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Well everyone, I am back from yet another great show from the guys, all be it a short set since they opened for Gomez. It got a little risky on the way to the show as a Tornado Warning was issued in Dallas about an hour before the show, but that didn't stop us or the guys from busting out some toe tapping, hip swaying, body shaking good time.
Now, before I post the setlist, I would like to thank everyone for thier fingers crossed and best wishes that I would get to hear Brighter Days for the first time. Sorry to say that they did not play it, but I will explain what JJ said to me after the show with regards to it, plus I have some great insight into a few other things regarding the guys and new music. But first, the set list.
Orange Blossoms Higher You Climb The Truth Ho Cake Lochloosa Everything Good Is Bad Ybor City War On Fire The Sun Is Shining Down
I will post more in a second.
---------- Delerious Tyme
Mofro for life in Arizona The Rhythm Room is exactly that when the boys are kicking it here. "Walking on Moonlight in the Day."
After the show ended, my girlfriend and I were waiting by the restricted access doors when Art came out and went to talk to a few friends before turning around and walking right up to us and asked "How did we do" Of course we answered with a resounding, "Awesome". We chatted for a bit about his new music and were wondering whether or not they are looking to make it back to Phoenix anytime soon. Of course Art joked with us about having family there, when he really doesn't. He said he always tells his wife that he has to go and visit his other family. He then said it's hot a hell in Phoenix, but they loved the Rhythm Room so they would be back sometime soon.
I asked him about JJ's new music and the new song. Well, replied with "New song? How about new album?" Apparently JJ already has a full album in the works to which some of the guys have heard, Art had yet to hear, but it's already written and just needs to be put together.
After talking to Art, I asked him if JJ was going to come out and chat for a bit, being that I had something for JJ. Something that Clay knows about and will post pictures of when I finally get them to him. Art said hold on a sec and low and behold out came JJ. ---------- Delerious Tyme
Mofro for life in Arizona The Rhythm Room is exactly that when the boys are kicking it here. "Walking on Moonlight in the Day."
Well, JJ walked through the door and knew right away to come and talk to me. I've talked to him upwards of seven to eight times in person but he looked at me and recognized me as if he remembered who I was. He started with his patented "What's up Brotha?" We shook hands and exchanged gratitude for me coming to see him and for him putting on yet another great set. Then I said, well the reason I asked you out here was to give you this and extended my hand with a Hohner Blues Harp towards him which he grabbed and said "Thanks man" and held it at his side. He then felt the weight of it and began to open it as I said "Well, check it out first."
He opened it and turned it over in his hand and looked up at me and my girlfriend and yelled out "Holy Shit!" He then looked back at it as I explained to him what it was. Well, for everyone other than Clay who knows this already, I got JJ a custom made Harmonica, and by custom made, I mean a guy hand crafted the harmonica pretty much throughout. It has a brass Comb, the part that you blow into. Custom set reeds. It is in the Key of C/Cross Harp G so JJ can play Lochloosa with it if he wishes. Not only that, but the back of it, the part that faces towards the crowd when he is playing is etched with what looks like waves and of course the word "Lochloosa" right in the middle. Once Clay puts up the pictures you will all see what I am talking about. JJ said that it was going in a safe place, maybe on his mantle at home and would not see the stage because he didn't want to lose sight of it.
He then busted out a quick line of notes on it for my girlfriend and I to hear, from the sound of it, probably the only ones to get to hear him play it.
I talked to him about playing Brighter Days, which he promised he will play for me the next time I go and see them. I told him it was ok and that anytime I get to see them live is more than a treat to me. He shrugged it off and said reiterated that he will make it a point to play it the next time I see him live.
Clay, apparently I am suppose to notify you when I am going to see him live again and he said you will know what to do about getting it played. That will wait though as I am still coming down from the high of this night.
My girlfriend and I thanked JJ for the show, he thanked us back for the harp. He held it tight and close to his heart as he said, "Well, I better get back to work" He exited through the restricted access doors and I could have cared less who was playing next, so my girlfriend and I exited to ponder another great night of JJ Grey and Mofro.
That's it, goodnight ya'll from Dallas, TX
---------- Delerious Tyme
Mofro for life in Arizona The Rhythm Room is exactly that when the boys are kicking it here. "Walking on Moonlight in the Day."
DT, I will have to say that I could not wait to get to work (not enough time in the morning with the kids and all) to hear about your evening. I had chills the whole time I was reading it and I swear I could feel your energy!! What an amazing moment that must have been to see the look in JJ's eyes when he realized the gift you had given to him. You are a fan that all bands should feel lucky to have!
Delayed Gratification my friend, delayed gratification.
Safe travels home with you and your gal. ---------- "No effort, no gain No effort, stay the same No don’t you ever try to live a lie"
That's funny Sunshine because first thing I did this morning--not even get coffee--was to see if DT had posted something (and got to hear Brighter Days.) As soon as I opened this thread I skipped right to the setlist and hung my head.
But then I read the rest of it and feel much better. DT it sounds like a great evening indeed. Glad it worked out so well. It sounds like it was almost perfect. Soooo glad you got to see JJ and give him his harp. Way cool.
AND you brought us some incredible info--a new album already in the works! I'll have to dig around for any more info on that.
DT, thank you so much for your detailed & descriptive review! It literally pulsed with the energy of your experience, just reading it made me feel as if I had been there. You painted quite a lively picture for us =) What an incredibly thoughtful and generous gesture to bestow JJ with such a treasured gift! I am sure he was quite touched and humbled by your kindness! And knowing that a token of your esteem will now have an honored place in JJ's home must make your heart full to brimming with happiness!
