Mojo Farmers

Mojo Farmers
MT Space
Independent
By Dave Terpeny

Right out of the gate, I think I’m going to like Mojo Farmers. The first song, “China Flu,” starts with a rip-roaring funky jam, complete with popping bass and fiery guitar leads. After a brief lyrical interlude they meld into a conga-driven bridge that continues through the next lyrical break and into an extended percussion breakdown that fades back into the lyrics and then returns full circle with a fiery guitar jam to finish the 7 minutes 11 seconds. The only complaint I have is for the singer; ‘dude, shut up and let them jam’ is what I keep thinking.

Like any good band, however, Mojo Farmers immediately disabuses me of the previous ‘no vocals’ thought as they open the second with an accapella 3-part harmony. The song continues on into a “Tomorrow Never Knows” (Beatles, Revolver) type of acid jam that fades out at the halfway point into an even more Beatles-esque sample of what sounds like a party crowd. This then picks back up into a rapping monologue which segue ways seamlessly back into the melodic harmonies of the chorus and drops of into an instrumental breakdown worthy of PFunk.

Christ, who are these guys? According to their website they are from Tempe, AZ and are an ‘acid rock jam’ band. But that doesn’t quite do them justice.

They are the consummate, the paradigmatic and even the very esthetic of what a jam band should be. Dissecting, displaying and blending the great musical and thematic elements from rock’s storied history they create an infectious and unforgettable album, except for “Pile of Rocks” but that’s just nitpicking.

Listening to MT Space you hear Santana grooves, Beatles sound-scapes, Grateful Dead experimentation, The Doors surrealism and, most of all, the Mojo Farmers kick ass music. This is a band to be reckoned with.

- Dave Terpeny

http://www.creamyradio.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=363

Mojo Farmers
Posted on Wednesday, September 14 @ 13:59 Central Daylight Time by dbog

Captain writes: Despite some personnel changes over the last five years, the Mojo Farmers have continued to move forward without missing a beat. They have been entertaining Valley audiences with their acid rock jam-band approach to rock and roll. Their performances are typically a cornucopia of rock styles including blues, groove, psychedelic and modern rock Besides headlining at shows throughout the Phoenix area and neighboring states, the Mojo Farmers have opened up for multiple national acts including Rusted Root, Tea Leaf Green, the Radiators and are scheduled to open for Steele Pulse.

Back in 2002, the Mojo Farmers released their impressive self-titled CD. According to a review in the weekly Phoenix fish wrap Get Out, the CD has "Mega Mojo" while one reviewer on CD Baby hails it as “a CD full of eclectic flavors and you'll want to hear it over and over." The next year saw them participating in and winning Intelligroove’s inaugural Arizona Battle of the Jams contest, which included recording time at Studio Z in Phoenix as the top prize.

The finished product from their trip to the studio yielded the terrific, M T Space, which was a rare self-release that provided top-notch production with first-rate packaging, including its gorgeous trippy cover art. The group manages the unusual ability to capture the pure joy of their live shows on to disc. The album features eight tunes including the laid-back charm of "Pile of Rocks," the psychedelia of "Cats in Tuxedos" and the ever-catchy "China Flu." The band swings effortlessly between signature changes, organically flowing through its blistering dual guitar work and wall of percussion.

As result of their second album, Relix magazine, known for it’s coverage of the international "jam band" music scene, featured the Mojo Farmers in the December 2004/January 2005 issue. According to the author of that piece, the Mojo Farmers have "evolved into one of the most promising bands I’ve heard in many a year. In fact, no one has hit me with so much immediate promise since I first heard Phish in 1989."

This past summer the Mojo Farmers took home the 2005 Listener's Choice Award from the Arizona Infusion of Music Awards (AIM) show.

- CreamyRadio.com

http://www.kyndmusic.com/monthlyissues/december05/10overlookedalbums.htm

Music
Top 10 Overlooked Albums of 2005

By R Pietsch & Dave Terpeny

While many of these albums have received press and many of these bands have been critically lauded, they've been chosen because they have yet to be embedded in the consciousness of the independent music fan. You may have heard of them, you may not have, but most likely they're not in your cd collection and they should be. They are listed here, in no particular order save alphabetically.

