JJ Grey and Mofro crew head for Sydney

August 9, 2015 5:24 pm 0 comments Views: 1

JJ Grey & Mofro crew are back in Australia after their Bluesfest performance earlier this year.
Source: Supplied

FROM the days of playing at greasy juke joints to headlining major festivals, JJ Grey still has a passion and drive like never before.

In fact, he plays more than 120 gigs a year. He compares it to “salmon”.

“I just feel like I have to do it. I always compare it to salmon, they swim out to sea and swim back and especially when they swim back it’s harder coming home against the current. I just know I’ve got to keep swimming upstream,” he laughed.

JJ Grey plays more than 120 gigs a year.
Source: Supplied

His quirky sense of humour, coupled with his presence before an audience, is something startling and immediate. As a boy, Grey was drawn to country-rockers, such as Jerry Reed, but also enjoyed Otis Redding and Run-DMC.

He managed to merge these genres and began touring as Mofro in the late ’90s.

He has a what-you-see-is-what-you-get attitude. “Audiences can expect an honest moment,” Grey said. “The shows are like a springboard for me to share an honest moment.”

Grey and his band Mofro were in Australia this year for Bluesfest. They have returned to give fans a solo show. “Bluesfest was phenomenal, honestly, the only other time we played at it was back in 2009 and it was awesome then too.”

WOG WITH THE GROG HAS THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

JJ Grey and Mofro crew.
Source: Supplied

The blues, soul, funk and swamp rockers will be performing at The Factory Theatre in October, giving their fans a live taste of their latest album, Ol’ Glory.

The boys offer grace and groove in equal measure. “I like an album to have a balance, like a novel or like a film,” Grey said. “A triumph, a dark brooding moment, or a moment of peace — that’s the only thing I consistently try to achieve.”