It has been a few years since I first heard Mofro's stellar debut album Blackwater but last year's excellent Country Ghetto and the recently released Orange Blossoms show a band that has grown by leaps and bounds over the last seven years. From the swampy blues of their early material, JJ Grey and Mofro have morphed into something a little smoother and a little more polished and (for what it' s worth) Orange Blossoms is basically a soul/blues album, but a killer one at that. The songs, the [...]
Mike Swanson went to Loki Festival after giving us a nice preview of the event, and he definitely came away psyched with what he saw. The Halloween spirit was in full effect at the inaugural Loki Festival. This weekend (10/10-10/12) further established Deerfields, NC as one of the most ideal small festival settings. Despite scattered rain Friday and Saturday and a few lengthy set breaks, it was overall an amazing weekend, packed with some seriously funky sets, as promised. Cake was not the mystery [...]
Over the last few years, the Southern-fried soul, rock and blues outfit MOFRO has given Wilco a run for its money in the lineup change department. With the 2007 release of Country Ghetto, the band officially changed its name to JJ Grey & MOFRO and added the Hercules Horns to the mix. JJ [...] Over the last few years, the Southern-fried soul, rock and blues outfit MOFRO has given Wilco a run for its money in the lineup change department. With the 2007 release of Country Ghetto, the band officially changed its name to [...]
While I was away in Boston some news came down the line about one of (if not the) ninebullets.net's very favorite bands, Lucero . Seems that the countless miles in a van and all the sacrifices are actually paying off with a 4 album record deal with Universal/Republic Records . The first time I saw Lucero live they played in this tiny little bar here in Tampa to about 50 people. Now, they're selling out shows, not only in our midsize venues but in bigger venues all over the country. It would be easy [...]
For readers of CSV , the Jacksonville-based band JJ Grey & Mofro should be a familiar name. I featured their soulful Country Ghetto about a year ago, and I come to you now with their recent project Orange Blossoms . Though it may not seem prudent to analyze an album starting from the end of it, the last track "I Believe (In Everything)" makes sense of what Orange Blossoms is all about. That bluesy, folky ballad features the band crooning "I believe in everything / I'm a believer", and after listening to this album, [...]
jackonsvile, florida's jj grey & mofro bring their fine blues rock & funk influenced southern storytelling to town today for a two night stand with hill country revue at the independent . their newest album, orange blossoms (the florida state flower, by the bye; there's very little about grey's music not wrapped up in the sunshine state), came out earlier this year and continues the band's tradition of what they call "front porch realism." another thing you should know: it's fine stuff, and quite fun to hear in person. tickets for tonight and [...]
There was a moment a couple of days ago when I thought I'd change the subtitle of this blog to "Songs:Illinois: The music blog for adults". I may change it yet. JJ Grey & Mofro are certainly a band for adults. In a way that few bands are able to JJ Grey a combines blues, southern rock, and 60's jam band mentality with the Muscle Shoals sound and even some New Orleans funk. Sounds impossible, right? But check out the title track to his new record Orange Blossums on Alligator Records [...]
This week, typically, is very busy/difficult for me. I've just come off a 5 day college football bender and over the next 3 days I have to do 2 fantasy football drafts and submit three lineups prior to Thursday night. Good times are ahead though. Good times indeed. NFL kicks off this week and my Seminoles will take the field on Saturday in one of the few "sure things" on their schedule. Last week the monthly Lucero Message Board compilation was released. Of all the comps we've done this is the best one we've ever done so far [...]
I always prefer when bands retain their band name rather than add the main contributor/songwriter to the mix (see also Michael Franti & Spearhead), JJ Grey & Mofro is guilty of that. Having followed the band through many records and seen them both within state lines and their Florida swamp roots, I feel I've got a pretty good feel for the group. Though the band's fan base has come predominately from jam-focused music fans, their music should also appeal to fans of the delta blues and soul. New record [...]
