A JJ Grey & Mofro concert has been ages since I last saw it. It goes back to Ribs & Blues in 2013. In 2024, after a long hiatus, he released another album: Olustee.
We had to wait almost nine years for this album, and it was released – just like his debut album – on the renowned blues label Alligator.
After the review in Jazz Blues EU Magazine, I listened to the album and put a new live experience on my wish list. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the concert in Utrecht on February 16, 2025, and I was hoping for an extension of their current tour in England.
My hope came true, because there was a few days’ gap between the Notodden Blues Festival and their English tour, allowing me to visit the Netherlands again.
Upon entering, it was immediately noticeable how big the band is—or how small the stage is, depending on how you look at it. All ten band members barely fit on stage.
JJ (John Higginbotham) came on promptly at 8 o’clock, and a wonderful harmonica solo led into the title track from his latest album, “Olustee.”
Thankfully, the air conditioning in 013 was turned up to full blast, because from the very beginning, the stage exuded an enormous amount of energy. Guitarist Pete Winders was immediately given a solo and was egged on by bassist Todd Smallie.
The warmed-up audience was immediately asked to sing along to “WYLF” (What You’re Looking For), and they did so with great enthusiasm. It was certainly a night with a lot of singalongs.
The audience was clearly fans, because even as the guitars for “This River” were being tuned, the title was being shouted loudly throughout the room.
A beautiful tribute to all that passes and life that rumbles on, and everything it carries with it—including loved ones, mistakes, and moments that can’t be recaptured.
JJ spoke at length about many of his songs, and he does so with such passion that the audience remains silent. The guitar in this song is stunning and a favorite for many; partners held hands and kissed.
I think everyone can recall a memory when hearing this song.
Many of JJ’s lyrics are taken from his own life, like “Junior,” about a guy who’s not with us anymore—a song with a wonderfully tight bass line and almost rappy vocals.
“Orange Blossoms” is the song with the most hits on Spotify, and it’s easy to see why: it’s a fast-paced song with a fantastic guitar riff that sounds familiar, but no one knows exactly which song it’s from.
Ultimately, “Lochloosa” was my favorite of the evening. An almost tearful opening on the harmonica, gentle percussion, and bass and piano at just the right volume.
It eventually evolved into an up-tempo number with both singers taking the ending. “Sweetest Thing” also had the audience singing along loudly, and JJ really let the audience go wild.
I can’t remember a concert where there was so much singing along, and an artist embraced it so much that he regularly removed his earphones to hear it.
The only cover of the evening was a song about the Everglades, a part of Florida where the band lives.
The song, written by John Anderson, has such a powerful live performance that it takes you back to the place where you grew up and all the beauty it has to offer.
Marcus Parsley’s trumpet solo made the song complete—another highlight.
The funky “Rooster” marked the end of the regular set. With “On Fire,” the band left the stage and the rhythm section took over. After bassist Smallie also left, drummer Craig Barnette and percussionist Eric Mason delivered a delightful Caribbean-inspired piece.
The encore, “Shining Down,” is another delightful singalong: Glory, glory, hallelujah, I’m alive… The crowd’s enthusiasm was clearly too much for JJ. I was standing right in front and could see the moisture in his eyes.
What a beautiful moment—not an artist just playing a show, but a person appreciating their audience and having a wonderful evening themselves.
The uptempo “Brighter Days” was a fitting end to a fantastic evening that flew by. The stage was quickly dismantled, as the band had to play in Brighton, England, the next day—a 500-kilometer and a Channel crossing away.
What remained was a fantastic evening full of soul, blues, and rock. Go see this band! As JJ himself said: “Strangers are friends you just haven’t met yet.
