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| Mojo Farmers spread good vibes with 'Wake’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Chris Hansen Orf, Get Out | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| May 14, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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. Contact Chris Hansen Orf by email, or phone (480) 898-5684 |
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© 2008 East Valley Tribune. All rights reserved.
Reader comments (7)
This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Responsibility lies solely with the comment author.
Kevin Gordon
I am the founder of mojo farmers 7 years ago. THEY ARE NOT HEADLINING THE MOGOLLON FEST ON THE 31ST. MY BAND JUST ADD WATER IS!!MOJO FARMERS ARE A FRAUD. THEY USE MY OLD PROMO STUFF TO CONTINUE BOOKING. YOU SOULD DO A ARTICLE ABOUT SOME OF MY PROJECTS. I LEFT THE BAND 2 YEARS AGO TO PURSUE A BETTER MUSICAL DIRECTION BUT I KNOW THAT THE FARMERS DONT WANT ANYONE TO KNOW ABOUT IT Comment has been reviewed
May 16, 2008
Mark Marrero
Just a comment to Kevin Gordon who left such a positive message for the band.Are you bitter or what? Or just jealous of the fact that the band is doing so much better without you? I've been a Mojo fan for several years now and I got to watch the band while you were in it as well as the current line up. I don't think your as good as you obviously think you are. Heck, I don't see your band on the cover of Get Out AZ. The current line up is a true band, not the drama of the Kevin Gordon show with the Mojo's as a back up. Why don't you just move on and let the guy's enjoy a little bit of success without throwing in any snide comments about when you were in the band. In other words, get a life! Comment has been reviewedMay 16, 2008
Endoplastic Rediculous
Wow! Cry much Kevin? You are the founder of nothing. That's akin to Al Gore saying he invented te Internet. The best claim to fame you can make is that they put up with you and your unjustified inflated ego for a few years. Mojo is a combo of two previous bands, so you can't take credit for that. They were playing out long before you and will be playing out long after you realize that you should really start taking ome music lessons.They sound much better since you got 86'ed. I do kind of miss seeing them play without the girl in the band, but you weren't that cute to begin with. Go choke on your peace pipe you hippie wanna-be. You obviously missed the point of the music. Comment has been reviewedMay 24, 2008
Kevin Gordon
I might be a little bitter about the way things were handled when i decieded to leave the band. I am proud that the mojo farmers are doing great. I just think that the ego's and the false information gets to much for me, along with the unkind ****ty people who are affiliated with the mojo farmersBTY I am extremely excited about my musical projects and know for a fact that most people in the az local music scene know what is true and not true.
I tell it like it is.... sorry you dont like the truth.
Just add water is headlining the fest not mojo.. Suggest removal of this comment
May 28, 2008
Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
Jeez guys, this is not in the spirit of music, peace & love is it?!?!I do believe however that the 'unkind' people affiliated with the Mojo are people that were/are affiliated with Kevin too? Probably not the smartest PR move to trash other bands' friends, either!!
The Mojos probably did not proof the article, the word 'headlining', whether it got put in there erroneously or not is not really a good reason to post bitter comments about anybody.
Mogollon is going to rock everyone's socks off, but lets face it, it is not like it is being advertised on VH1 or anything....I don't think much damage is being done to you, or Just Add Water from this.
Besides, judging from the Mojo's past few shows & the activity on the MySpace page I am wondering if this glorious "headlining" spot you have secured was more a function of nepotism & not actual draw potential anyway? Suggest removal of this comment
May 29, 2008
Gobble T. Gook
I saw these guys play a few times and they rock! I don't know who this thunder-stealer is, but when I saw them they sounded great and seemed very nice. I'm sure I'll pick up the CD, because Mojo makes me wet. Suggest removal of this commentMay 29, 2008
Kevin Gordon
I just wanted to say that I regret the negative post that I made. It was done out of anger and jealousy and was not cool. I am happy for the Mojo Farmers and I wish them and their fans nothing but positive energy and love. It is not my style to hold a grudge, and I have since worked it out with the bandPeace and Love to everyone
Kevin Suggest removal of this comment
July 21, 2008