With this band it is never just another show

I was shadowing Cowboy Mouth as they played three shows in two days. First it was Jazz Fest in New Orleans on Friday afternoon, then a concert at Republic in NOLA that night, and finally a show in Biloxi on Saturday.

Backstage at Republic before the show, I mentioned to drummer and lead singer Fred LeBlanc that I was probably not going to take pictures that night. I had gotten some great shots at Jazz Fest and would be shooting them the next night in Mississippi. At the time Fred just nodded and said OK. I later found out that he decided this was a challenge.

The band was maybe halfway through their set when I ran to get my camera. The audience was jumping, singing, laughing, shouting … sometimes simultaneously. Eventually, at Fred’s urging, they climbed over the front barricade and pressed up against the stage, stretching their arms in front of them to seemingly try and grab the energy that was coming from the band.

At the end of the show Fred stepped off the stage. He was dripping with sweat. On his way to the greenroom he paused, smiled at me and said, “I see you’ve got your camera out.”

You win again, Mr. LeBlanc.

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