...

Mojo Farmers
MT Space
Independent

From rip-roaring funky jams, conga-driven break outs, extended and fiery solos, 3-part accapella harmonies, acid jams, rapping monologues and Floydian space-outs, the Mojo Farmers out of Arizona have it all. Dissecting, displaying and blending the great musical and thematic elements from rock’s storied history they create an infectious and unforgettable album, except for “Pile of Rocks” but that’s just nitpicking.

Listening to MT Space you hear Santana grooves, Beatles sound-scapes, Grateful Dead experimentation, The Doors surrealism and, most of all, the Mojo Farmers kick ass music. This is a band to be reckoned with.

http://www.mojofarmers.com/ (opens a new window)

...



- KyndMusic.com

Throughout rock history, plenty of bands that have two or more strong creative forces leading the way have been fraught with tension, from The Beatles (Lennon and McCartney) and The Rolling Stones (Jagger and Richards) to alt-rockers such as Uncle Tupelo (Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar) and Oasis (the battling Gallagher brothers).

But Jim King, bassist for long-running Tempe jam band Mojo Farmers, says that's not the case with the band's two singer/songwriter guitarists, Bill Baker and Chris Losey.

"I've argued with just about everybody in this band," King says with a laugh as the band gathers for drinks at The Boathouse in Tempe, "but I've never seen Bill and Chris argue with each other. Ever."

"Coming in from the outside, I'm not used to bands getting along at all," adds the band's new drummer, Darin Lugar, who played with King in hard rock band Triple–XL before joining the Mojo Farmers. "This has been nothing but compromise - everyone gives to make it better - and it's not a competition, it's just a good time."

Whether it be in a small Tempe club or on a festival stage such as at last month's McDowell Mountain Music Festival, the Mojo Farmers' distinct blend of jazz grooves, rock, country and blues never fails to deliver the good vibes to their fans. The band has captured those vibes on their third CD, "Wake of the Moon," recorded with Clark Rigsby in the renowned producer's Valley studio.

Whereas the Mojo Farmers can stretch out live, letting the virtuoso guitar work of Baker and Losey and keyboardist Norm Herd take the music in different directions, the band says that Rigsby offered helpful advice on the song arrangements in the studio. But the Mojo Farmers insist that they will continue to evolve the songs that make up "Wake of the Moon" in a live setting.

"When people listen to the CD and then come see us live, they won't get just a repeat of the CD," says keyboardist Norm Herd of the disc. "You'll hear things you never thought you'd hear (compared to the album)."

"Norm's never played the same part twice," King responds with a chuckle. "Norm's just trying to get out of playing his parts off the CD."

"Exactly," laughs Herd.

After recording the disc, the band parted ways with drummer Tim Olsen and King came up with "an evil little plan" to get his former Triple–XL band mate Lugar into the Mojo Farmers.

"When we were looking for a drummer I felt like, 'Hey, I've finally been in the band long enough and I'm the bass player, I can start pulling rank a little bit,' " King says. "(Darin) can plan any style and I knew he could take us to a whole different level - I'm still so excited to have him in (Mojo Farmers).

"So for right now," King adds with a laugh, "we'll give him one more chance."

"And then after that he'll get one more," Losey says, "and we'll go from there."

The band will headline the Mogollon Music Fest on Saturday, May 31 in Payson, and will continue to play shows in Colorado, Utah and in Jerome (where the band hosts their biannual Mountain Mojo music festival at the Spirit Room), spreading the good vibes through their music.

"This has really become a family in many ways for us," says Baker of the band. "It's a support system where we all give and take, and the music rewards us in and of itself."

