Fog City: News

GAT Summer Tour

2010-06-12T01:32:00.000-07:00

Garage A Trois is everywhere this summer. NY, NJ, WV, CA, AZ, OR, including a choice slot at Outside Lands in San Francisco in August. Details on the tour page.

In A Holiday Groove

2009-11-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

More mojo than a warehouse full of mistletoe, more spirit than a bathtub full of gin, groovier than anything you're gonna hear on the radio this holiday season... it's got soul, it's superbad... it's ROBERT WALTER's HOLIDAY RECORD. Seriously, we get so many comments about this little record, and it's always a hit when we're at home for the holidays. Take a listen and pick up your copy now. Santa baby!

THE GOOD SOLDIER: "IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WATCHING A MORE AFFECTING MOVIE"

2009-11-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

MOFRO's JJ Grey has written his first score for the feature documentary film, THE GOOD SOLDIER, which premiered on November 11th - Armistice Veterans Day - in New York, Los Angeles, Madison, Kansas City and many other cities. On November 6th, the film received a national promotional boost when it was featured on PBS's nationwide show "Bill Moyers Journal." This is a powerful and important tally of the price paid by generations of men and women who fought for their country, and we highly recommend you watch it. For a theatre near you, check out www.thegoodsoldier.com.

Fog City T-Shirts Back In Stock

2009-10-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

After an embarrassing and unexplainably long period of unavailability, Fog City t-shirts are finally back in stock. They sold out long ago, and I suppose we were just working on other things, and one of those things led to another, and, well... where did the time go? (Those of you over the age of 25 probably know what we're talking about... those of you over 35 definitely do.) Fans of all ages and sizes: stop by our online store and pick up a Fog City tee, if only to pay for our therapy which will hopefully reveal any issues underlying our procrastination, which will eventually lead to the growth that would ensure a more functional running of our day-to-day operations, so that when the wanna-be's take note of your awesome Fog City shirt and go to order one for themselves they will find it in stock.

"Ambiguous Truths & Unambiguous Urges": MOFRO in NY Times

2009-10-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Great review of JJ Grey & MOFRO in the New York Times, including some very nice words about their most recent album, Orange Blossoms (recorded and produced by Dan Prothero, Fog City's head honcho and chief bottle-washer): "Among other things, it suggested that Mofro has one of the great unhurried rhythm sections in rock, capable of heavy track-laying but comfortable with airy fluctuation." Aw shucks!

Ringers: Robert Walter & Stanton Moore

2009-10-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

Fog City's own Robert Walter and Stanton Moore backed Alec Ounsworth (Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah) on his debut solo album, an effort that Spin has called "the sharpest arrangements and best songwriting of his short career: Almost every tune on Mo Beauty equals or betters those on CYHSY's lauded 2005 debut," and credits New Orleans "ringers" Robert and Stanton. Right on, brothers...

JJ TO PERFORM WITH MAVIS STAPLES AND BOOKER T

2009-10-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

The news could not be better: MOFRO's JJ Grey will be performing with two musical icons: Mavis Staples and Booker T. Performing both separately and together, the artists promise a concert filled with timeless hits, heart and plenty of soul. That's Mavis of the Staple Singers, Booker of Booker T & The MG's, and JJ. Playing together. Think about it. Three dates in March were announced initially: Fort Worth, Austin, and Urbana. Dare we hope for more? Or is that just being greedy?

Stanton Moore Interviewed for "Icons Among Us"

2009-10-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Stanton Moore is interviewed for the Documentary Channel’s new four-part series, “Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense”. The series has been in production for seven years. Stanton's part premiered on April 20th, 2009 (a trailer is online here). Festival screenings are in the works now. Keep an eye on the project's website for more info.

LOUISIANA'S COASTAL LINES OF DEFENSE VIDEO

2009-10-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

Louisiana's coastal wetlands are disappearing at the rate of a football field every 45 minutes, destroying New Orleans natural storm defenses. In this video, Stanton, along with members of Fishbone and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, talk about the state of the wetlands and Louisiana's coastal crisis after a fly over of the gulf coast.

