JJ Grey & Mofro at the Varsity Theater
Swamp rocking soul singer, JJ Grey, brought his band to Minneapolis on the coldest night of the year thus far. The Varsity Theater was comfortably full with a mostly thirty to fifty year old crowd. It may have been frigid outside, but it didn’t take long for the beautiful theater to be filled with warmth as the night got started with a short set by Daryl Hance who was backed up by Mofro’s Anthony Cole on drums and Todd Smallie on bass.
JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound hit the stage next with their hard and driving groove, “Beat of Our Own Drum”. The band started it off, before JC Brooks glided onto the stage as smooth as could be. It was quickly evident that JC Brooks was someone special, with baby-face looks and a soul sound far beyond his years. The band combined raw Motown with post-punk influence creating a melting pot of R&B and rock. Brooks commanded attention with his voice and his moves, finally persuading the rather shy crowd to move forward to the stage. The band ripped through a nice set including a cover of Wilco’s, “I am Trying to Break Your Heart” towards the end. Before that song, Brooks commented that the band could only stay smooth for so long, before unleashing their raw power. And that is how they played the song. JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound were one of the most impressive opening bands I have seen in a long time.
JJ Grey & Mofro headlined to an appreciative crowd. JJ Grey’s songs border on gospel at times, speaking proudly of family and his love of life. That gospel was naturally interwoven into gritty swamp rock which had the crowd bouncing and singing along. Grey was in top form, flying in from Florida the same day to start this new tour in Minneapolis. His band seemed equally rested, keeping a tight groove all night for Grey who switched between vocals/guitar, and just vocals. For the encore, Art Edmaiston on sax and Dennis Marion on trumpet hit the front of the stage unleashing their brass to the crowd who ate it up when they weren’t dodging instruments in their faces. JJ Grey and Mofro put on an excellent performance, helping most of us forget the depths of winter outside.
Photos taken for music blog Reviler. Check it out!
JJ Grey & Mofro
JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound
