JJ GREY & MOFRO Journal

Up Here In WI

2008-11-24T11:49:00.001-05:00

Whooo! It got cold in a sure fire hurry up here. We just played Madison, WI last night and have the day off today. Might try to build a snowman if it keeps falling. The tour thus far has been great and the fans have been on their A games. I have dallied inside long enough, time to go outside and invigorate the blood.

Watch Out!

2008-10-26T17:33:00.001-05:00

Daryl took this picture and a second or two later was swashbuckled by this very wave. Hance always takes great shots. You could easily add pro photographer to the list of stuff he can do. These wave are part of the big swell thats pounding Long Island right now.

Back In Montauk

2008-10-26T16:31:00.001-05:00

Hanging out at the end of long Island again. The waves are HUGE today. Some sets look double overhead. Meanwhile back around the corner on the north side of the point the stripers are running. A local snagged this one while we were there. This bass was around 30 inches and probably weighed 20 lbs or more.

The North East

2008-10-24T20:29:00.001-05:00

Sure is beautiful up here this time of year with the leaves changing. From lobster in New Hampshire to hanging with the Crowes on a night off in Burlington, we've had a great run thus far. A big thanks to all the fans up here for bringing the fire every night.

Heading East

2008-09-25T14:51:00.001-05:00

Woke up and took this shot out the window in Wyoming this morning. This will be the first time we've ever played in Wyoming. Speaking of first times our last three shows were great and all first timers as well. Winthrop, WA, Moscow, ID, and then Boise last night. Boise was insane due in large part to KRVB and the Record Exchange spreading the love. It was too cool to play in all knew places and hang with so many cool people. Thanks yall!

The Lane Is Open

2008-09-15T13:39:00.001-05:00

Got up this morning and watched someone paddle out at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, CA. What a beautiful place. We've played a lot of shows since Memphis making our way across the country and they've all felt great. We play tomorrow night here in Santa Cruz before we head north. We'll turn the corner in Seattle this weekend and slowly start making our way back to the other side. Got to go get my grub on...cya...

we're out here!

2008-09-03T18:14:00.001-05:00

Hanging in memphis (picture) cuz our show in Baton Rouge has been postponed due to Gustav. Hope everyone over that way and NOLA came thru alright. The Blackwater Sol Revue was a wonderful experience yet again and sitting in with Toots was another major musical hi-light for me. Isle of Palms was great with a nice day on the beach followed by a sweaty git down in the windjammer. The first time was a charm there.

We left there and hung out in ATL for the night before hitting up Starkeville, MS. Starkeville came in BIG, great crowd and plenty of smiling faces so we'll be back. Orange Blossoms is out and rolling and so are we!
see yall in a minute.

Ready to Roll!

2008-08-26T12:53:00.006-05:00

He Yall, well the new album is out today and we're loading up the wagons for a run through the USA. We're really looking forward to this tour and are chomping at the bit to play the new tunes. If you don't see your town in the tour dates we have posted don't worry cause we'll be posting more shows soon. The whole tour starts this saturday in St. Augustine, FL at the Blackwater Sol Revue. Can't wait to hear folks singing the new songs. See yall out there!

Cool on a hot day!

2008-06-12T22:55:00.001-05:00

A little more time off at home before we hit the road in July. Beautiful hot blue sky days. Had to run down to the local swimming hole just through the woods from my house.

The Point Part 1

2008-06-06T18:20:00.001-05:00

This ol' fishing boat bit the bullet last year on a sandbar just off the point. The sand here moves constantly. What was clear sailing last week may knock the bottom of your boat out this week. This wreck is holding the sand in and is starting to make a huge sandbar on its leeward side. The ocean is making fairly quick work of whats left.

The Point Part 2

2008-06-05T18:16:00.001-05:00

This old boy floated in on my way back from the point. He was ten feet long and looked like he lived a long good life. He looked really healthy but he had plenty of mileage. I reckon he died of old age, who knows. You can see half way down his side that a big tiger shark (the teeth marks are diagonal) tried to take a chunk out of him (after he was dead I can assure you). The bite mark was 13" wide by 20" tall. The shark must have tried to get a mouthful just off shore as the bite was fresh. Good to know that huge sharks are cruising my favorite surf break (gulp!)

NOW YA KNOW!

2008-05-14T15:50:00.004-05:00

Ah yes. Yet another delicious piece fish seasoned and cooked by the best, Ted. Dan Prothero and I are in the studio mixing the new album. It's coming along slowly but surely. Daryl's down here hanging too but we can't stop watching "Pinky the Cat". Pinky don't play. Got to break for minute to head to Cali.

WAY DOWN SOUTH!

2008-03-23T03:15:00.001-05:00

Down here hanging in Australia at the Byron Bay Blues fest. Been surfing and soaking up the way laid back vibe down here. This is the way nature intended. Surfed a little this AM then cruised back to a friends house that overlooks Byron (pictured). Hanging out with some really cool folks and meeting some new people from here and from Back home (Luke and Katie!!). More good times and shots coming!!

Working it!

2008-03-09T23:46:00.001-05:00

Working on new tracks for the next record. Love to have a new album out this year but I ain't going to jinx it by saying when for sure. Australia is right around the corner, looking forward to going WAY down south.

The St. Johns River in Danger

2008-03-06T16:35:00.003-05:00

If you live in Florida check this out. These dumb ass representatives we have are considering a plan to take 155 million Gallons out of the St. Johns River DAILY to supply the over flow of "growth" in other other parts of the state. This is absolutely ludicrous. Without any real research done, they're mouthing off that the impact will be minimal. With even a short drought I've watched the saltwater line move well inland and the brackish line move way up river. If these nuts get there way we'll be fishing for Kingfish in Palatka.

