkies promptly took the stage at 8 p.m. and, without addressing the crowd, started things off with a rendition of Neil Young’s “Powderfinger.” The tune was performed sans drummer, and the audience was quickly ushered into the sparse and hauntingly beautiful world of the Cowboy Junkies.

The band performed several songs by Neil Young, whom Margo referred to as “another depressed Canadian singer-songwriter.” Young’s “Tired Eyes” provided an opportunity to showcase Cowboy Junkies collaborator Jeff Bird’s gorgeous harmonica work, which was a welcome accompaniment for several songs, while Michael Timmins percussively strummed a sky-blue Fender Stratocaster. Timmins’ guitar was so clean and responsive that you could hear his guitar pick scraping the strings.

“This Street, That Man, This Life” was performed by only Margo and Michael, and was a highlight of the evening. Michael’s bell-like tone and distinctive string attack perfectly complemented Margo’s sultry vibrato, and at times, soaring delivery.

In fact, Rod Overton, who came to the show from Lincoln, Neb., particularly enjoyed the songs that were performed solely by Margo and Michael.

“When it’s just Margo and Michael — that’s always my favorite part,” Overton said. “We saw them last night [Friday] in Omaha and it was horrible. This show was awesome.”

Bird, played the mandolin and percussion as well as the mouth harp, and added a wonderful array of color and texture to the band’s traditionally minimalist arrangements. During the night, Bird ran his mandolin through distortion boxes and even a wah pedal to great effect.

“Good Friday” lurched back and forth between a quiet verse and a driving, strident chorus, featuring Margo breaking it down a la Natalie Merchant, while Bird belted it out on his harmonica.

The rest of the band left the stage once again, and Margo and Michael performed “Witches,” the lyrics of which were written by Margo and carry a special meaning. Margo recounted the time she was considering joining the Cowboy Junkies and the impact it would make upon her life.

“I wasn’t the type of woman that always wanted to be a singer,” she said.

The band wrapped up its first set with a note-for-note rendition of the fan favorite “Misguided Angel,” which was met with a standing ovation.

The band didn’t make the crowd wait long before it re-emerged on the stage for an encore set that kicked off with a beautiful cover of Neil Young’s “Helpless,” featuring a frenetic and noisy guitar solo by Michael that seemed to channel Jimi Hendrix.

The encore closed out with the Junkies’ classic cover of Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane.” The song began with an extended instrumental intro with some cool wah-drenched mandolin improvisation from Bird, and later Michael cut loose with a flailing lead that called to mind old-school Cream-era Eric Clapton.

The small but appreciative crowd once again stood and applauded a performance that was nothing short of magnificent.