Humid hits overcame gloomy skies at JJ Grey’s Knuckleheads show on Tuesday

JJ Grey & Mofro at Knuckleheads on July 3, 2024 // Photo by Joe Ellett

JJ Grey & Mofro
Knuckleheads
Tuesday, July 2

JJ Grey & Mofro took over Knucklehead’s outdoor stage on Tuesday, July 2 at 8 p.m., on Grey’s Olustee World Tour, accommodating his first album release in nearly a decade, Olustee.

Entirely produced by Grey, the album takes a much different approach to southern swamp storytelling, compared to some of his earlier records, such as Blackwater, Lochloosa, Country Ghetto, and Orange Blossoms—all having come out between 2001-08. 

Olustee takes all of the groovy blues that fans of these two classic albums remember, then combines it with a more soft, soulful feel that many of these new tracks carry. Hints of his grittier, fast-tempo past style show out in songs such as “Olustee,” “Top of the World,” and “Rooster”—all of which the band performed at their Knuckleheads’ outing.

Accompanied by guitarist Pete Winders, bassist Todd Smallie, drummer Craig Barnette, keyboardist Eric Bigmund, percussionist Eric Mason, vocalists Katie Dutton and Linzy Lauren, horns Marcus Parsley, John Reid, and Dennis Marion, saxist and flutist Kenny Hamilton, Grey took the crowd by storm (quite literally) on vocals, harmonica, guitar, and keys. 

As the band emerged on stage, Grey grabbed the crowd’s attention with a stunning harmonica solo, jawing into the simple wind instrument. Once his colleagues settled, Grey and the band jumped into the album’s title track “Olustee.”

Considering this was my first JJ Grey & Mofro concert, I was not sure if I should expect some of the older, classic tracks that I have grown to love, or if this would be a rundown of his recent LP release, after a nine-year hiatus from dropping any new music.

Hearing the opening guitar riff to the second song in the setlist, I quickly realized that this would be a conglomerate of over two decades worth of the southern swamp rock that has made Grey and his bayou bunch a rare ripple of modern blues that is still alive and well today.

The band hopped into a vibrant version of “WYLF,” setting the tone for the night, and quickly communicating to the crowd that some groovy boogying was in store at the outdoor venue. But, just as “WYLF” came to an end, the band slowed things down with “A Woman,” where many couples could be seen dancing with their better halves.

Grey then gave the crowd a bit of history on their next song of the night, “Rooster.” He explained that some of the characters he grew up alongside in the Florida fever are the inspiration behind the song, chalking them up as “roosters”—unflinching, gutsy fowls that are as tough as they come.

Photo by Steve Rapport

Grey & Mofro followed suit with the hometown homage with the next three tracks, “Starry Night,” “Top of the World,” and “The Sea”—all off of the most recent album Olustee. As their performance of “The Sea” came as a very soft and delicate rendition, with just half the band taking part, and the rain just beginning to fall a bit harder, I believe Grey could tell that he lost the crowd, ever so slightly. But that was no worry for him.

He and the band broke out 2013’s “99 Shades of Crazy,” where many couples could be seen sing-screaming the lyrics back and forth to each other—Whether it was out of joy or resentment, I will never know. But I do know that he got the crowd moving again.

The group then hopped back in line with their more recent releases with “Deeper Than Belief,”—a ballad of faith and perseverance. As drops of water brushed across my face, a feeling of euphoria and revelation began to form inside me. In a way, the sounds were the embodiment of the forecast surrounding us—free-falling feelings.

Once Grey and the few other artists that gathered with him for the slow jam wrapped up, the remaining members stepped out to one of their most popular tunes—”Orange Blossoms.”

Photo by Brett Missick

Having regained the crowd’s consciousness with the 2008 hit track, Grey took the opportunity to take attendees even further back in time when he sat down to rip the fond harmonica intro to all-time classic ”Lochloosa.” “I think my voice is starting to warm up,” Grey joked, as he began the opening lines to the song.

Now drenched head to toe in the pleasant light rain, the lyrics of “Lochloosa” had never rung truer, as I found myself yearning for a place of peace and tranquility—my very own Lochloosa.

Grey and the band then paid tribute to John Anderson, performing their version of “Seminole Wind.” The song—based around the rough-edged environment of the Florida Everglades—hits home for the Jacksonville native, as he explained during the show.

Following the nod, the band ruffled feathers with songs “Slow, Hot & Sweaty” and “On Fire”—both songs filled with lyrics surrounding sexual tension between partners.

Gradually cooling back down, the musicians then performed “This River.” Swaying back and forth, listeners rocked with each strum of guitar and word that fell out Grey’s mouth.

JJ Grey & Mofro then concluded their night with an encore of “On a Breeze” and “Brighter Days”—a perfectly placed song to end the night, as the sun had closed its doors hours ago, gloomy skies welcomed the crowd with open arms, and Grey and his band were in the midst of bidding farewell. The crowd, and myself, were wondering where those brighter days went, and when they would make their next appearance.

As I watched Grey and his band trot off the stage for the final time that night, I stood with soggy socks, my moistened mane, and a smile on my face. Every last second, worth every whit of water.