Paul Sanchez Band @ Mexicali Blues Cafe - 7/26/07
Review by Lazlo
Photos by Naomi
For 16 years Paul Sanchez was a member of Cowboy Mouth, a band known for their high energy live performances. Over the years Paul went from being one of the signer/songwriters within the band, to in the last few years, largely just writing songs that singer Fred LeBlanc would sing. During those years, Paul also put out 6 solo CDs. So it's no surprise that when late last year Paul left Cowboy Mouth to tour as a solo artist, that he'd have a large amount of songs which he could choose to play.
As a fan of Cowboy Mouth, I was both excited and nervous when I heard that Paul was going to be playing at Mexicali Blues Cafe in Teaneck. Excited, because years ago Paul opened a few Cowboy Mouth shows with solo sets, that were a lot of fun. Nervous, because I knew a Paul Sanchez show would be different from a Cowboy Mouth show, and what if it didn't have that same magic for me.
The drive up to Mexicali Blues Cafe from central NJ is a bit long, and parking is always "fun", but that's about the only negatives about the venue I have. It's such a nice place, warm and comfortable, with friendly staff, and great sound. If I lived closer, I'd probably be there a lot more often.
When I arrived I saw a strange sight. Paul Sanchez was walking around talking to everyone who came out to see him play. Saying hi, asking if they had any requests, and thanking them for coming out. That's such a simple thing to do, and can really endear an artist to their fans.
Shortly after 9pm, Paul took to the stage and opened with 3 songs solo acoustic. The vibe was definitely different from the high energy intensity of a Cowboy Mouth show, but that was not a bad thing. This was a nice laid back comfortable vibe, like you were at a party and a friend got up to play a few tunes. Of course with this friend you get an amazing singer/songwriter.
After the solo songs, Paul brought out the rest of his band for this show, former Cowboy Mouth bassist, Sonia Tetlow, who alternated between guitar, mandolin and bass, and Eddie Ecker on drums, a member of the band Beatin Path. For the next 2 hours they played lots of amazing songs, some showcasing more of a singer/songwriter vibe, others a classic country storytelling vibe, and still others were just silly and fun songs.
Some of the biggest crowd responses were to songs that he made famous with Cowboy Mouth, like, "Hurricane Party", "Light It On Fire", and "Shogun In My Soul", songs which also appear on one of his new CDs, "washed away", a compilation of his 6 solo CDs. It's called, "washed away", because Paul and his wife lost everything when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, including the master tapes for all 6 solo CDs, but fans of his sent in copies of their CDs which he was able to use to put out this compilation CD.
Sonia also sang several songs, some of them were her own, and some were ones that Paul had written for his other new CD, "between friends", where other people recorded his songs. Sonia, who I had only previously seen playing bass in Cowboy Mouth, has an amazing voice, and on several of the more country sounding songs, sounded like a modern day Patsy Cline. Her mandolin and guitar playing was also top notch.
Eddie Ecker, who was only playing a snare drum and a cow bell, managed to make them sound quite different for each song depending on the sticks or brushes he used, and his extroverted personality added some real amusing moments between songs.
Being in New Jersey, they even threw in a nice cover of Bruce's, "Johnny 99".
But the highlight for me was when they brought up a friend called Rev. Fred, to do an instrumental called, "Carl calls Kristie", from Paul's, "jet black & jealous" CD. Earlier in the week I had mentioned to Paul when I interviewed him that my wife and I used that song in our wedding, and I think it's one of the prettiest instrumentals I've ever heard. Hearing it live was quite a memorable experience.
When the show came to an end, the whole band came right down to hang out with the crowd. A great band, and a great night of music. I hope the Paul Sanchez Band gets to repeat it again soon here in the great state of New Jersey.
www.paulsanchez.com
www.soniatetlow.com
www.beatinpath.com
Review by Lazlo
Photos by Naomi
For 16 years Paul Sanchez was a member of Cowboy Mouth, a band known for their high energy live performances. Over the years Paul went from being one of the signer/songwriters within the band, to in the last few years, largely just writing songs that singer Fred LeBlanc would sing. During those years, Paul also put out 6 solo CDs. So it's no surprise that when late last year Paul left Cowboy Mouth to tour as a solo artist, that he'd have a large amount of songs which he could choose to play.
As a fan of Cowboy Mouth, I was both excited and nervous when I heard that Paul was going to be playing at Mexicali Blues Cafe in Teaneck. Excited, because years ago Paul opened a few Cowboy Mouth shows with solo sets, that were a lot of fun. Nervous, because I knew a Paul Sanchez show would be different from a Cowboy Mouth show, and what if it didn't have that same magic for me.
The drive up to Mexicali Blues Cafe from central NJ is a bit long, and parking is always "fun", but that's about the only negatives about the venue I have. It's such a nice place, warm and comfortable, with friendly staff, and great sound. If I lived closer, I'd probably be there a lot more often.
When I arrived I saw a strange sight. Paul Sanchez was walking around talking to everyone who came out to see him play. Saying hi, asking if they had any requests, and thanking them for coming out. That's such a simple thing to do, and can really endear an artist to their fans.
Shortly after 9pm, Paul took to the stage and opened with 3 songs solo acoustic. The vibe was definitely different from the high energy intensity of a Cowboy Mouth show, but that was not a bad thing. This was a nice laid back comfortable vibe, like you were at a party and a friend got up to play a few tunes. Of course with this friend you get an amazing singer/songwriter.
After the solo songs, Paul brought out the rest of his band for this show, former Cowboy Mouth bassist, Sonia Tetlow, who alternated between guitar, mandolin and bass, and Eddie Ecker on drums, a member of the band Beatin Path. For the next 2 hours they played lots of amazing songs, some showcasing more of a singer/songwriter vibe, others a classic country storytelling vibe, and still others were just silly and fun songs.
Some of the biggest crowd responses were to songs that he made famous with Cowboy Mouth, like, "Hurricane Party", "Light It On Fire", and "Shogun In My Soul", songs which also appear on one of his new CDs, "washed away", a compilation of his 6 solo CDs. It's called, "washed away", because Paul and his wife lost everything when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, including the master tapes for all 6 solo CDs, but fans of his sent in copies of their CDs which he was able to use to put out this compilation CD.
Sonia also sang several songs, some of them were her own, and some were ones that Paul had written for his other new CD, "between friends", where other people recorded his songs. Sonia, who I had only previously seen playing bass in Cowboy Mouth, has an amazing voice, and on several of the more country sounding songs, sounded like a modern day Patsy Cline. Her mandolin and guitar playing was also top notch.
Eddie Ecker, who was only playing a snare drum and a cow bell, managed to make them sound quite different for each song depending on the sticks or brushes he used, and his extroverted personality added some real amusing moments between songs.
Being in New Jersey, they even threw in a nice cover of Bruce's, "Johnny 99".
But the highlight for me was when they brought up a friend called Rev. Fred, to do an instrumental called, "Carl calls Kristie", from Paul's, "jet black & jealous" CD. Earlier in the week I had mentioned to Paul when I interviewed him that my wife and I used that song in our wedding, and I think it's one of the prettiest instrumentals I've ever heard. Hearing it live was quite a memorable experience.
When the show came to an end, the whole band came right down to hang out with the crowd. A great band, and a great night of music. I hope the Paul Sanchez Band gets to repeat it again soon here in the great state of New Jersey.
www.paulsanchez.com
www.soniatetlow.com
www.beatinpath.com