JJ Grey & MOFRO Album/Tour

Awesome news! Except where's the North East love? Well, where's the Boston love....screw NY!

I've seen JJ and MOFRO a couple of times. Strange band, I feel like sometimes they bring it hard and other times they leave it at home..

No Jacksonville shows?? Where's the hometown love? Looks like I gotta ride to St. Augustine for this one. Good news about the new album although I don't like how JJ's the only one in focus anymore..

I used to like Mofro but the name change screams sellout. That and Darryl might be the worst guitarist to ever set foot on stage anywhere.

That said, JJ writes some quality songs, Blackwater is a good album.

comment board is for comments not bitching..yes, I'm talking to the two tools who commented above..Mofro rocks and JJ's got more soul than most..they are far from wierd they represent everything that is great about southern Music!

FOR THE LAST TIME!!! "the name change screams sellout"

he changed record labels!!!!!! he had to change the name when he did!!!

there is no sellout, JJ makes the music he loves or he would not do it,

trust me, we have talked numerous times!!!!!

sorry, I just love MOFRO, I have to defend the guy.

Fogcity records was the first two albums.

then he switched to ALLIGATOR, which is a major blues label, with much more coverage for artists!! The idea is to make money doing what you love, and if changing labels brings your band more airplay then you do it, and sometimes record labels REQUIRE an artist to alter the title of the band so they will not be confused with another record label. sighs.......

I've never been let down by a JJ show. He's brought it everytime. Just downhome funky funk. I agree the name change puzzled me but It really does not matter. He's got more soul than 99% of the acts out there.

Another band to totally forget about Atlanta. Thanks a lot.... Have to agree about the guitarist. Last time I saw them at Variety Playhouse JJ was talking to him on stage and he just had this eat shit look on his face the whole time. How could you not enjoy playing music to a pumped up crowd? JJ and the rest of the band rock though. JJ definently has a kick ass stage presence.

I still call 'em just "Mofro." Great band. Great music. Can't wait for this record.

Looking forward to the Sarasota Blues fest. I don't want to hear about anyone complaining about getting skipped! There are no shows in Florida from June - October by anyone!!

We've seen 'em a few times (once courtesy of Jambase contests!!)and I sorta' agree about Darryl. But honestly, it isn't a guitar-centric kinda' band,and at least he doesn't overplay it like some.If you go to the LMA and check out some recordings you may find that you caught them on a bad nite. MOFRO played a show in Hollywood a couple years back that is still in heavy rotation at our house. One of my favorite bands,can't wait for the tour and CD.

What's up with the northeast tour dates "NONE". I like down home swamp funk as much as anyone. Saw them at All Good and they were great, could have brought it a little more funkier. Saw them in Pittsburgh back in fall of 2007 and they played for about 150 people and blew the fuckin roof off the joint! HEY MOFRO PITTSGURGH NEEDS SOME FUNK!!!

MOFRO is an incredible band. Seen them numerous times throughout the state of Florida. JJ is an extremely talented musician and not to discredit the other members but he is MOFRO and deserves it. Its the best how he'll just get drunk as hell on stage throughout the show and he'll start doing a little rambling towards the end. A funny guy, gotta love it.

the name change doesn't have anything to do with selling out, something these guys will probably never do (i hope). mofro is simply jj's band, and considering he writes all the music i think it's quite alright to have his name in the title. not a big deal, especially when you consider that they have only gotten better since then (i love lochloosa and blackwater, but country ghetto showed great maturity in the studio). hopefully the new album is another positive step forward for these guys. also, the live shows are more often than not going to make you sweat: you're guaranteed to get down & dirty with mofro in a small venue, with a glass of whiskey in hand, and with all the fellow happy souls stompin' around the dance floor.

I don't understand the mofro phenomena everything sounds the same.JJ is a real jerk towards sound people who should be treated the best mind you he has a real case of lead singer disease.He fired the original band except for Daryll that should tell you something about the character of the guy.Whatever to each his own I don't waste my money when they come to town or make it a point to see them at festivals either.You know what they say though opinions are like a-holes so everybodies entitled to theirs.Rock on jj

As someone who has heard the entire new album, I think y'all will be so pleasantly surprised. It is NO QUESTION a step up from Country Ghetto. The band is on fire right now. JJ's guitar skills have gotten so much better, Anthony AC Cole on drums is a different but great vibe for the overall sound of the band.. Daryl is Daryl. He is not the lead guitarist and is more of an ambient sounds kind of player but he adds a lot to the mixes that you probably just don't realize.. Everyone else is just top notch.. You don't like em, don't go. We won't miss ya.. But get ready folks, I think late 08 and 09 will be long to Jj Grey & MOFRO as they bring a whole new batch of songs to the mix..

As far as selling out, I thought we were over this. JJ Grey & MOFRO are the furthest band from selling out.... JJ is one of the most humble and nicest musicians you will ever come across as well as song writing talent that is up there with some of the best. And it is, JJ's band..

PS.. MORE DATES COMING.

FULL LIST here: http://www.mofro.net/tour/map/

ATL is on there.

one last point for everyone, but brought about by lostinthesouth's comment: i just think that if you write the music and it's your band then you can do whatever you want with it. it takes guts and courage to fire your fellow bandmates, and that does indeed tell me a great deal about his character. it's no different than leaving any kind of relationship: do you remain stuck, or move forward for the better? rock on lostinthesouth, appreciate the good comment!

I saw MOFRO last night and they were tight. As far as the earlier comment about them selling out, they played a 200 person, low ceiling, crowd right on top of you, basement bar called the Yacht Club in Iowa City, and were humble doing it. They played for over two hour and ripped through all the classics. Added 2 or 3 cover (I got my mojo working, and hoochie coochie man). The new drummer was already in touch and feeding off the other band members like a 10 year vet. Horns ripped, the B3 grooved, and J.J. sounded as good as ever. J.J. stuck around after the set and had time for every single person that wanted to say hi. Super show. Stand up Daryl!!!

JJ calls 'em Mofro too. I just talked with him at length about the name change about 3 weeks ago. Said had nothing to do with label. His own decision because he's written and produced the music for all of them. "These are the stories of my life, and my people. My family sometimes doesn't like me telling about a relative with a crack problem, but I write what comes to me and what I feel. That they understand, and they had encouraged me for years to add my name."

I've been to over 25 Mofro shows and never seen him be a jerk toward sound people. He's a perfectionist and he gets pissed when something doesn't work, but then gets right over it. His current sound guy, Chris, has been with the band over 2 years. As for firing bandmates, never happened. The first drummer (Queen) Bea decided to get out of the biz. The drummer from Blackwater, JJ, his wife, and his band manager were rear-ended at high speed by a drunk driver on the way home from the opening night of the Lochloosa tour. JJ spent a couple days in the hospital, his wife several plus several more of physical rehab, the drummer was badly injured and went back to Australia. The tour was cancelled and didn't start up again for over 6 months. Daryl and JJ had several bands in Jax in the 90s, both live there, they're close friends. Daryl was still around and everyone else had to leave so they could make a living. If you look on the band members page of their website, they list all the people who have ever played with them, several still sit in. JJ does not put demands and contracts on his band members.

As for Daryl--he is painfully shy. Honest. I've talked to his mom and dad about it, and JJ. He's got a bit of stage fright and a lot of shyness. No, he doesn't stand, he doesn't show emotion, he doesn't look into the crowd. He's Daryl. And no he's not a lead guitar player, but if you listen to his rythym work and slide work he's ideal for the mix of the band, which indeed is not guitar-centric. Thanks for listening! Can you tell I'm a big fan of theirs??