The argument has been made that rock 'n' roll is dead. Well, if it is the Mojo Gurus are refusing to attend the funeral. These four guys from the Tampa Bay area of Florida play as if the burden of saving the genre lay square upon their shoulders. It's bourbon soaked, gut bucket, glam meets twang, the Stones pick up Hank Williams hitchhikin' down the Lost Highway. What's that? Do I feel a pulse?
Led by singer songwriter Kevin Steele, the Gurus come off as determined to remind us of something too many people have forgotten... the spirit in which rock 'n' roll was originally intended. Shake 'em on down! Backed by Doc Lovett's rhythm and booze riffs, Vinnie Granese's thick and black as Mississippi Delta mud bass runs and Mark Busto's cannon shot voodoo beats, the Mojo Gurus perform real deal rock 'n' roll with enough strut and swagger to make most of today's flavor of the month bands pale in comparison.
The Mojo Gurus released their debut disc in 1999 to great critical acclaim. The bands video "Tiger Lily" received heavy rotation on Canadian music video channel Much Music. That release was quickly followed by “Drinkin’ TNT and Smokin’ Dynamite” which along with their powerhouse live performances helped the band build an impressive following around the world. The Gurus third release “Hot Damn!” enjoyed a four-month success story on FM radio that included over one-hundred-nineteen FM stations playing “Hot Damn!”including sixty-five CMJ reporting "core" stations.Roots Music Report gave the band a five star review saying, “Hot Damn is right! The Mojo Gurus ‘Hot Damn!’ is a fantastic roots rock release.”
The success of “Hot Damn!” led to the band signing with Empire Musicwerks and recording a new CD entitled “Shakin’ In The Barn.” The bands hard work ethic continued to pay dividends when after a NYC showcase they were handpicked by Grammy Award winning producer Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, NY Dolls) to be his next recording project. On “Shakin’ In The Barn” Douglas captured all the energy from the band’s amazing live performances. Jack Douglas said the following about the new CD, ”This CD makes me want to drive out on the highway ‘pedal to the metal.’ Pull over at a truck stop, hang for a while and play a game of Texas Holdem with a gang of bad bikers while Jerry Lee Lewis screams on the juke. Mojo Gurus writes and plays real deal American roots rock, all the fun and adventure included. Don't be surprised if you suddenly start off-roading in your Caddy SUV as the CD spins in your player. It was a blast to produce.” “Shakin’ In The Barn” was distributed by Universal Records and spent six months on the national roots rock/alt-country charts.
Defying all labels the Gurus new album “Let’s Get Lit With…The Mojo Gurus” combines southern rock, old school country, rhythm and blues, surf rock and even a little bit of soul. Produced by the band and Jody Gray the album was mastered in LA by Stephen Marsh (Jeff Beck, Muddy Waters). If after one listen you don't find yourself doin' the Twine and Ballin' the Jack, maybe you better have your pulse checked.
Whether you have been around long enough to remember the real thing or you are young enough to wish you could, the Mojo Gurus are the long lost friend you've been looking for. Let's Get Lit indeed!