Cowboy Mouth ready to raise hell in the Hub

Cowboy Mouth performs at City Winery on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Artist Management)

If you’ve never been to a Cowboy Mouth show, a few warnings are in order: you’ll have to jump, scream, hug your neighbors, let go of your inhibitions, and generally go wild. The New Orleans rockers don’t believe in taking no for an answer.

“Our goal is for you to leave a Cowboy Mouth show feeling a thousand times better than you have in a long time,” says Fred LeBlanc, the band’s drummer, singer, primary songwriter and resident agitator.

“As things stand, we all need to create a little hell, or a little heaven, or whatever you prefer. In New Orleans, one of the first things you learn is to celebrate life because you never know when it might end. Mardi Gras only lasts a few days and the river could invade the city at any time. So celebrating the fact that you’re alive right now is one of the most rebellious things anyone can do. And believe me, no one will look dumber than me on stage. The group arrives at City Winery on Wednesday.

LeBlanc and co-founder/guitarist/vocalist John Thomas Griffith (of punk band Red Rockers fame) have carried Cowboy Mouth through numerous lineups (currently there’s bassist Brian Broussard and guitarist “Frankie G” Grocholski), but the trademark sound remains: A bit of Clash and Replacements, a bit of Crescent City soul and a lot of fervor. Le Blanc grew up watching local television preachers and introduced some of that style into his stage persona.

“I used to see a local guy, Reverend Paul Morton, who was on TV just before Bugs Bunny. I was raised Catholic and it was always, “You’re an original sinner and nothing can save you, now give us your money.” » But then I saw that black gospel churches were more festive and I wanted to put some of that on stage. For me, the influence of the Gospel does not come from a religious context, but rather from saying, “Believe in yourself and all things are possible.” And this moment is going to be awesome, because we say so.

There hasn’t been a Cowboy Mouth album in a while, but they’ve released a few new singles, ranging from “12-8” – a thoughtful remembrance of John Lennon – to “The Breakup Song” – yes , a cover by Greg Kihn. The hit of the 80s. Last week they released “Alternate Reality”, a rocker that oozes celebration and attitude.

But they don’t mind if you came mainly to hear their big ’90s hit, “Jenny Says.” LeBlanc says, “This isn’t to congratulate me, but it’s a well-written song and the band always plays it very well. We’re always finding new ways to approach it. It’s based on the tom-tom, so it’s fun to play on the drums. So I don’t mind at all if people want to hear it.

In fact, “Jenny Says” usually gets the most participants in the end. “If I told you I knew what I was doing on stage, I’d be lying,” LeBlanc says. “It’s all just a momentary instinct. But after years of doing this, I would say I have become a student of human nature. We have the arrows in our quiver to make sure we do what needs to happen. I might look at the audience and say, “Okay, this guy looks like he needs this show, and this woman is in a bad mood.” “I’ve only been punched once every 35 years, so I must be fine.