This was the first show I’ve attended in new year of 2025, and what better place to celebrate during these cold winter months here in Colorado other than one of Denver’s favorite venues, Mission Ballroom. Starting the year off right with the soulful blue’s man himself, JJ Grey & Mofro came out with guns blazing as they wrapped up the first leg of their tour before taking off over sea’s to Paris.
Saturday night was a perfect blend of raw grit and soulful groove for the Olustee tour as Lucero opened up and kicked things off for JJ Grey & Mofro, setting the tone with their signature mix of punk-infused alt-country. Ben Nichols’ whiskey-soaked vocals carried through the venue, pulling the crowd into a set filled with heartache, excitement with messages of hard lessons learned. Songs like “At the Show” had the audience swaying with beers raised, while “Should’ve Learned by Now” brought a stillness to the room. It was nice to see dedicated fans show up for both acts. Just when it felt like they had given everything, they closed with “Tears Don’t Matter Much”, a raucous, full-throttle anthem that had the crowd singing along, fists in the air. It was the perfect sendoff, leaving the stage buzzing with energy setting the tone for what was to come next.
Then came JJ Grey & Mofro, and from the first note of his harmonica, the energy shifted into something truly electric. JJ Grey’s voice, equal parts grit and smoothness, filed the air with the soulfulness of a preacher Florida man and the heart of a true bluesman. The stage was lined up from left to right with the entire band ready to go, with each group having their own set-up as they grooved into the night. Midway through the set, JJ welcomed Andy Falco of The Infamous Stringdusters to the stage, adding a layer of masterful bluegrass-inspired swang while he joined JJ in singing their hearts out. Moving into the night the chemistry between JJ and the rest of the band was undeniable, especially when they launched into an extended jam on “Lochloosa”, where nearly every band member took a turn in the spotlight. The horns wailed, the keys soared, and even the two powerhouse female backup singers had their moment to close out the song with stunning harmonized vocals. For the next couple of songs the band highlighted a few tracks off their new album Olustee. The one that caught everyone in a funk was the albums classic “Rooster”. As JJ stepped off stage, the audience roared, only for him to return moments later, launching into a heartfelt performance of I Believe, leaving the room in pure, soulful bliss.
Thankfully, the night wasn’t over. As JJ Grey & Mofro left the stage again, the crowd refused to move, their chants and cheers were crys for more! Finally, the band returned one last time, delivering a triumphant performance of “Glory Glory”. Fans continued to cheer and clap in unison, that carried an energy through the venue as the show came to an end.
Lucero
JJ Grey & Mofro – JJ Grey & Mofro
Lucero – Lucero – YouTube
