Blacktop Mojo’s maiden voyage to the UK last year felt ridiculously improbable. When Burn the Ships released and they went viral with their cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On”, it was the exact sentiment I had on the basis of them ever coming over. By the time I reviewed their self-titled album in the middle of 2021, it was a case of supporting a great band making great music, tempered by accepting that I’d never see them live but I’d enjoy what I’d get. So when they toured last year with Shaman’s Harvest (another act I thought I’d never see) on a co-headline run, it became a must-see show and a highlight of the year.
Thankfully, a lot of people had the same sentiment heading into the show and after because it’s meant Blacktop Mojo have returned to similar-sized rooms under their own steam. Which is exactly where we find ourselves tonight, back in Birmingham’s O2 Institute 2. Gorilla Riot are first up and seize the initiative by doing exactly what an opener should do – get us warmed up with some thrilly muscular bluesy hard rock. Any time I’ve seen them, they’ve been a solid live act and tonight is no exception. Everyone on that stage owns their respective parts and they come together to create a big, full sound. One number sounds like early Black Stone Cherry (when they made good/memorable albums) whilst the second-last song goes towards Blackberry Smoke, albeit heavier and less raspy vocals. The Les Pauls are justified, the drums and bass make some solid grooves, and the vocals are rich and distinctive. Whilst they’re more than capable and worthy headliners (such as Hella Rock’s inaugural year), you know where they’d be perfect? The dinnertime slot with overpriced fried food filling your stomach whilst you sip on your favourite drink.
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Brayden Stewart follows them with his self-titled band and their brand of outlaw country. It feels left-field after Gorilla Riot but when you combine both bands, you get the core DNA of tonight’s headliners. The only issue being is that they stall the momentum built by their predecessors. Watching them, they’re fine but fairly rigid onstage, other than guitarist stage left who threads the needle expertly of excellence without stealing the show. Largely what doesn’t help the situation is Stewart’s voice in the mix; you can hear it but it’s not high enough to pick out the lyrics, the subtleties and everything else and it extends to his between-song chatter as he introduces the songs – you don’t know what they’re called and really the only thing I made out was it being their first time in the UK. Towards the end, they play their new single, “Keep On Walking” which has Blacktop Mojo’s Matt James putting in an early appearance before he retreats. And because we’re in Birmingham, we get a Sabbath cover. It’s a fairly common practice but since the death of Ozzy, it’s only increased. And a countrified “War Pigs” is a way to end a set on a high.
Blacktop Mojo take to the stage with all the subtlety of a high-speed train derailing. You want loud, sweaty, uncompromising hard rock? You could do a lot worse than these guys. Ripping through a career-spanning set, they know how to deliver, balancing the fervour of a cramped club show and the spectacle of a sold-out arena. Indeed, they thrive off the intimacy of the venue yet they’re a band deserving of a much bigger space to ply their trade. Their blues-soaked, Southern-fried, no-frills sound is the definition of simple but elegant. It’s been done to death but they do it so well that it reminds you, out of all of rock’s sub-genres, it really is the best of them.
Grooves and riffs fly thick and fast from a band who know their craft inside-out. The chemistry between the five of them is intense and elevates the performance – this is a band who actually like each other. They batter through their set, relentless in their assault, reminding everyone who was here last year just how good it was. But tonight is even better. One highlight comes with the early appearance of new song “Gut Shot” with its chugging guitars and loads of swagger. While it sounds like it could have been on Velvet Revolver’s first album, it still sounds like Blacktop Mojo. Elsewhere, the sombre “Tail Lights” sees the band bring it down a gear and comes at the mid-point as a welcome respite. There’s a whole load of passion and power in the track and the atmosphere in the room becomes tense, yet everyone’s eyes are on the band.
There’s also a bluesy guitar battle which gives way to “It Won’t Last” with Matt James taking on bass duties towards the end, allowing Matt Curtis to swap to six strings and give the most heartfelt guitar solo of the evening. It’s goosebump-inducing. And like Brayden Stewart, they pay homage to Ozzy but go for something a bit less obvious compared to most others – an acoustic rendition of “Mama, I’m Coming Home”. The Lemmy-penned ballad has people singing along and as the way to start an encore in Birmingham, you couldn’t do much better. But there’s one other cover to close out the night. One that was conspicuous in its absence last year. And as soon as those opening chords kick in, you can’t help but smile. Their powerful interpretation of “Dream On” is a pure sonic force. It’s heavier and grungier (they do call themselves Texas grunge, after all) and if it had been missed again, it would have been even more disappointing this time around.
As the band remark that they hope to come back next year, it’s a solid yes from me. Let’s make this an annual pilgrimage. And if they’re packing out rooms like this, next time has to be in a bigger room, surely. They’re a band who wouldn’t be out of place on a Maid of Stone or Steelhouse line-up with their diverse but heavy and no-nonsense sound. Tonight’s the kind of night that you don’t mind is mid-week, instead, you’re excited to see an excellent band and then spend the rest of the week raving about it.
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