Cowboy Mouth
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Cowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana, taking their name from the title of a Sam Shepard play (also a line from a Dash Rip Rock song). The nucleus of the band formed in the early 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience"[1] by more than one music journalist. Every year the band's following seems to grow, playing before more than half a million people at live shows around the nation.[citation needed] Some of their popular songs include "Love Of My Life", "Everybody Loves Jill" (where the audience throws red spoons on stage), "Easy," "Disconnected," "How Do You Tell Someone," and "Jenny Says," (the usual closing song of every show and the band's biggest radio hit to date). They also perform a version of "Born to Run" on the Light of Day tribute album to Springsteen, a version of "The Pusher" on the soundtrack to Half Baked, and several of their own songs on the soundtrack to the 1995 film The Underneath (two of which they perform onscreen in the film). Lead singer and drummer Fred LeBlanc regularly exhorts the crowd with verbal encouragements to the audience to let go of their cares and worries. "I don't care what's buggin' you, I don't care what's bringing you down, the only thing that matters is right here, right now!" LeBlanc states regularly in shows. Fred doesn't merely sing and introduce songs - he testifies.[citation needed]
They maintain a very active touring schedule, primarily through the United States, often touring with fellow New Orleans based rockers Better Than Ezra. Cowboy Mouth is easily recognizable on the road as their tour bus is sponsored by Southern Comfort and is painted to look like a Mardi Gras float. Their most recent tour (9th Annual Mardi Gras Rock N Roll Ball) featured Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk as the opening act and was greeted enthusiastically by fans and critics alike, packing houses on the east coast and mid western United States during January-February 2007.[citation needed]
Their latest single "This Much Fun" is featured in the trailer for the Disney animated feature Meet the Robinsons.
The band's most recent album, Voodoo Shoppe, is in part a tribute to city of New Orleans, Louisiana in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. In particular, the tracks "Home" and "The Avenue", an emotional plea for the continued vibrance of the city. The song features the lyrics "Because the marching bands will roll/I'll find my city in my soul/Because I plan on growing old on the avenue," a reference to watching Mardi Gars parades on New Orleans' famed St. Charles Avenue.[citation needed] They performed "The Avenue" on Mardi Gras Day 2006 live on the Ellen DeGeneres Show) The album also features the song "Joe Strummer", a semi-tribute to the late Clash frontman.
The title track "Voodoo Shoppe" was used in the made-for-tv movie, "Haunting Sarah".
According to the band's website, Cowboy Mouth is planning a west coast tour in March-April 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Band Members
[edit] Current members
- Fred LeBlanc (drums and vocals)
- Formerly of Baton Rouge/New Orleans based power trio Dash Rip Rock.
- John Thomas Griffith (guitar and vocals)
- Formerly of the Red Rockers, purveyors of the 1980s hits, "China" and "Good As Gold" as well as subsequent tourmates with U2, the Go-Go's, and Men at Work.
- Sonia Tetlow (bass guitar and vocals)
- Vance DeGeneres (guitar)
- Credits include New Orleans band The Cold, television writer and producer, former correspondent of The Daily Show, and brother of Ellen DeGeneres.
[edit] Former members
- Paul Sanchez (guitar and vocals)
- Formerly of New Orleans band The Backbeats.
- Paul Clement (bass guitar)
- Appeared briefly with the band prior to Walters and has played with many New Orleans area bands.
- Steve Walters (bass guitar)
- Formerly of The Backbeats and The Normals.
- Rob Savoy (bass guitar)
- Past member of Louisiana Cajun rock group The Bluerunners
- Mary LaSang (bass guitar)
- Of Dingo 8 fame.
[edit] List Of Albums
[edit] Studio albums
- Word of Mouth · 1992
- It Means Escape · 1994
- Are You With Me? · 1996
- Word of Mouth (Remix1) · 1996
- Mercyland · 1998
- Easy · 2000
- Uh Oh · 2003
- Voodoo Shoppe · 2006
[edit] Live albums and EPs
- Mouthin' Off (Live & More) · 1993
- Mouthin' Off (Live & More) (Remastered) · 1997
- Cowboy Mouth LIVE! (limited edition 5-song EP issued with Mercyland) · 1998
- Live in the X Lounge "Jenny Says" · 1998 & 2001
- All You Need Is Live · 2000
- Live in the X Lounge "Easy" · 2000
- Uh Oh (5-song Preview EP) · 2003
- Live at the Zoo · 2004
[edit] Notes and references
[edit] External links
- Cowboy Mouth official site
- Cowboy Mouth at MySpace
- Mercyland.com Unofficial Cowboy Mouth site — includes an encyclopedia of lyrics
[edit] Band member websites
- Fred LeBlanc's site
- John Thomas Griffith's site
- Paul Sanchez's site
- Sonia Tetlow's site
- Vance Degeneres' site
- Dingo 8's site
[edit] Discography
| Album information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Voodoo Shoppe
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Tracks
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Uh-Oh | Tracks
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Easy | Tracks
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All You Need Is Live | Tracks
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Word Of Mouth
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Tracks
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Mouthin' Off Live
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Tracks
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Mercyland
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Tracks
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If It Means Escape
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Tracks
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