I did as Clay did, gave a quick cursory glance to the body of your post, honing right in on the set list hoping to see Brighter Days! At first my heart took a little dip for you when I saw the absence of that anthem of despair & hope, but then I read the rest of post!
HOLY SHITBALLS DT, what a wonderful experience and dialogue you had with JJ! Sharing those sorts of moments with someone you admire and respect is truly priceless and knowing that the next time you see a MOFRO show that Brighter Day is being played specifically for YOU must be an amazing feeling!
And then to top it all off, to learn that a new album is already in the works must've sent you over the moon, because reading those words surely made my heart stutter step with joy! I am glad you and your girlfriend had such an awesome experience! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
---------- When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years, Then they expect you to pick a career, When you can't really function you're so full of fear, A working class hero is something to be
Thanks ya'll for your kind words and for being, well, who all of you are, Mofro Fanatics. Before I say anything else, just so ya'll know, you can hold off on giving crap to Clay on posting pictures of the Harmonica because I have yet to send the majority of them to him. I will get those to him when I get home on Sunday. As for giving Clay crap for anything else, I'm not standing in the way of that... haha
As for a quick review on the show that I failed to do last night, the guys were On Fire as usual. No keys for JJ, he stood the entire time and played his wood colored Gibson. Van Battle was there on the trombone, which was great, being my first time of seeing him. My girlfriend and I we right at the front dancing, well she was dancing, I just sway back and forth. (I'm a horrible dancer) There were more people there for Gomez from the looks of it, but I guarantee you by the time the show was over, there were alot of new Mofro fans. It took the crowd a little bit to get into them, but once they did a round of horn solo's and drums, everyone was hooked. Art and Dennis were in great form. Darryl was his normal corduroy pants and playing his laid back style. The Greyhounds were a great addition and JJ noted thier Texas roots.
Before the concert my girlfriend and I were talking about what they were going to play and while they did not play Brighter Days as all of you now know that I have not heard in 10 concerts now, they did play two songs that I had not heard live yet, one being The Truth which I love and know from scanning the set lists that JJ does not play very often at all. We had talked about that song before the concert over and over and pretty much marked it down as one he would not play. The other song that I had not heard live yet was EGIB, which we talked about that he would most likely play it this time. As for the other songs, On Fire got a great response from the crowd. A girl yelled out Lochloosa to JJ and he responded, "Why not", then pumped it out on guitar, set it down and grabbed the harp. Of course the microphone he tried using didn't work, to which I said to my girlfriend that I am a jinx on JJ for that. Every show I have been to the microphone JJ uses for the Harp never works, never... He tossed it to the side and blazed out the solo into the mic he was using to sing into.
The rest of the show was ass moving indeed. One thing I will say, is JJ has gotten really good on guitar from the first time I saw him live. His solos and just all around playing is ridiculous. It just makes me more excited know that he has so much more to work with as he writes and makes new music.
Finally, he turned to the stage crew and asked for one more song and I had my fingers crossed for Brighter Days, he said he was going to play my girlfriends favorite, The Sun Is Shining Down. Believe me, I have no complaints on that, what a great song and what a great song live. There is something about this song that gets the ladies I think. Ever girl in the crowd was a full attention to JJ for the finale. JJ got pretty teary eyed as he finished up and tossed his pick into the crowd and thanked everyone for coming out and left the stage. The guys finished off the set and the only bad part about a Mofro show was upon us, it was over...
---------- Delerious Tyme
Mofro for life in Arizona The Rhythm Room is exactly that when the boys are kicking it here. "Walking on Moonlight in the Day."
Last Edited by on Jun 11, 2009 9:37 AM
As for the new music, when I was talking to Art, he said that JJ has a new album already written and ready to go, especially acoustically. As most of you already know as to how JJ does his albums, he writes them and records them at home by himself and then brings in the guys when he knows how and where he wants everything then pumps out the album. I have a feeling that the record label is holding him back a little bit on putting out anything new right now being that Orange Blossoms is still fresh and they are promoting it still full blast. With JJ having the time off, he must have been hard at work writing new stuff to have enough material for a new album already. Maybe with the nights of no sleep staying up with his new addition to the family gave him some time to and reason to write some new material. One thing that I question, is what are the chances he plays some new stuff, King Hummingbird, and more at his solo set in Florida next week? Art said that he had not heard very much of JJ's new stuff, but knows that he has it and that some of the other guys have heard it. With them being off for so long from each other, there probably has not been much time for JJ to bring any of it up. Art said that after the Dallas show, they were splitting up, some of them flying home and that JJ and Darryl were probably going back on the bus to Florida since the next few shows were either JJ solo or so far away from each other that they would not take the bus.
Oh, I forgot to mention, Art, Dennis and even Van were it great form with thier patented dance moves. Ya gotta love Art's riding the bull, Dennis's riding the horse, and Van's churning the butter. I wish I would have had the camera to video tape it. Oh well, next time... ---------- Delerious Tyme
Mofro for life in Arizona The Rhythm Room is exactly that when the boys are kicking it here. "Walking on Moonlight in the Day."
I'm still just plum tickled that DT got to talk to JJ and give him his harp. PLUS some great nuggets of info he discovered in Dallas. Thank you very much sir.
That's awesome about the new album. It doesn't surprise me that much that he has material. He's got lots of stuff in the hopper. Like "King Hummingbird." He could've written that last month, last year, or 10 years ago. I remember him saying some of the songs on Orange Blossoms were ones that he wrote years before but hadn't gotten them to where he wanted them to record. I just don't want to get too excited yet cause yeah it could be 6 months or 18 months--who knows?--until it's out.
Regardless, great stuff DT and thanks again for sharing your good times with allus.
My apologies in the delay getting these posted. These are pics of the harp that Delerious Tyme had specially made for JJ. (See above for the whole story!)