>> Mojo Farmers perform 9 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Last Exit Bar and Grill,
1425 W. Southern Ave., Tempe. $5. Info: (480) 557-6656 or lastexitlive.com [http://lastexitlive.com]. - Get Out, by Chris Hansen Orf

(excerpt from article http://www.jambands.com/ShowReviews/content_2008_05_01.03.phtml)

Did I mention the sun, and did I reference the Beatles at the top of all of this? True on both and the latter reference can also be used for the opening locals, Peppermint James on the main stage as they explored the Fab Four plus a wide range of other influences, including a little bit of the Wailers, who would follow later in the afternoon. Mojo Farmers, a veteran Tempe jamband that knows how to take over a stage and get the crowd dancing and head-bobbin’ followed and they continue to produce music that defies simple genrefication. Suffice to say that they rock, jam and crowd please in equal measures, and served as a full opening course of music coupled with Peppermint James.

The Creamy Radio acoustic stage also offered its fair share of local music, including Junk Ditch Road who immediately followed the raucous Mojo Farmers set with their own brand of rowdy, feel-good jamgrass vibes for the sunning peeps. Pleasant is as pleasant does and the festival environment seemed like an ideal spot to catch these bluegrassians.


- Jambands.com (Relix Magazine) by Randy Ray

December 13, 2007
Tempe’s Mojo Farmers know that being labeled a “jam band” might bring about some preconceived notions of what the band might sound like (endless guitar solos) and who they might play for, (the hippies who followed the Grateful Dead or the frat boys who gravitate toward the Dave Matthews Band).

“We don’t like to be in a box,” says guitarist/singer Chris Losey.

Says guitarist/singer Bill Baker, “But at the same time, I really embrace the jam band community. Their support for the live music and the live shows is just unfathomable and has depths to it that we still don’t know where the end is.”

All of the Mojo Farmers (which also includes keyboardist Norm Herd, bassist Jim King and drummer Tim Olsen) cite varying musical influences, from Baker’s love of rock guitarists such as Tommy Bolin (The James Gang and Deep Purple) and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page to Losey’s appreciation of The Who’s Pete Townshend and vastly underappreciated ’60s and ’70s British blues/rockers Ten Years After.

“Chris gives me stacks of CDs, like (Pink Floyd’s 1972 disc) 'Live at Pompeii,’ stuff you don’t think of as 'jam band,’ but it’s really kind of cool,” says Herd, “because our influences are coming from outside of (the jam band) world.”

The band creates a seamless, melodic blend of country, funk, soul, blues and rock that is at once cerebral and danceable, and difficult to lump into one genre.

“All I can do is say, 'Listen to (Mojo Farmers), go to the Web site and listen to a few things yourself,’ ” Baker says.

The band, which is working on its third studio disc with Valley producer Clarke Rigsby, with an eye toward a March release, stresses that it’s not money and glory the Mojo Farmers play for, it’s the camaraderie within the group and the relationship the band has with its fans.

“We’re so excited about what we do,” Baker says. “My pinnacle each week is when I’m playing, or at practice even — it’s like, 'Thank God I’m here, thank goodness I have a place to go and have good people I can talk with and play anything I want.’ ”

“That’s the one thing — if it’s not fun, I mean, it’s not about the chicks and the glory anymore,” adds King with a laugh. “Seriously, we’re only gonna give this maybe 10, 20 more years and after that, then we’ll re-evaluate.”

Mojo Farmers perform 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at Last Exit Bar and Grill, 1425 W. Southern Ave., Tempe. Free. (480) 557-6656 or myspace.com/mojofarmers.
Contact Chris Hansen Orf by email, or phone (480) 898-5684
- GetOut AZ by Chris Hansen Orf