New JJ GREY & MOFRO record out

2009-05-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

Fog City label head Dan Prothero has wrapped up production and mixing on the new album from JJ Grey & MOFRO. Orange Blossoms is out now, and available through Alligator Records. Backed by the full arsenal of horns, strings and a kick-butt bunch of backing vocalists, this is some high-octane soul for your almost-empty gas tank. Take it for a spin...

JamCruise 2010

2009-04-01T01:05:00.000-07:00

Madness. Madness I say! Putting artists and fans together in the same space for a week? In international waters? Madness. Robert Walter, JJ Grey & Mofro, Stanton Moore, Skerik, Robert Mercurio, Cochemea Gastelum and Tim Bluhm to name just a few Fog City artists and alumni. January 2010.

NICE WORDS FOR THE NEW PAPA MALI RECORD

2009-02-24T13:39:00.000-08:00

In addition to a very flattering five-page feature on Papa Mali in their latest issue, Hittin' The Note magazine has included his latest record (Do Your Thing) in their top 10 list for the year. Aww, shucks!

JAZZFEST 2009

2009-02-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

Seems like Jazzfest is coming early this year. Or at least, all the planning sure is. Early enough that there are already a bunch of shows booked with Fog City artists, past and present... but they haven't even released the JazzFest poster yet. Damn. Last year it was EIGHTEEN SHOWS (plus sit-ins all over town) and we anticipate the same this year. Sheesh. What we can announce right now: first weekend, Garage A Trois plays the Riverboat Creole Queen. As always, It's gonna be nuts. Keep your eye on our tour page as the details unfold.

MARDI GRAS 2009

2009-02-10T10:22:00.001-08:00

Quick announcement -- if you're lucky enough to be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras this year, be sure to check out Papa Mali's 2nd Annual Supernatural Ball, at Tipitina's on Thursday February 19th. With special guests Hot 8 Brass Band, George Porter, Jr., Glen David Andrews, John Mooney, Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, and more. Wild! Check out our tour page for links.

JAZZFEST MADNESS 2008

2008-04-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

So far, so good. Fog City artists, past and present, are playing EIGHTEEN shows (and counting!) in New Orleans during this year's Jazz & Heritage Festival. And that doesn't even count the sit-ins that will be happening all over town, every night of the week. For an onslaught of funk and soul in one of New Orleans' most vital clubs, we recommend you check out JJ Grey & MOFRO (with New Mastersounds) at Tipitina's. For those of you who look for something more personal, Papa Mali will be playing an intimate little show at the Rusty Nail. Also, we have high hopes for Garage A Trois at One Eyed Jacks and Galactic on the Riverboat Creole Queen. Oh and then there's Stanton Moore and Robert Walter at historic Preservation Hall... Where to even start? Where to stop? It's gonna be nuts. Check out our tour page for the latest.

New JJ Grey & MOFRO Record In The Works

2008-04-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Fog City label head and producer Dan Prothero is hard at work with JJ Grey & MOFRO, recording tracks for their next (fourth) album in St. Augustine Florida. The intent is to release the record this year, but we can't tell you any more than that for the time being...

JJ Grey & MOFRO play Byron Bay Australia

2008-04-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

JJ Grey & MOFRO went down under in March for the Byron Bay East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival, playing for three days on March 22-24. Other acts included John Fogerty, KT Tunstall, Xavier Rudd, Keb Mo and G Love & Special Sauce among others.

ROBERT WALTER TOURING WITH THE ALLSTARS AGAIN

2008-03-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

Robert Walter is continuing his occasional touring with The Greyboy Allstars. April 2008 sees them East Coasting before playing three shows at JazzFest. If you missed the Allstars the first time around, don't sleep.

MOFRO RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR IN JAX

2007-12-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

JJ GREY & MOFRO celebrate the New Years with a return to their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida for FOUR nights at Freebird Live.

VOLUNTEER DURING JAZZFEST 2007

2007-03-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again... JazzFest. New Orleans. I can already taste the duck and pheasant gumbo at the fairgrounds, oysters at Casamento's, the muffaletta at Central Grocery, late night fried chicken at Fiorella's... mmmm. But it's also time to give a little something back. This year, we will again be volunteering with Habitat For Humanity and helping complete the Musician's Village project. Those who volunteered with us last year know it was a little exhausting and a lot rewarding. Come join us this year and experience it for yourself. You will be glad you did.