A lighter release week, but still a few goodies. The new Dragonforce record with the awesome cover is out. B.B. King proves he's still got it with some new material at the young age of 82. Delta Spirit , a personal California favorite of mine, is what I'm looking forward to. And if you're a Johnny Cash collector, the new 2-disc collection of material he did with George Jones should do you good. :: Alias , Resurgam (Anticon) :: [...]
I went and saw JJ Grey & Mofro last night in Chicago at the "Taste of Lincoln Fest" to get a little taste of some bluesy southern soul. Best $10 I ever spent (for the fest admission fee.) I can not say enough how much I love love love LOVE these guys and god damn do they put on an amazing show. Incredible. Stunning. Gave me chills at some points they were so pee-in-your-pants-good. I saw them last year at the House of Blues but this show far surpassed that one for me by miles. I was simply [...]
JJ Grey & Mofro : The Sun Is Shining Down [ purchase ] What a perfect week for the theme to be sunshine. I spent 3 days last weekend standing under the sun watching a blues festival and have these random red patches where I missed sunscreen on a given day. This track comes off of JJ Grey & Mofro's 2007 effort, Country Ghetto. I've always thought it would be a perfect song to be played as people were leaving a funeral to remind them that life [...]
Nothing scientific about this list: it's not a top-selling list, or a most-popular list, or even a played-a-ton-on-the radio list. Just my favorites from some of the music I either bought or discovered this year. Much of this music was found and purchased courtesy of various music blogs I read, thus dispelling the nasty rumor that they do no good for the economy. Some were purchased because the cover art intrigued me enough to buy the CD, thus dispelling the nasty rumor that there are secret satanic messages in cover art. The rest were purchased as a tax write-off. Enjoy! [...]
Let's get right to rounding off the latter half of this esteemed list: 11. The Bees - Octopus In some ways, I was surprised myself to see this album up at #11. This UK collective, though, delivers potently sweet retro tunes that are sure to conjure images and sounds of AM radio gold. With delightful harmonies, rolling funky guitars, and some neat little horn sections, The Bees' Octopus is a groovy rock opus. "Got to Let Go" has got a [...]
Well. Here we are. July. The official beginning of the ass end of the year. So far, this year has proven to be a rather phenomenal concert year for the normally lacking Central Florida region. I was reading an exchange between a bunch of "big-time" bloggers earlier this year about how cheesy all of the "best of" lists that come out at the end of the year are, and it got me to thinking. Shit, I can out-cheese a year-end list...with...wait for it ( sorry Bonnell ), THE MID-YEAR LIST ! WTF? Why not. I already [...]
A self-professed "front porch soul" music collective, Jacksonville-product JJ Grey & Mofro is sure to strike a chord in that funky space in your heart. They write sincere, socially conscious tunes that are of the folk-blues-funk fusion type that seems to be real popular these days (see Ollabelle, Greyboy Allstars, and even The Duhks). The band's debut album Country Ghetto features the stylings of JJ Grey's unique raspy version of Tony Joe White (compare Polk Salad Annie to "Country Ghetto). "On Palastine" is a fantastic slow soul number that blends perfectly into well-strung "Footsteps". Be sure to check [...]
A couple of folks in the blogroll have posted their half-year-in-review or top-25 of new 2007 music. Since I don't have nearly the patience to offer up 25 of them, and music of what they've purchased isn't what I've purchased, this listing may actually do someone some good in finding something new. Then again, it might not. Optimism rules, so hope you like what you hear. As always, feel free to suggest something I might like; remember, I have a 137-mile each-way trip to work (yes, 137), so there's plenty of time for music on the interstate! I'd [...]
"A glorious, soul-drenched delight... down-home funk, blues and Dixie rock, unmistakably Southern, undeniably soulful." —Billboard Here is the million dollar question, would the move to Alligator Records change Mofro? Well, they added horns. Other than that, not to much is different. That's a good thing. I wonder how much of a following Mofro has outside of Florida, but with the release of Country Ghetto, I have no doubt that it is about to expand. The best way to explain Mofro's sound is to call it front-porch whiskey gospel. From swampy funk, to rock, to delta [...]
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Santigold – The Keepers (Duke Dumont Remix)
