Growing up in the swamplands of northern Florida, JJ Grey became a realist early on. "You fall in love with a pig," he says, "and then one day your granddad knocks it in the head and bleeds it for butchering. You tend to grow up with a certain amount of realism in your life."
JJ Grey and his band MOFRO exude rocking, funky, melodic, front porch realism in every song they play. Grey comes from a long tradition of Southern storytellers, and his songs oftentimes use the loss of his natural surroundings and the marginalization of the Southern culture he grew up in as a metaphor for universal truths. The band delivers his material with brilliant musicianship, resulting in music that is thought provoking, rhythmically dynamic and texturally mesmerizing.
JJ Grey & MOFRO's Alligator debut Country Ghetto (produced by Dan Prothero) features 12 original JJ Grey compositions that come right out of the Southern musical and literary tradition. Grey's ear for detail inhabits his songs, whether it's a story passed down to him from his grandmother or the tribulations of a childhood friend. His voice delivers them with an unflinching strength that makes the personal universal and paints a vivid portrait of an exact time or place with words and music. Like his songs, his rich, soulful vocals are forceful and commanding, seemingly old beyond his years. And the music, from smoldering soul ballads to gospel-fried funk to straight ahead rock 'n' roll, brings it all home with danceable grooves and a melodic freshness that will stay with you long after the album ends.
Grey's songwriting influences are widespread. "I listen to people who tell the story," he says, naming Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, R.L. Burnside, Tony Joe White, Jerry Reed, Otis Redding, Dr. John, Sly & The Family Stone, Van Morrison, Bill Withers and Dan Penn. What these writers and performers have in common is a love for simplicity, evoking complex emotions with a minimal amount of words. As a performer, Grey is influenced by the sexually charged blues of Howlin' Wolf, the country soul of George Jones, and the hard funk of James Brown, as well as local personalities like street preachers and old-time radio DJs.
Lochloosa album cover album cover JJ live From the beginning, Grey's songs have been connected to his ancestral Florida homestead 40 miles outside of Jacksonville, a landscape he writes about with passion and devotion. Back in 1986, Grey worked at an air conditioning company, where he befriended guitarist Daryl Hance. At the time, Grey had a young original band that needed a guitar player so he gave Hance the call. Grey was immediately impressed with Daryl's minimalist approach. "Daryl plays like Curtis Mayfield or Peter Tosh. He plays like the older generation, with patience."
Under the name of MOFRO (a nod towards a lumberyard he worked at), Grey and Hance recorded a demo together. They were courted by a number of record labels, but were not at all impressed by the seemingly false and unrealistic promises being offered. On his own, Grey researched and found Fog City Records, owned by producer/engineer Dan Prothero. The two hit it off instantly. Fog City -- with Prothero producing -- recorded and released BLACKWATER in 2001 (named by Amazon.com as one of the best CDs of the decade) and -- again with Prothero at the helm -- LOCHLOOSA in 2004. JJ Grey & MOFRO's rabid following, through hard work, touring and undeniable musical prowess, grew quickly.
A National Public Radio feature in 2001 brought the band music to more people than ever before. Doors at press, radio and venues opened across the country. Then JJ Grey & MOFRO performed at Bonnaroo, opened for Ben Harper, Widespread Panic, Galactic, B.B. King and Jeff Beck. Word of their live show spread quickly, and bookings at festivals and concerts around the world increased, including jaw-dropping shows at The Austin City Limits Festival and The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The band continues to tour relentlessly, and will hit the road hard in support of COUNTRY GHETTO.
From gritty funk to juke joint romps to contemplative country soul to blistering rockers, JJ Grey & MOFRO occupy a distinctive space in the music world. And, like the best of the great Southern novelists, JJ Grey fills his stories and songs with details that are at once vivid and personal, political and universal. Smell the cypress trees, feel the hot breeze, and remind yourself that home is where the heart is.
Recent updates include a blistering summer schedule for 2008 www.mofro.net/tour/map/; A fan site went up on the web in Feb, 08 at www.mofrofans.com; and a drummer change from George Sluppick to Anthony "AC" Cole occured in March, 2008.
JJ Grey & MOFRO released their 4th record, "Orange Blossoms," on Aug 26, 2008. The album has won much critical acclaim and, as always, the band has been touring relentlessly in support. A 2 month break during Apr-May 09 will be followed by a summer schedule of festivals, and an extensive club circuit schedule in the fall.
In March of 09, long time organist/bassist Adam Scone left the band. Beginning late March, he is to be replaced by Andrew Trube and Anthony Ferrell of the band Greyhounds from Austin TX, transforming Mofro into a 7 piece outfit.
Air
Mofro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is all take and no give
Every comfort for you, you, you
Only gonna do you blind
A whole lotta people can't see that high
This is the house that which we built
This is the place where we found guilt
It's harder still you know
Want a little peace of mind?
Then grab the lowest branch
And start to climb
We've been walking on air y'all
We've been walking on air
The invitation's in
If it beats all git out then do it again
Less than pleasant then put it to shame
Only gonna do you blind
A whole lotta folks can't see that high
We've been walking on air y'all
We've been walking on air
The song "Air" by Mofro comments on the current state of the world we live in. The lyrics emphasize how society has become focused on materialistic comforts and individual gain, with little regard for the consequences of our actions on the world around us. It highlights the fact that many people are blind to this reality and continue to live their lives without considering the bigger picture.
The opening lines state, "This is the world in which we live, This is all take and no give, Every comfort for you, you, you, Only gonna do you blind, A whole lotta people can't see that high." These lyrics critique a society that is obsessed with self-gratification, ignoring the devastating effects it has on the planet and the people around us. We prioritize our individual wants over the greater good of the world, leading to a blindness towards what is truly important.
The chorus, "We've been walking on air y'all," suggests that living in ignorance of the consequences of our actions is not sustainable. It is a temporary and fleeting high that cannot last forever. The lyrics encourage the listener to break their bad habits and find peace of mind by climbing the lowest branch, which can be interpreted as taking small steps towards environmental and social responsibility.
Overall, "Air" is a commentary on the state of the world and a call to action for individuals to live with awareness and consideration for others and the planet.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the world in which we live
The world we inhabit is characterized by rampant selfishness
This is all take and no give
People in this world tend to focus on their needs alone
Every comfort for you, you, you
Everything in our society is geared towards satisfying the individual
Only gonna do you blind
Focusing solely on oneself leads to ignorance of important matters
A whole lotta people can't see that high
Many people are unable to see beyond their own needs and desires
This is the house that which we built
Our current situation is a result of our collective actions
This is the place where we found guilt
We have done things we regret and feel guilty for
Break a bad habit let it go
To improve our situation, we must identify and discard harmful behaviors
It's harder still you know
Overcoming bad habits is difficult
Want a little peace of mind?
Do you desire inner peace?
Then grab the lowest branch
Take the first step towards achieving peace
And start to climb
Continue on the path towards inner peace
The invitation's in
The opportunity to improve is available
If it beats all git out then do it again
If it is difficult, persevere and try again
Less than pleasant then put it to shame
If something is unpleasant, overcome it and prove it wrong
We've been walking on air y'all
We have been enjoying a carefree existence
The invitation's in
The opportunity to improve is available
If it beats all git out then do it again
If it is difficult, persevere and try again
Less than pleasant then put it to shame
If something is unpleasant, overcome it and prove it wrong
Only gonna do you blind
Focusing solely on oneself leads to ignorance of important matters
A whole lotta folks can't see that high
Many people are unable to see beyond their own needs and desires
We've been walking on air y'all
We have been enjoying a carefree existence
Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.