Even though guitarist Chris Losey of The Mojo Farmers says that Arizona’s not exactly the most fertile territory for jambands, it hasn’t stopped this five-piece from evolving into one of the most promising bands I’ve heard in many a year. In fact, no one has hit me with so much immediate promise since I first heard Phish in 1989. The Mojo Farmers formed just four years ago, but sound like they have played together forever. There’s amazing fluidity and style in their playing and they’ve got great songs as well. “We have all played in many different bands for years,” explains Losey. “As a result we meld influences together. We have almost everyone in the band writing songs. We have influences ranging from Phish to more classic rock like the Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd.” In fact the band’s sound reflects that perfect mix of jamband adventure with the structure of classic rock, not to mention the odd blues and psychedelic twist. A couple of years ago the Farmers won first place at the Arizona “Battle of the Jams,” and as a prize they received recording time. “We took about a year to make the album and put some of our money into it as well,” says Losey. The end result is the superb, self-released M T Space, a first-class effort from the cover art to the music. The disc features eight originals, including the infectious “China Flu” and the Phish-like “Cats In Tuxedos.” In the ten-minute “Pancho’s Dream” the band shifts effortlessly between time changes and jams up a storm with some meaty organ and fiery guitar work. The group’s instrumental prowess is also on display on the title cut and “Summer Time,” both of which clock in at roughly ten minutes in length. But the marquee track is the lush ballad “Still,” which wouldn’t sound out of place on a Pink Floyd album. The band has played mostly in Arizona but is in the process of branching out. “We are networking with other jambands in other cities,” says Losey. “Currently we all have day jobs, which limits us to mostly weekend dates.” As far as I can see, that’s all that’s holding them back. www.mojofarmers.com - Mick Skidmore

by Randy RAy

Mojo Farmers, Sail Inn, Tempe, AZ- 7/30
2005-08-17
Pre-Gig: Fire in the Audience

I walked through the door and was almost blown backwards. Has it already started? Nope—just the soundcheck. Soon, the powerful rush blew up and dissipated…gone. The sound dude put on a very sweet GD “Dark Star” from the early 1970s—a good omen as I went to the bar to sit and wait for the return of the band to the Sail Inn. The Inn can be an acquired taste—equal parts biker bar, cool tunes (Tea Leaf Green packed the joint five months ago and almost leveled it with its Cali-quake hard rock thrust) and dark aura which is ruled by female bartenders that will kick your ass if you get out of line: 21st Century pirate hangout offering music in a cozy cave.

A little band background. The Mojo Farmers were featured as an “On the Verge” band in Relix magazine’s December 2004/January 2005 issue. Since then, they have moved around the Southwest while continuing to expand upon a loyal following. Four nights before this gig, they played the Marquee Theatre, also in Tempe, opening for Rusted Root. I wasn’t at this show as yet another voyage home from yet another festival abroad had grounded me while I finished a 10,000 Lakes Festival review. The Marquee show would turn out to be a turning point. “That was our return to the scene,” explained guitarist and vocalist Bill Baker. “We played in front of at least a thousand people and it was one of the highpoints of our career. Somebody lit a fire in the audience and it pushed us into a validation phase. We followed the crowd wherever they wanted to take us.”


The Gig: Amsterdam Calling

The Mojo Farmers have changed bass guitarists and this drastically alters their sound—for the better. Jim King replaces Dave Anderson. Unfortunately, the band is currently playing without keyboardist Dave Entz; however, King seemed to eliminate those colors by locking the band into quite a different opaque landscape. The sound was much harder—gone was the flippant and humorous philosophy as the transition moved into deep, serious grooves and new modern Mojo hooks had arrived with a sharp edge. “Party”>“Thief” laid down the crunch rock as Kevin Gordon straddled the Congas and mike with non-stop energy moving back and forth and exhorting the crowd. “Planet”>“Naptime” bled ABB with a Duane Allman/Dickey Betts-linked guitar duet melody, “Still” settled things down for a while as melodic harmony vocals were emphasized while Chris Losey played some very cool slide guitar. Suddenly, the band segued into three new songs that really ripped away the old skin and laid down quite a different texture. “Change,” “Story,” and “Godspeed” were the highlights of the set and I have to say it was because of King. He often left the stage and stood in front of the band and learned the complex breaks while drummer Tim Olson locked in some pretty tight fills. “I’ve played in a lot of Arizona bands like Lazy Jade and Triple XXXL—a metal band,” said King. “I’m a big fan of String Cheese Incident, moe. and Widespread Panic and I was a fan of the Mojo Farmers when I joined. I’m a big fan of guitar and I’m always trying to stay in the pocket.”

