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Last Updated:
Feb 2nd, 2010 - 13:42:13 |
Cowboy Mouth
Mardi Gras Comes Early!
Music originating from New Orleans has always been big, bold, boisterous and adventurous. Cowboy Mouth has taken those lessons to heart and added the soul and party atmosphere of musical legends like Fats Domino, Huey “Piano” Smith, Earl King and the Neville Brothers mixed with a dash of rock 'n' roll.
“Imagine if the Neville Brothers and The Clash had a baby,” said frontman Fred LeBlanc, as he caught up with Real Detroit during a break from the band's latest tour.
A Cowboy Mouth concert is the rock 'n' roll equivalent of being on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. Crowd participation is a must, as the band’s intense, high energy performances engulf those in its midst, bringing the party to a head. So how would LeBlanc describe a Cowboy Mouth concert? “Actually, we think of our show as more of a celebration rather than a party,” LeBlanc said. "It’s more about celebrating being alive, living in the moment, no matter how good or how bad that moment is. We just want to celebrate the music, while the audience celebrates with us. We want the audience to come on out, forget about their troubles, do their thing and celebrate the moment.”
When asked what sets Cowboy Mouth apart from the rest of the pack he explained: “I think it’s the band's dynamic. I think that finding the right combination and the right chemistry within a band is important.” LeBlanc said. “Ringo was just as important to The Beatles as John, Paul and George. Without the four of them on the same page they wouldn’t have had the success that they did. Cowboy Mouth is not about a certain person, but the whole band. [The audience] is not going crazy for anyone in the band in particular, but for Cowboy Mouth. I think we bring a certain intensity to our performance — a musical dexterity. The reason my drums are up front is that I got tired of looking at the singer’s ass all the time. I thought I’d rather move my drums up front so everything and everybody can be up front. That way it wouldn’t get boring [for fans] just watching one person jump around for one or two hours. Now you have to watch the whole band jump around.”
What was the idea behind the Rock & Roll Mardi Gras Tour? “Well, we would get so excited when Mardi Gras was coming up. It’s such a way of life in New Orleans” LeBlanc said. “The anticipation of the event was always so great. It was like a kid getting ready for Christmas. We wanted to do a tour that would celebrate what we have at home in New Orleans and bring it to the fans. We’ve been having such a blast this time out, and we were so lucky to get Junior Brown and his band on board for the tour.”
And now, Cowboy Mouth’s song “I Believe” has been adopted as an anthem by the long-suffering New Orleans Saints fans. “The song was very personal to me,” LeBlanc said. “One of my friends who works for Fox TV set some of the Saints game highlights to the song and it was played before Monday Night Football. I was taken by surprise with how the song just took off after that.” When asked if there were any special plans for the Superbowl, an unsure LeBlanc shared, “We might do something in Miami or New Orleans. We’ll just have to see what happens. It would be fun to be in Miami for the game, although I think the crazier party might be in New Orleans.” Go figure. | RDW
Cowboy Mouth’s 14th Annual Rock & Roll Mardi Gras Tour w/ special guest Junior Brown and his band • 2/5, 8 p.m. • The Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale • 248.544.3030 • themagicbag.com • $20
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