WORD OF THE DAY: GRIMOIRE

2007-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

The first review of Papa Mali's upcoming release Do Your Thing has arrived (courtesy of New Orleans' Gambit Magazine), and we thought you should read it -- not because it flatters us, but so you can see how to properly rock a word like "grimoire":

Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne is the kind of local character that would be genuinely iconic anywhere else. Here in his adopted New Orleans, though, where we historically curate a stellar permanent collection of freaks, oddities and twisted brilliance, he simply fits right in. That's not faint praise, either. The psychedelic swamp sounds on Do Your Thing are New Orleans inside and out, and even if the sound didn't show it, his guest list would. No less of a supporting cast than the Dirty Dozen Brass Band's sousaphone player Kirk Joseph, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, award-collecting pianist Henry Butler, the Golden Eagle Mardi Gras Indians, and the Reverend Goat Carson -- who's equally likely to be seen sweeping up a Frenchmen Street bar in the early morning as playing in one late at night -- appear on the record, which is a magically crafted grimoire of voodoo space blues. Reminiscent of Night Tripper-era Dr. John, Coco Robicheaux or C.C. Adcock's latest gritty ghost-rock effort, Do Your Thing runs the gamut from prayerful blues on tracks like the haunting, understated closer True Religion to psychedelic, almost Beatles-esqe fuzz guitar on I Had The Dream. All in all, a powerful, glowing globe of swamp gas.

JJ & MOFRO BOOKED FOR JAZZFEST 2007

2007-01-22T23:08:00.000-08:00

JJ Grey & MOFRO are playing their first Jazzfest this year, on opening day - Friday, April 27th. The initial lineup has been announced, too. Some of our favorites: Dr. John, Van Morrison, Jill Scott, Irma Thomas, Pharoah Sanders, Rebirth Brass Band, Richie Havens, Percy Sledge, Mose Allison, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Eddie Bo, Henry Butler, Allen Toussaint, Tony Joe White, Galactic, Irma Thomas' Tribute to Mahalia Jackson, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, Morning 40 Federation, Lady Buckjumpers and Undefeated Divas SAPCs, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, and, well, every Mardi Gras Indian tribe and brass band... plus the gospel tent... we're gonna start saving up on our sleep right now...

DO YOUR THING!

2007-01-11T17:26:00.000-08:00

How can mere words convey the gravity of the imminent appearance of THE NEW PAPA MALI RECORD? How can you describe the raucus, floor-rattling grooves and explain how, somehow, this funky good time actually proves to be meaningful and even a little thoughtful, like the kind of thing you'd like to go back and listen to a few dozen more times just to get your head around it. How do we get this across to you?

Well, let's put it this way: Imagine yourself on some random night out that turns into a chance encounter with an outrageous special someone, where somehow things get real naughty and, you know, things are said and done to the point where you might even be a little embarrassed and you aren't sure if you can both still respect each other, and then just when you're wondering if it's cool to call them they go ahead and call YOU, and you end up dating for a long, long time. Oh yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Well, the new Papa Mali record is kind of like that. Except it's a record.

ETIENNE ON TOUR WITH HONEYCUT

2006-12-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

Our own Etienne de Rocher has been touring with Bay Area breakout band Honeycut, rocking his fuzz bass and otherwise looking like a member of Gorillaz or something. Who knew? And check out their bad-ass drummer, who plays a drum machine with his fingers. Yeah we never thought we'd say that either... laugh for now if you must, but when they rock their version of "Impeach The President" you will submit.

SOUTH AUSTIN GOT SOUL

2006-12-11T19:00:00.000-08:00

Papa Mali is giving something back to his adopted home of Austin Texas, and you're invited. He's enlisted friends the Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers, Shelley King, Leann Atherton and others, and will be heading up what is fixin' to be the first annual Soul Of South Austin Holiday Reunion. Bring your cushions, blankets and long-lost friends, and join in on a spiritual and soulful reunion. Gumbo and red beans & rice will be provided (as you might expect at any self-respecting reunion). Bring your favorite appetizer or side dish to share. The event benefits the Capital Area Food Bank; canned food donations are being accepted and each can knocks a dollar off the $15 ticket price. December 21st at Ruta Maya, South Austin TX.