Photo by Alycia Pollock
Day One
JJ Grey and Mofro’s Blackwater Sol Revue took over the St. Augustine Amphitheater this Memorial Day weekend for two distinct days of incredible music. It was a tale of two lineups, each anchored by the powerhouse curator.
It is edifying to see a band you have loved for years and seen in tiny rock clubs play a stage like the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Something stood out to me from the jump in St. Augustine. I have been watching several of these bands for the better part of two decades and can’t think of a night where they phoned it in or were not their best. This weekend would be no exception.
Satsang opens the main stage. Acoustic. Barefoot. He has the kind of aesthetic that might lead to dismissal or pigeonholing if not for the welcoming feel of the festival. A couple of songs in he’s covering the Bee Gees and rewarding the open minded. Tells us he’s from Montana, which is a wonderful, wild, weird as hell part of the world that seems to frame Satsang’s set beautifully.
He recounts coming off of tour and having to pass off his baby because he had a song idea. There is a fella in front of me. Let’s call him Phil. He’s very Florida. Day one of Blackwater Sol Revue is very Florida, which makes sense given JJ Grey is Florida personified.
Phil’s doing that dip pack thing. How many of you pictured exactly what I’m talking about as soon as I said it? Put your thumb and middle finger together. Let your index finger fly loose and flick your wrist in a celebratory fashion. Does it have a name? Is it a Southern thing?
Satsang introduces a song about being smitten. “After a while you forget what that feels like then it happens again as you are about to turn forty.” His words and the following song skewer the near capacity crowd.
American Aquarium follows to a smattering ovation. The boys open with their new single “Crier” which is a teeth kicking rock tune. There is a woman next to me who’s chasing the shade on this sweltering Florida night. She is unsure of these rock n’ rollers. Much of the crowd seems to not know American Aquarium yet. Phil does. He’s belting every song. I don’t feel bad about singing along with him. It’s a freeing feeling and Phil and I are bonding.
American Aquarium’s setlist is perfect. As the set progresses, BJ and the boys are making friends. This band is undeniable live. “Casualties of Rock n’ Roll,” “St. Mary’s,” “Losin’ Side of 25,” “Lonely Ain’t Easy,” just song after song of stunning work.
American Aquarium ends with “Jacksonville,” which is always hits in this part of the world for obvious reasons, and “Burn. Flickr. Die.” There is no question the crowd is now in their hands.
Photo by Alycia Pollock
Lucero follows, coming out to a roar. “At JJ Grey’s show, I don’t stand a chance at being good,” frontman Ben Nichols quips. Phil is having a blast. He only takes his arm away from his lady’s shoulders long enough to dap me up or do the dip pack celebration.
The boys from Memphis play “Chain Link Fence” and “Sweet Little Thing” in succession. Haven’t heard either of those in a minute. A wave of gratitude settles on me. As they do every night, BJ Barham and Ben Nichols are both available for autographs and photos at the merch table. Two of the coolest rock bands on the planet fronted by guys who make a huge effort to connect with fans on a personal level.
There’s a bit of a break to set up Mofro. Looks like he’s gonna have twenty people on stage. The wave breaks out in the crowd. The Florida sky starts to threaten.
JJ Grey has a fervent fan base. It is wild to see how much that base has grown over the decades and how passionate folks are. The live show is always a blast and tonight is an exemplar of that reality.
Unfortunately, the heavens have their own performance to conduct. The sky opens into a downpour.
Undeterred, after nearly an hour delay, JJ Grey and Mofro come back to satisfy a thinned out crowd and put a swampy bow on day one of Blackwater Sol Revue.
Day Two
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre is a setting that makes even a festival feel like hanging out on a giant porch with 4,000 of your closest friends. The only thing missing is rocking chairs. Shows at The Amp are a communal affair and a celebration of North Florida, a place often misunderstood but well-represented in the music of JJ Grey.
Day two of JJ Grey and Mofro’s Blackwater Sol Revue is another scorcher. The Florida heat is oppressive but the lineup’s brand of heat helps distract and sooth.
Anders Osborne opens the main stage as a duo with a saxophonist. The vibe feels divergent from yesterday. Not better or worse, just different. Lots of Grateful Dead shirts and tattoos. It is still very Florida in here but less like a documentary on the culture of the Sunshine State. Osborne’s gorgeous melodies awaken our appetites.
There is no one quite like G.Love who is up next. The set opens with a few songs from his Grammy nominated, Keb’ Mo’ produced 2020 release The Juice and makes its way through his catalog. He brings out Devon Allman and Duane Betts. I notice a cop who looks like a transformer to my left. Kind of snaps me out of my bliss for a second. Why do you need to be dressed like you are entering a war zone while G.Love sings about having a “Soul B Que?”
Photo by Alycia Pollock
Even Coptimus Prime can’t put a damper on this day. G.’s set includes some of his classics. “My Baby’s Got Sauce” gets everyone out of their seats. I notice a couple near the front bumping their butts into one another. It’s adorable and G. Love has run with the vibe in that direction.
“Cold Beverages” may be a tick campy but it’s a blast live. Hard not to smile. I head to the restroom and grab one of my own between sets. A fella grabs my arm and claps his other hand against my chest as I walk out of the row, “good work!” he says. I’m not sure what I’ve done but thank him nonetheless.
The Allman Betts Band takes the stage to an enthusiastic welcome. Duane Betts and Devon Allman manage to balance carrying on the legacy of their legendary fathers with forging their own path. This set includes ten songs including crowd favorites “King Crawler” and “Savannah’s Dream,” along with a blistering cover of the Dickey Betts (father of Duane) penned Allman Brothers classic “Blue Sky.”
All leading up to the Sonny Boy Williamson tune “One Way Out” with G.Love. Duane is shredding. G. playing harmonica. The band has fully opened the throttle and we are all along for the ride.
JJ Grey and Mofro opens their second set of the weekend with “Country Ghetto,” a song that speaks to this place with precision. There is a comfort in these songs for those of us who grew up here and a universality to the themes that burrows into the depths of the human condition. This set, like last night's, draws thousands of souls in for a big, sweaty hug. Such was the weekend at Blackwater Sol Revue.