Concert season usually doesn’t start until March, so fans were happy to see JJ Grey and Mofro bring their Olustee Tour to town in the cold of winter. It warmed up quickly, though, as the music was hot and the show was even hotter.

Andy Frasco, with his live-wire personality, opened the show and immediately set the mood. Energetic and fun-loving, the musician with a new record deal played his set like a multi-talented piano bar player. His guitarist of 15 years, Shawn Eckels, complemented Andy perfectly and made the much-too-short set more fun than most other opening sets.

Frasco’s songs were fun and entertaining and made the listener wonder what direction the next line or verse would take. Laughing and enjoying the stage show, the fans gave the Andy Frasco Duo their stamp of approval.

With the instruments already set up on stage, it didn’t take long for JJ Grey and Mofro to come out and start thrilling the crowd. Opening with “Olustee,” the title track from their latest album, Grey opened the rocking song with his harmonica, and the three-man horn section gave it a heavy dose of funk. JJ said between songs that his voice was cracking as he had been sick and that he needed help from the audience, and the crowd was happy to oblige.

The rhythm section of Craig Barnette on drums and Todd Smallie on bass laid down a funky beat on “Country Ghetto” as Grey joined Eric Brigmond on the keyboards for a big finish and a big hand afterward. The well-known “This River” featured beautifully written lyrics and told a compelling story to go along with the tight music from the well-meshed band. The Swamp-Rock vocalist continually engaged the devoted fan base all night and asked for help on “Orange Blossoms,” while telling the sold-out crowd to “just make up words if you don’t know the lyrics.”

Another Mississippi Sax (harmonica) intro segued into the enthusiastic audience singing along to “Lochloosa,” which garnered more applause and cheers. A keys intro led into “Seminole Wind,” the classic song by John Anderson. Grey stayed true to the original while still making the song his own with his indelible Southern Soul. “Rooster” was a fun song and came at the perfect point in the setlist, showing that Grey and the band had put together the show exceptionally well from their ten albums.

 Pete Winders on guitar and Brigmond laid down a soulful, blues beat and both had solos for the sultry “Slow, Hot & Sweaty,” which was considered foreplay for some of the couples in the crowd on Treat Your Baby Right Night. The theme continued when Grey told a story about seeing a few good-looking women on the tour, but it wasn’t until they got to Dallas that they saw nothing but “fine ass women.” This, of course, was naturally relatable to the Dallas crowd who cheered for their own as Mofro delved into “She’s So Fine.”

Most of the band left the stage as a drum and piano combo kicked up the beat and let Barnette and Brigmond show off their well-honed skills. The band came back and the horn section moved to center stage to showcase their instruments. The jam session ended as everyone on stage was into it and enthusiastically delivered a powerful beat, showing why their strength is their stage performance.

JJ Grey then came back and started an almost ballad-like slow song in “The Sun Is Shining Down.” It quickly became a sing-along as the audience picked up on the refrain of “Glory, Glory Hallelujah” for a great set-ending song. After a quick break, they were back for the encore of “Brighter Days.” The keys intro and horn play made a terrific song with wonderful lyrics even better as that ended a great night of music.

 JJ Grey and Mofro is on tour through the end of September, so there are ample opportunities to see the Blues, Funk, Rock and Soul band in your area. Their live show is amazing and should be seen to appreciate their music even more.

 Special thanks to Jorgia Fellhauer and Rachel Thomas and the staff at House Of Blues Dallas for their help.