articles
JJ Grey MOFRO- August 17, 2007: Skippers Smokehouse, Tampa
from volume 02 issue 05 //
JJ Grey & MOFRO
Words: Bryan Childs
Photos: Erin Childs
Appeared:
August 17, 2007
Skippers Smokehouse, Tampa
A Florigasm, if you will.
August in Florida. Afternoon thunderstorms turn to night mug. A hurricane in the Caribbean coming just close enough to the Gulf to allow the weathermen to practice their hunkerdown speeches and Mofro playing under the ol' Oak trees of the Skipperdome. Sweat, affordable beer, fried foods and a swampy soulful blues band from J-ville following the hyper-sweaty dirty blues outfit that is Tampa's own Nervous Turkey made this the perfect Florida storm.
A bead of sweat slowly ran the length of my back as the band took the stage and began to tune up. "It's been too long Skipperdome" were the first words from Mr. Grey's mouth. The crowd response was exactly as one would expect. The opening slowly gave way to regional lament of Florida:
“Now skyscrapers and superhighways / are carved through the heart of Florida / Building sub-divisions while the swamps are drained / makin' room for people and amusement parks / It's like watchin' someone you love die slow / Yeah they're killin' her one piece at a time / I know some fools who think I should let go / but they never seen Florida through my eyes…”
It was here I really began to appreciate the honesty of these guys and the connection they have with the crowd. I would like to think that the connection with Florida based crowds is a lot closer to the bone than it is with outta state crowds, but something tells me I shouldn't be so naive. Blogcritics described this connection so perfectly I'll just quote:
“Like shamans, the charismatic Grey and his sinuous band build their modestly structured, unprepossessing songs into small volcanoes of emotion, with the audience supplying half the energy.”
It wasn't some low-key soul show, mind you. No, No, No. The funk of tracks like "How Junior Got His Head Put Out", "Nare Sugar" and "Ho' Cake" proved to be crowd favorites and caused quite a few folks to break out in fits of spontaneous dancing. In the end I left feeling less like I went to a show and more like I had just witnessed an event. I know that sounds cheesy, but I feel like I'm devaluing the night if I just call it a show. Maybe it's the heat talking.
Words: Bryan Childs
Photos: Erin Childs
Appeared:
August 17, 2007
Skippers Smokehouse, Tampa
A Florigasm, if you will.
August in Florida. Afternoon thunderstorms turn to night mug. A hurricane in the Caribbean coming just close enough to the Gulf to allow the weathermen to practice their hunkerdown speeches and Mofro playing under the ol' Oak trees of the Skipperdome. Sweat, affordable beer, fried foods and a swampy soulful blues band from J-ville following the hyper-sweaty dirty blues outfit that is Tampa's own Nervous Turkey made this the perfect Florida storm.
A bead of sweat slowly ran the length of my back as the band took the stage and began to tune up. "It's been too long Skipperdome" were the first words from Mr. Grey's mouth. The crowd response was exactly as one would expect. The opening slowly gave way to regional lament of Florida:
“Now skyscrapers and superhighways / are carved through the heart of Florida / Building sub-divisions while the swamps are drained / makin' room for people and amusement parks / It's like watchin' someone you love die slow / Yeah they're killin' her one piece at a time / I know some fools who think I should let go / but they never seen Florida through my eyes…”
It was here I really began to appreciate the honesty of these guys and the connection they have with the crowd. I would like to think that the connection with Florida based crowds is a lot closer to the bone than it is with outta state crowds, but something tells me I shouldn't be so naive. Blogcritics described this connection so perfectly I'll just quote:
“Like shamans, the charismatic Grey and his sinuous band build their modestly structured, unprepossessing songs into small volcanoes of emotion, with the audience supplying half the energy.”
It wasn't some low-key soul show, mind you. No, No, No. The funk of tracks like "How Junior Got His Head Put Out", "Nare Sugar" and "Ho' Cake" proved to be crowd favorites and caused quite a few folks to break out in fits of spontaneous dancing. In the end I left feeling less like I went to a show and more like I had just witnessed an event. I know that sounds cheesy, but I feel like I'm devaluing the night if I just call it a show. Maybe it's the heat talking.
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posted Mar 4th 2008, 06:27