Newly sober, Cowsill started to play engagements in Calgary with Tim Leacock, whom Cowsill had first met and taught to play bass in the 1980s. They were later joined by Steve Pineo, on guitar and vocals and Ross Watson on drums, forming the Co-Dependents, in 1998. All had been members of The Burners, whose cassette release, "Low Tech/High Torque", Cowsill had produced in 1988. Cowsill also enrolled, as a full-time student, at Mount Royal College in Calgary, where he studied towards a degree in psychology, with the objective of becoming a counselor for troubled youth. Cowsill and The Co-Dependents performed as Cowsill's study schedule permitted, rather than on a full-time basis. The band became quite popular in Calgary and in parts of western Canada and the United States, playing a mix of country, bluegrass, blues, rock and rockabilly music. The band obtained a regular weekend engagement at The Mecca Café in Calgary and, in June 2001, recorded their performances over three nights. These were released by Calgary independent music label Indelible Music as "Live Recording Event" (2001) and "Live At The Mecca Café, Volume 2" (2005). "Live Recording Event" was regarded, as of 2004, as one of the most successful Alberta roots recordings in memory.