While on a search of newer bands who perform in the classic rock style, we were turned onto Blacktop Mojo, a Southern rock group based in Palestine, Tex. Their blend of post-grunge, classic rock and metal falls somewhere between Soundgarden and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The band were formed in 2012 by frontman Matt James and drummer Nathan Gillis, and morphed into a five-piece with the additions of bass player Matt Curtis and guitarists Ryan Kiefer and Kenneth Irwin. They released their debut album, I Am, in 2014, and go road work with Sammy Hagar, Bon Jovi, Candlebox, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Black Stone Cherry, Puddle of Mudd and Drowning Pool.
In 2017, Blacktop Mojo teamed with Muscle Shoals producer Jimmy Johnson for their second album, Burn the Ships, and a single, “Where The Wind Blows,” reached #27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, while the band was on its first U.S. tour that fall which includes a slot at Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisc., on July 12, alongside headliners Disturbed and Incubus, and at Louder Than Life in Louisville, KY on Sept. 29 with Godsmack and Five Finger Death Punch.
On June 19, the band released a video of a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” As they noted on their Facebook page:
“Our good friend from right here in our hometown, Alex Smith, did an acoustic cover of this song at a local show and we loved it, so we asked him if he’d like to come to the studio and record it with us backing him up.”
Watch Blacktop Mojo and Alex Smith cover “Dreams”
The band has started work on its third full length release, as well as touring to support the second radio single from Burn the Ships, a cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”
And for good measure, watch them perform the title cut from Burn the Ships
Blacktop Mojo currently have dates booked through Oct. 6. Tickets are available here.
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