When the Farmers harmonized on vocals such as on the aforementioned beaut “Still,” they were definitely in their scenic element. However, when the band also lays down a really heavy rhythm section anchor and the guitars Technicolor the walls with ambient space rock while Gordon enhances the beat, you get “Summertime” which ended Set I.

An “MT Space” trio roared out of the gates as “Pancho’s Dream” led to “Grasshopper”> “Cats in Tuxedos.” Pretty much nirvana at this point. And if you’re keeping score, “Cat’s” is the Phish-like number that gets transmorphogized by Le Farm Mojo. My seasoned sonic ears got dumped with some really spicy ingredients that came out of nowhere: “Platform 6”—what the? Where did this one come from? A new one, for sure, but a subtle little masterpiece penned by Losey: song about Amsterdam with a “train on the track” refrain that was both a fiery jam rocker and yet another great shout out Gordon vocal performance. “The Amsterdam trip was a 40th birthday present that I took in early December 2004,” said Losey. “I wanted to get away from Arizona for a while. The lyrics were written in Amsterdam and they relate to a train platform as a party platform and a dual meeting place—party also meaning ‘political’ party. I spent my time playing and writing music, taking notes and writing poems. Particle was playing there at the time which was really great; although, I didn’t know they were going to be there until I arrived.” I asked about another new tune—a keeper from Set I. “Godspeed” was written before the Mojo Farmers. When we formed, initially, we wanted all new material. Plus, at the time, it didn’t fit with the other things we were doing. I worked on it with Bill and Kevin and the arrangements came together after that.”

The “MT Space” track showed up late in Set II and smiles lit the dance floor and rolled throughout the Sail Inn. Always an exploratory number. Always a trip. A symbolic link to the pre-show “Dark Star.” I mentioned “MT Space” after the gig to Losey: “I always love that number.” He just smiled with pride. “Wake ‘o Moon”—another new Mojo Farmers tune was a behemoth rockasaurus while the lights did a dance of their own: the Mojo magic—trippy multi-colored lights pushing the band as if, again, they were playing in front of 20,000 at the Garden. Nothing pisses me off more than seeing a band play down to its crowd: “Only 200 here tonight? Fine. Let’s play our Bay City Rollers cover song set.” Not the Mojo Farmers. These guys play as if the EMTs are waiting outside: veins popped out into upraised mountains on Mars, sweaty brows, arms flaying, legs askew, heads rolling north and south, notes hit, lines drawn.

Post-Gig: 85 kids doing ‘STOMP’

If Baker, Losey, Olson and King are the brains and limbs of the band, then Kevin Gordon is easily its heart. “I teach music to K-8 grades,” answered Gordon when I asked what he did when he wasn’t playing for his life. “85 kids doing ‘STOMP’!” Gordon is 100% energy and his eyes will burn right through your skull if you hint at a negative vibe. The man cures depression! Whereas Baker reminds me of a great friend who also happens to play like Hendrix; Losey, his soul brother in arms; Olson, quiet power; King, just plain damned heavy; Gordon is Neal Cassady reborn—words a mile a minute, paragraphs of rapid-fire wisdom chunks and the theoretical musical patterns all make sense to me.

“These are all new beginnings for the band,” concluded Gordon. “We’re on a vision quest to write cohesive music—not noodling music with space. We share a non-verbal communication and, with it, we have a new found rhythm section with Jim on bass and Tim on the drums. I know we’ve got a long way to go but we’re energy feeders who want to keep it simple. We’re a little bit like Audioslave with big modern rock influences. At the Marquee Theatre, this week, it was the first time we had a big exchange of energy with a crowd that size. We want to take a deep breath and say: “LET’S GO!”

Their limitless energy does not translate to my own fatigued frame as I start to gather my things to head home. 2:30am. Long week. Lot of great music in a short period of time. Door opened and I can still hear the echo of “Platform 6”: TRAIN ON THE TRACK!

Door shut.
- Randy Ray