July 11, 2014

eGreenville, Paul Hyde - July 11, 2014

How do you label JJ Grey & Mofro?

The Southern band, coming to the Peace Center's TD Stage on Thursday, has established itself as a force in the national music scene with a unique blend of rock, soul, blues and funk. 

With six albums and a decade of extensive touring under their belts, JJ Grey & Mofro's raspy combination of front porch soul and down-home storytelling have taken them around the world to almost every continent. 

Don't be surprised if their music moves you to dance and to tears. 

Grey was raised in North Florida by a typically Southern extended family that valued hard work and self-reliance. This upbringing permeates his no nonsense approach to writing and performing and has given him an abundance of material to write about in his songs. 

In April 2013, Grey released his sixth studio album, "This River," named for St. John's River - a place with a myriad of associations for Grey near his childhood home in Florida. 

"This River" flows with joyous celebrations, heartfelt ballads and late-night, beer-soaked testimonials. 

Grey's band Mofro has been a decade in the making. Over that time, great players have come and gone, but according to Grey, the present incarnation - with Art Edmaiston on saxophone, Dennis Marion on trumpet, Anthony Farrell on organ and piano, Tod Smallie on bass, Anthony Cole on drums, and Andrew Trube on guitar - is the best ever.

The band has played countless festivals, including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, and has shared stages with the likes of Lenny Kravitz, B.B. King, The Allman Brothers Band, The Black Crowes, Ben Harper, and many others. 

Grey's songs have appeared in film and network television including "House," "Friday Night Lights," "The Deadliest Catch" and the film "The Hoot."

For the latest in local arts news and reviews, follow Paul Hyde on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7

YOU CAN GO:

What: JJ Grey & Mofro

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday (July 17, 2014)

Where: Peace Center's TD Stage

Tickets: $25 for lawn seating

Information: (864) 467-3000 or www.peacecenter.org