Patrons of the Varsity Theatre were treated to a music experience rarely seen as Cowboy Mouth rocked the house Friday night. Fans were packed from wall to wall to watch the band, led by native New Orleanian Fred LeBlanc, unleash more than two hours of musical mayhem.
The Canadian-born band Great Big Sea opened the show. This rising band out of Newfoundland charmed the audience with an interesting blend of acoustic rock and folk.
About 45 minutes later, when Great Big Sea played their finale, the energy and adrenaline in the packed house grew. The crowd waited patiently until guitarist Paul Sanchez, lead guitarist/pianist John Thomas Griffith and bass player Mary LeSang took the stage.
Finally, to screams and cheers, lead singer Fred LeBlanc took his place atop his throne of drums overlooking the frenzied fans and proceeded to bring down the house.
Originating in New Orleans, Cowboy Mouth has established a reputation of high powered, adrenaline pumping performances.
“We just feed off the crowd,” LeBlanc said. “A lot of what we do is interactive, the audience is just as must a part of the show as we are.”
Since their formation in the early ’90s, Cowboy Mouth has achieved local fame and a strong nationwide fan base. Playing no less than 150 shows per year, Leblanc and company have shared the stage with the likes of Matchbox 20 and Hootie and the Blowfish.
“They’re great,” LeBlanc said. “We’re all just musicians. Whether you’re Matchbox 20, KISS, Saliva, or the Holiday Inn Band, we’re all lucky to be able to do this.”
After stopping in Tuscaloosa and Oxford two consecutive days before, Cowboy Mouth proved to Baton Rouge that the best was saved for last. Leblanc thrilled the audience in front of the stage by periodically throwing his drumsticks into the crowd, and also rocked the concert goers in the back when, at one point during the show, he ran up the balcony to greet fans.
Playing hits such as “Hurricane Party,” “How Do You Tell Someone?” and the grand finale, “Jenny Says,” the show was an intense, interactive musical experience.
After stopping in Tiger Town, Cowboy Mouth continues their tour of the South in Jackson, MS, and Raleigh, NC. The band has just released their new album “Uh Oh,” and Leblanc said they plan to appear on “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn” in November. A nationwide tour also is soon to come.