Review JJ Grey and Mofro at the Factory Theatre

By Thibault Le Viavant

After their tour of the Great Southern Blues Festival in Narooma, the Caloundra Music Festival, and the Northcote Social Club Melbourne; JJ Grey and Mofro hosted a gig at the Factory Theatre in Sydney last Thursday, for their last concert before heading back to the US.

JJ Grey and Mofro look like a group of mates coming from all over the US (NYC, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Austin, LA…), and even from Manly Beach Sydney! finding themselves around music and having fun touring and playing on stage. They all bring their own influences together to make their unique sound by blending southern Rock/Soul/Funk/ and Blues…

This group of friends have fun playing together. They joke around and laugh with the audience… Seemingly bringing the band closer to their crowd in such a way that we’ve seen true fans packed at The Factory Theatre on this night, singing along, knowing the lyrics by heart. It seems that the audience like JJ Grey and JJ Grey likes his audience! That is probably why JJ Grey and Mofro are touring that much with many shows all around the US, Australia and Europe! They have confirmed their reputation of best touring artist.

They have fun and that makes really good music! I had never heard of them before coming here to Australia, maybe that is because they tour mostly in Germany or Norway when they come in Europe…

I was impressed by the musicians quality and the energy they were releasing, maybe due to their complicity and their attitude on stage with the audience. We can’t forget JJ Grey’s powerful voice as well, bringing a particular atmosphere to the stage from bluesy tunes to powerful southern rock songs, switching from guitar to harmonica then to piano or tambourine… Simply having fun!