Friday night brought rising Texas band Blacktop Mojo to Deep Ellum for the first time in two years. You could tell that the band has been working hard and attracting a rabid fanbase throughout the area as the venue was packed with fans wearing shirts and hats displaying the bands logo. The unexpected location for the evening was The Blue Light, a venue known mostly for country music and open mic nights, but is making an effort to attract genres outside of what it is best known. I can definitely say that I was impressed with the venue and what it has to offer in a entertainment district with fewer and fewer places to see a live show.
This was the first stop on a nationwide tour, but that did not mean that this was a warm up show. The guys brought their A-Game and showed why they are getting noticed by people all over the world for their brand of rock and roll. From the onset of the opening number, bassist Matt Curtis stalked the stage like a man possessed, while vocalist Matt James crooned out a mixture of blues, classic rock, and hard rock that was reminiscent of the 70’s in Muscle Shoals, right along bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynrd.
The band played through songs from their currently released two albums, along with a preview of songs that will likely be released on their forthcoming album due later this year. At one point in the evening the band decided to strip thing down and came out into the audience to perform a song completely acoustic with the crowd singing along. This is a testament to how they interact with their fans and why they are gaining a reputation as a band that is willing to step outside of the norms of a live show to make sure that every person in attendance gets a show that is worth every bit of the time and money they have invested in attending.
Blacktop Mojo is set to meet up with another rising band, Lullwater, to tour the nation over the next two months and I can not emphasize enough how great of a show the band put on in Dallas. If you get a chance I would highly recommend seeing them on tour at your local stop.
– Robb Miller
Blacktop Mojo Tour Dates
July 16 – Waterloo, Iowa @ Spicolis
July 18 – Palatine, Ill. @ Durty Nellies
July 19 – Oshkosh, Wis. @ Rock USA
July 20 – Sturgis, Ky. @ Bike Rally
July 21 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Exit/In
July 23 – Cleveland, Ohio @ Winchester
July 25 – Fredericksburg, Pa. @ Hard Times Four Mile Fork
July 26 – Heath, Ohio @ Muddy Creek Saloon
July 27 – LaCrosse, Wis. @ Cotter Pin
July 28 – Ringle, Wis. @ Q and Z
July 31 – Detroit, Mich. @ Token Lounge
Aug. 1 – Lexington, Ky. @ Manchester Music Hall
Aug. 2 – Monticello, Ind. @ Madam Caroll Boat
Aug. 3 – Monticello, Ind. @ Moefest
Aug. 4 – Covington, Ky. @ Madison Live
Aug. 6 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Hard Rock Café
Aug. 7 – Poughkeepsie, N.Y. @ The Chance
Aug. 8 – Manchester, N.H. @ Wally’s
Aug. 9 – Providence, R.I. @ Alchemy
Aug. 14 – Angola, Ind. @ Eclectic Room
Aug. 15 – Springfield, Ill. @ Illinois State Fair
Aug. 16 – Columbia, Mo. @ Rose Music Hall
Aug. 17 – Bristol, Ind. @ ABATE Summerfest
Aug. 18 – Clarksville, Tenn. @ The Warehouse
Aug. 20 – Huntsville, Ala. @ Sidetracks
Aug. 22 – Ft. Smith, Ark. @ Commandry
Aug. 23 – Oklahoma City, Okla. @ City Limits
Aug. 24 – Quapaw, Okla. @ Downstream Casino