Paul Sanchez

Press

Back to Press
CNN

CNN LIVE SATURDAY

Mardi Gras In New Orleans

Feb 26, 2006
CNN

LIN: Well, you were just listening to a new song called "Home" by the rock group Cowboy Mouth which reflects the mood of many displaced Katrina victims. The band is the city's favorite home-grown rockers. Paul Sanchez was heavily affected by Hurricane Katrina. But he joins us live now from New Orleans.

What does your performance at Mardi Gras mean to you? 

PAUL SANCHEZ : I love it. My wife and I live in the French Quarter now. We lost our place. But we embrace New Orleans. We're glad it's Mardi Gras and glad we are home. 

LIN: Your new CD, "Voodoo Shop," listening to some of the songs, they really hit home. I'm wondering, Paul, what refrain on this CD really expresses what you feel post-Katrina? Means the most to you? 

SANCHEZ: Well, there's a song called "Home" on there that tells how it went down for all of us. And somebody asked me if it was my expression. And I said no, it was a scream of pain. That says it. 

LIN: And you were 400 miles away in Atlanta finishing up this CD at the time when Hurricane Katrina was hitting. I'm wondering, Paul, what was it like for you to be so far away and watch this on television with the rest of America? 

SANCHEZ: Well, my wife was with me. She's our tour manager. So I was relieved that the person I love most in the world was with me. And then you are horrified. Nobody could call anybody. 

LIN: Yes, we are looking at your home. And the devastation. You can see the water line nearly up to the ceiling. 

SANCHEZ: Yes, we had one suitcase apiece with us when we were in the studio making the record. And that's still to this day what we have. We rented a place in The Quarter. And got a bed and a couch and a TV so we could watch CNN. 

And you know, that's home again now. We'll start again. We have each other and that's what we had then and that's the biggest relief, which a lot of folks didn't have and still don't. Losing the person you love most is worse than losing your stuff.