| Cowboy Mouth is one of the biggest roots rock bands to emerge from the city of New Orleans. Formed as a uniquely '90s amalgam of alternative and folk rock, the band is known for its harsh rhythms, extreme energy, and raucous vocals. Cowboy Mouth struggles to tow that unique and lucrative line between alternative rock and country music. Things first got started thanks to a partnership between Paul Sanchez and Fred Leblanc, who together formed a group called the Backbeats. This initial collaboration didn't last long. However, with their solo careers taking them in similar directions, they teamed up with Griffith, a recent escapee from a new wave band called the Red Rockers. When the trio signed Rob Savoy as their bassist, the band was complete. Cowboy Mouth's first album was recorded in 1993 on an independent label called Viceroy Records. Called Mouthing Off, this recording garnered a fair amount of critical acclaim and fan attention. However, it was by no means the band's break into the big time. In 1995, they recorded another album called It Means Escape, which provoked even more critical attention and got the band a contract with the major record label, MCA. During the 1996 Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans, Cowboy Mouth recorded their first record with MCA, entitled Are You With Me? Following this big opener, they produced a handful of albums, singles, and live recordings in a creative spurt. Cowboy Mouth's success with MCA and popularity with both the down-home Southern crowd and alternative rock crowd has helped make the band an enduring symbol of the '90s counterculture movement. |