In the early 90s, I was involved with a woman from the New Orleans area who was living in Texas. When Cowboy Mouth first started, we did a lot of shows in Austin. That was one of the markets that really blossomed for us.

It came to a point where this lady needed to choose between me and somebody else. She chose somebody else. 

It was one of the few times that I really put myself out there emotionally. I was really wounded. 

But more than the story that triggered the song, “Take Me Back To New Orleans” is about the need to go home, to be in the arms of a loving person, loving parents, loving family members. Every once in a while, we want to go home, wherever home is. 

That's what “Take Me Back To New Orleans” is about. That's what “The Avenue” is about. It is going home to someplace safe and warm. It is a place where you can gather your strength, whether that is emotional, physical, or spiritual. 

That song was a gift, because I was really feeling vulnerable. I was lost and hurt. It would have been easy to write a song about “to hell with her.” I have written my fair share of those. But to have that ability to be vulnerable and to express that vulnerability… 

I am really proud of the version on “Are You With Me?” But for the version that's on “Best Of,” I cut all those vocals when I was going through a divorce. It was really wild, because all of those emotions of “Take Me Back To New Orleans,” “Whatcha Gonna Do?”, and “Jenny Says” were completely fresh to me again. 

And it is not just what “Take Me Back To New Orleans" says. It is the emotion that I was able to convey recording the song. If you listen to the melody, there is a longing to it. There is a real, melodic longing there. We were lucky to capture that.

​Those are the moments as a songwriter when there is something else at play. It is not just me and my ability to string a melody together. “God Makes The Rain,” “The Avenue,” “Jenny Says,” “I Believe,” “Oh, Toulouse”… those moments present themselves. You allowed something else to come in and take advantage of your talents. 

​Man, I love the blues.

Some of my fondest memories are discovering old scratchy blues records while working in the upstairs storage area of a used vinyl record store in my youth. Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, etc. Something about all that stuff just lights up my soul.

Over the years I’ve tried to bring a little bit of a melodic tinge to the more blues-oriented songs I’ve written. “Bad,” “Blues At Bay,” “How Would You Feel”… all these songs have (what I think are) pretty strong melodies coupled with a bluesy background. CM has always been a band that is steeped in a firm rock ‘n’ roll tradition, which by definition has always enabled us over the years to tackle other genres like blues, country, and gospel… Pretty much the essential ingredients for making a rock ‘n’ roll stew.

Cowboy Mouth’s newest single is basically a blues song about money, where it comes from and where it goes. Starting off with Frankie G on the slide, the song morphs into punchy musical territory about the boogeyman we all have to deal with throughout this life.

Play it loud, bang the table or the steering wheel, and scream out your frustrations in a constructive way (hopefully) to our newest single, “Blood Money.”

​What a great weekend in the Carolinas! Thanks to everybody who made it out Saturday night in Lake Norman/Charlotte! A couple of technical issues aside, it was a great night overall. Always a pleasure to see old friends and make new ones! Now, onto the Gulf Coast…

​Well, last night in Isle of Palms, SC was one for the ages! It’s been a while since we played Charleston, but with the potential weather situation, the venue made the call to have us play the inside stage. Thanks to everyone who showed up and sold out the place! What a wild night! Charlotte / Lake Norman, NC tonight at 8:00 PM. Are you with me?!
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Photos: Everett Zuraw

Fred on the "So Whatcha Drinkin?" podcast talking about why "the purest form of rebellion is celebration" and the upcoming free show in Cedarburg, WI! 

Fred talks with Steve Gorman about their longtime friendship and the upcoming Cowboy Mouth show in Minneapolis at Fine Line. Get tickets.

​I truly believe it's the energy of joy, the energy of faith, and the energy of expression that makes things better, that allows you to feel those emotions, that allows you to get to that place.

​Loading up the float with beads and goodies for Mardi Gras!!
If you happen to be in Nola tomorrow (Saturday) around noon on the Avenue, I’ll be riding on Supertucks Float # 22, sidewalk side, position 6. Happy Mardi Gras 2023! Are you WITH Me?!?