Mojo Stone

Last year I blogged about Mojo Stone, a band that is near and dear to me for many reasons. For one they're personal friends of mine, singer Natalie Meadors even took over the lease for my old college home (Creighton shout-out!). But mainly they are dear to me because Mojo Stone have evolved into a Los Angeles group that shows a ton of promise and could actually "make it," whatever that means these days. Their first EP Hatchet was an eclectic debut for the young rock band, and last summer they took the big leap by taking Hatchet on the road with a southern tour. Now with their sophomore EP Strange Honey it is easy to hear how much that tour must have influenced the making of this record. Strange Honey is a southern-fried classic rock epic. While both Hatchet and Strange Honey compliment each other well, Strange Honey has a more live presence than it's predecessor. "Push The Plow" erupts like a racehorse out of the gate with Zeppelin-esque riffs and three part harmonies clashing together in a frenzy. However the band isn't afraid to slow things down at times. "Mama & the Acid Kids" will certainly get peoples' lighters swaying in the air before Henry McGill and David Donaldson turn things up and openly mock the weak god that they have bested with epic guitar soloing. Mojo Stone are planning on touring again this summer and by combining material from both EPs they will have one hell of a setlist. The band is kicking off things in style by throwing a record release party for Strange Honey at The Bootleg Theater this Thursday night. If you like independent rock and roll I highly recommend going. It just may be one of those shows that you'll be able to brag to your future kids about 'having been there.'  

Mojo Stone

I need to show some love to Mojo Stone because for one they're friends of mine but more importantly they just released their newest EP entitled Hatchet which is available for purchase on Itunes. I remember seeing these guys perform their first show ever, it was for a benefit concert for a fellow friend who had passed away a few years prior. They stepped up introduced themselves as Mojo Stone and began to tear through Beatles covers like they'd been doing this shit for years. 

    Now, over a year later they have started to gain themselves a small but loyal following and have begun performing shows around town. Their EP Hatchet isn't a record that they recorded one weekend in somebody's basement. This record has a great deal of variety and structure to it. "Barefoot Boy"  is a laid back folk-rock track that conjures images Delaney & Bonnie. "Gritty Love Blues" allows the band to show their teeth and jam out, they were wise to make this close out the EP because it leaves you wanting more.
What strikes me the most about Mojo Stone is they sound like have been together for years, these guys really do gel as band. Singer Natalie Meadors shows incredible range on Hatchet. One minute she can sweetly caress your inner ear like Neko Case, then the next minute she's tearing through your soul like Grace Slick. Neil, Henry and David's richly textured instrumentation and attention to detail is what gives this EP the amount of depth that it has.

I have posted their EP to stream below, if you like it buy it on Itunes, and who knows maybe next time I throw a party they can afford to bring beer.
Hatchet by Mojo Stone