Reviews

May 2004 "I had the pleasure of reviewing Mo's last CD Just Mo' a few years ago. This CD came in the mail and reading the linear notes, Mo' has made some serious changes in his life since then............The results are very pleasing." John Toebbe (read more)

April 2004 "In an age of computerized media overkill, when so much of what passes for music is little more than product, it’s all too easy to forget that music’s true purpose is communication, not commerce. Which may not render a gem like Mo Kauffey’s “Watcha Gonna Do” any more of a delight – it’s just fine on its own, thanks – but it does make it all the more valuable. They're songs about ordinary life and extraordinary moments, carefully crafted and rich with a lingering resonance." John Taylor (read more)

April 2004 "Like sitting in a rocker on the front porch. Like an afternoon at your favourite fishin' hole. Like a float trip down a lazy river. Mo' Kauffey's country blues is about as easy going as music can get. Don't go thinking that means his music is boring, because it's not." Bill Reed (read more)

Mo’ Kauffey
Whatcha Gonna Do
mo-005
Reviewed by: John R. Taylor
E-mail: john.taylor@ca.ey.com

In an age of computerized media overkill, when so much of what passes for
music is little more than product, it’s all too easy to forget that music’s
true purpose is communication, not commerce.

Which may not render a gem like Mo Kauffey’s “Watcha Gonna Do” any more of
a delight – it’s just fine on its own, thanks – but it does make it all the
more valuable. The disc – and indeed, the man himself – seems a throwback
to a more innocent age, when friends would gather to make music together as
a matter of course, rather than buying it, pre-packaged and targeted to a
particular demographic, off the shelf.

With only three covers among the disc’s fourteen tracks (Kauffey wrote all
the rest except “Missing You,” contributed by bassist/guitarist/engineer
Ken Brown), Mo’s crafted a homespun collection that celebrates life’s
simpler pleasures. The approach, accordingly, is low-key and laid-back.
Yet the unflinchingly honesty of Kauffey’s delivery and his obvious
sincerity lend their own quiet intensity to proceedings.

Kauffey is joined here by a number of friends. Mel Brown, here
contributing both organ and acoustic guitar, is probably the only name of
note. But participants all acquit themselves quite nicely, and the disc
isn’t really about instrumental wizardry anyway. Indeed, Kauffey took that
rather unusual approach of using his own guitar and vocals as the bed
tracks, with bass and drums added on later. (Piano on two cuts, courtesy
of John Havlicek, was actually submitted over the Internet and mixed in
locally – obviously Kauffey’s not entirely averse to modern conveniences!).

So what kind of music does one find here? First, this isn’t really a blues
disc at all. If anything, most would probably file it under “folk.” The
feel is acoustic - though there’s a bit of electric guitar here and there,
it’s primarily for texture and remains subdued, and both harmonica and bass
are unplugged. Kauffey’s warm and weathered voice is more smooth than
gruff, and he delivers everything with a relaxed, laconic ease; no one’s
likely to call him a great singer, but he’s utterly perfect for the
material. And that material ranges from stunningly beautiful – the
bittersweet “Celebrate” is achingly lovely and infused with a timeless
wisdom – to the gently upbeat, as represented by the wryly humourous
“Charlie Hates The Blues.”

They’re songs about ordinary life and extraordinary moments, carefully
crafted and possessing a lingering resonance. The covers – the
traditional “Railroad Song,” Merle Travis’ “Sixteen Tons,” and Lightnin’
Hopkins’ “Fan It” – are well chosen and ideally suited to Kauffey’s laconic
approach.

This isn’t the type of disc to liven up a party; the prevailing mood is
bittersweet, with an air of not-quite-melancholy reflection throughout. As
the soundtrack to a rainy day, though – accompanied, say, by a nice cup of
tea (okay, make it a ‘kauffey’)– “Whatcha Gonna Do” seems ideal.

Not quite essential, perhaps, but very nice nonetheless . . .

Web: www.mokauffey.com

Listening to Kauffey’s new CD leaves you yearning for Mo’

By Bill Reed

THE GAZETTE

____________

Title: “Whatcha Gonna Do” by Mo’ Kauffey.

Style: Country blues

Personnel: Mo’ Kauffey (guitar and vocals); Mel Brown (Hammond organ and guitar); Ken Brown (bass, guitar and vocals); Dave Colter (drums); Max Bent (guitar); Ken Moores (harmonica); Derrick Chapman (seven-string guitar); John Havlicek (piano).

What this guy is all about: Kauffey is a Pueblo native who has played his music on the Front Range for many years. Here lately, though, he went and married a Canadian woman and moved to Ontario. He visits Colorado several times a year, but this visit has been extended by visa problems. Kauffey will be playing in town until June.

Sources of inspiration: Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jorma Kaukonen, Roger Miller.

What “making it” would look like: “Just make my music, and pay my bills and live comfortably,” Kauffey says. “I don’t have any false dreams about being Metallica. There’s a lot of room in the middle to live a comfortable life playing music.”

His most rock star moment: “Sharing the stage with Mel Brown at a songwriters workshop,” Kauffey says. “(Shoot), I love it all. I just dig performing."

CD vitals: 14 songs, 45 minutes, produced by Ken Brown and Mo’ Kauffey.

Test drive: Song samples at www.mokauffey.com

Available at: Independent Records, www.cdbaby.com, www.mokauffey.com and gigs.

Review: Like sitting in a rocker on the front porch. Like an afternoon at your favourite fishin’ hole. Like a float trip down a lazy river.Mo’ Kauffey’s country blues is about as easy going as music can get. Don’t go thinking that means his music is boring, because it’s not. But his album “Whatcha Gonna Do” offers up quiet pleasures rather than lightning and thunder. His voice is effortless and soulful. His guitar work intricately weaves its way through the music. His guests offer delicious textures without overpowering the songs. This tasteful collection of tunes will have you hankering for mo’ Mo’.

Catch ‘em live: Until he leaves town, Kauffey will be playing every Wednesday at Union Station (2419 N. Union Blvd.), every Thursday at Tavern on the Green (3356 Templeton Gap Road) and every Friday in Pueblo (call the clubs to confirm details before you go).

His biggest gig is an April 23 show at the Thunderhead Inn (1100 Rampart Range Road in Woodland Park), with guests Kim Stone on bass and Randy Bowen on drums (call 687-9984)

Colorado Blues Society Holler Magazine