I've seen saltwater seepage kill all the freshwater fish and every tree and bush around a freshwater lagoon, what do they think will happen when they start draining the equivalent of a swimming pool 10 feet deep, 500 feet across and over 4000 feet long a day out of the river? The saltwater line will move way up river knocking the whole eco-system out of whack.

Everybody needs water but this kind of quick fix is extremely dangerous. One simple alternative is to return to the use of good ol' fashioned Cisterns whenever possible. Instead of draining all are rainwater away they should be collecting it (even small cisterns house by house for yard watering would greatly reduce the work load on the aquifer).

I'm not into scare tactics and all but this is one idea that needs to be squashed immediately. Visit this website to get the facts and please send the easy-to-send email to the governor while you're there. Sorry to vent but damn. Thanks yall.
ST. Johns River Keepers

LOCHLOOSA IS ON MY MIND

2008-03-01T10:20:00.001-05:00

Took this shot 2 hours before sunset on Lochloosa. Had a little business to attend to down at the Yearling at Cross Creek. Needed to get my grub on and see one of my musical heros, Mr. Willie Green all at the same time. Specks are still biting here and there.

La Florida

2008-02-26T15:58:00.001-05:00

What a run. Thanks to everybody for rallying in Ft Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando. We had 2 nights in the "Cigar City" so during one of the days off some of the fella's wanted to go jousting. Here's Dennis and Jeremiah with Scone taking the picture just before things really got crazy.

Surfs Up!

2008-02-13T10:59:00.004-05:00

Finally home after a great run through the South. Want to thank Doug, Jeff and all the gang in Charlotte, NC for the great BBQ (and nanna pudding). Everyday I check the Blue Sky Surf Shop website to look at the waves while I'm on the road and the waves are always better while I'm away on tour, but not today. The waves are rocking and I got a new suit. I'm out yall! (photo from blueskysurfshop.com/report)

ahhh yes!

2008-01-30T15:30:00.001-05:00

It's all about the groceries on the road and from the time we hit Mississippi all the way to today here in Memphis we've had nothing but smiles. Fried catfish at the Ajax Diner in Oxford, Jambalaya at Proud Larry's and now fried chicken here at Gus's in Memphis town. Now if we can somehow slide by Dreamland BBQ on our way into B-ham. Ahhh Yeah!

South Florida

2008-01-07T09:20:00.001-05:00

Had a blast this weekend down at the Bamboo Room (as usual). My buddy Brett hooked me and my boys with Captain Weston Gracida for a quick fishing excursion. The wind was way to hard out of the northeast to go after the big boys so we fished inside. Caught this crazy looking Spanish Hogfish, an even wilder looking Scorpionfish and an assortment of Snapper. Thanks for the trip Brett and Wes.

We want to thank Nicole for hooking us up with some great food on saturday and Karen and Russell (Bamboo Room owners) for the magnificent lunch Sunday. From top to bottom the Bamboo Room shows have awlays felt like family and friends weekend. Thanks y'all!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T09:55:00.001-05:00

2007 was a great year! Met so many great people out on the road so I'm looking froward to what goes down in '08.

We want to thank all the people who came out (and those at home who were pulling for us) and made it happen over the whole of the nYe run. Its one of my favorite times of the year for music. It all started with the Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeshci show at the Florida theatre, which I look forward to every year (pictured left). Then our own shows at the Freebird were an absolute blast. We want to thank The Nervous Turkey's, Hobex, The Legendary JC's and Inca Maya for playing with us. I'm not one to wish any of my life away but I'm already looking forward to next new years eve.

Personal Tailor

2007-12-04T13:52:00.001-05:00

It sure is nice to have your own personal tailor to custom fit your shirts and stuff. I caught my grandmother in the act, working hard on a new batch of shirts I got - Getting me ready for next years tours. Nobody fits 'em to me like my Granny.

The Devils Millhopper

2007-11-30T00:37:00.001-05:00

Went and hung out at the Devils Millhopper this afternoon. It's a 120 foot deep, 500 foot across sinkhole near Gainesville. I hadn't been there since I was a kid. Spotted a big fat banded water snake (non-poisonous) on the way to the bottom of the sinkhole. People regularly confuse them with water moccasins (round pupil = non-poisonous, slit pupil = watch the hell out). This shot is from the bottom looking back out of the hole. It's a mini-rain forest at the bottom with springs pouring in from the sides. It doesn't seem to flood because it drains out the grassy bottom back into the aquifer. Always cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. For some reason I caught vertigo when I got near the bottom and didn't lose it until I climbed back up above the point where it started. The same thing happened to the lady I was with. Weird but it felt good.

The Green Green Grass of Home

2007-11-22T12:26:00.001-05:00

It's been a long year but a good one. All of us have had fun on the road this year but I know the rest of the gang is glad to be home for the Holidays. Thanks to all the fans who made the Country Ghetto traveling show special this year. Hope yall have a great Thanksgiving!

Geologists vs. Evel Knievel

2007-11-12T23:55:00.001-05:00

Took a shot of Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls, Idaho. Modern geologists preach that a little bit of water (relative) over a long, long time (millions of years) made these canyons, but couldn't it just as easily have been a WHOLE LOT of water over a really short time? Just some crazy stuff I like to contemplate. Actually the true nature of this canyon could have been revealed when Evel Knievel tried to jump it in 1974. All of that geological mayhem (however short or long) so we could watch him jump it on a rocket bike. Evel Knievel Rocks! You can barely make out the dirt hill he used in the distance