The MayoBox

Sup Yall?

Welcome back to The MayoBox, the one and only Greg Mayo and The Groove Blog page. I’m sure some of you are wondering… ‘Whats up with the title of this here blog?… the last time?’. I was alluding to the fact that our show at The Bitter End last week was the last one we would play with Adam Christgau on the drums. That’s right… after over a year and a half together, Adam and the band are parting ways. All the guys in the group are still on good terms. And, you may just happen to see Adam sitting in the band once in a while. Adam has gone off to pursue other musical endeavors, and Greg and the guys are looking forward to what he comes up with. Adam is an amazing drummer with a great spirit. We wish him all the best.

Anyway, the show last saturday was another amazing night… with a little extra sprinkled on top. After a nice heartfelt backstage huddle, we hit the stage with yet another ‘ballad’ type song to start off the show. We decided before the January show that we should start off with a different slower tune every time we play the Bitter End. It helps set the mood, and keeps us from getting too excited too early. Highlights of the show included Inside Your Mind, and Late in the Evening. Let me say that Liotta sounded amazing that night. I can’t say enough about how great he played. Anyway.. enough of my babbling; here’s what the set looked like -

Debra (Beck cover)

Get it Going

Still Going On

Waiting for You

Follow

I Don’t Know

The Flow

Inside Your Mind

Take Me Back

Maybe

Late in the Evening (Paul Simon cover)

Encore - Taxman

It was only fitting that we end the show with an Adam Christgau arrangement. He will be sorely missed.

Now the search commenses for a new drummer to fill the slot. We have a few guys in mind who we are gonna meet with and play some music, to see what feels right. As soon as a decision is made, we will let you know.

Hope all is well,
Greg Mayo
album of the moment - ‘Back to Black’ from Amy Winehouse

Hey, Greg here. I realized I haven’t wrote in a while, and just wanted to mention a little bit about what we’ve been up to. Shows lately have slowed down just a little bit, simply because were trying to write/record this album in a quality, timely fashion (for us, not so much for all of you, we’re just itching for new songs. Ok maybe it is for you too). And of course I am happy to announce that I recorded the first vocal tracks last week for ‘I Don’t Know’ and ‘Now I Know Better’. You can expect to see rough mixes of those songs up on our Myspace page soon. The album is still considered ‘untitled’.

The shows we have been playing in New York, Boston and Burlington have been awesome, if I may say so myself. We’re getting the biggest and best crowds we’ve ever had. The new material we’re playing live is coming well recieved (unless you’re all just humoring us, which is very possible, we’re all pretty gullable), and as a band we’re getting tighter and tighter. I could not be happier about the way things are moving ahead.Some new material, such as ‘Waiting For You’ and ‘Take Me Back’ are begining to creep their way into the sets, so keep an ear out for them, we actually debuted both of them at our last Bitter End show. Also, Adam (drummer) wrote a sick arrangement of the Beatles ‘Taxman’ which was also played at the last show.

Things are good… what else can I say.

Hope all is well with all of you. Thanks for listening to us! Please keep it up!

Greg

album of the moment - ‘Where I’m Coming From’ by Stevie Wonder

Hey Everyone,

Greg here, I just wanted to write everyone who came out to the Bitter End on Saturday night, we had a blast that night. We decided we would try and re-arrange the setlist a bit, start off a bit slower, chiller… then build into something a bit bigger.

Starting off with ‘Love Is In Need of Love Today’ was a new addition we decided on a couple weeks ago. I’ve always wanted to start shows off like that… ‘Good morn or evening, friends…’ Anyway, heres how the set looked :
Love is in Need of Love Today

Still Going On

The Flow

Inside Your Mind

Follow

I Don’t Know

Get it Going

6 Days

Alright

Now I Know Better

Maybe

Encore: Late in the Evening

It felt good not to play Sledgehammer and What’s Going On. Although great songs, and amazing for our set, playing them too often gets a little tired… Don’t worry, we’re not retiring them anytime soon.

Our next gig, it looks will be in Boston at Harpers Ferry, if you’re reading this, and you or any of your friends will be up there on Dec 9th, come on out! Please! Details will be coming soon on our webpage and our myspace page. (www.myspace.com/gregmayo) Also, this Friday night (11/17/06), I will be sitting in with the group The Element at The Knitting Factory in SoHo, check them out at www.theelementband.org. Or just come on out to the show.
Thanks again everyone, we’ll see you soon

Greg Mayo

Album of the moment for me : Michael Jackson, Off The Wall

This post is directed towards everyone who came out to our last 5 shows. Our first time in Hoboken, NJ was a blast, as well as our first outing in Stroudsburg, PA. I apologize for taking so long to get this post up… it’s actually the first time I’ve been near a computer since the shows.

Hoboken was our first on stage together in 6 weeks, so we were actually a bit nervous about how well we had re-acquainted ourselves with eachother, and the audience. We had small, but dedicated audience, and the show went off withouth a hitch.
The next night, we were in Stroudsburg, PA; playing a pretty long 3 hour set to a room full of new faces and a few old friends. That show was great. To the staff and patrons of the Sarah Street Grille, thanks so much for your hospitality. We’ll see you soon.
After a day off, back to our home turf and The Bitter End. Erik killed it again with “Late in the Evening”.. and once again the crowd was absolutely amazing, thank you so much.

The next week we hit Boston and Worcester, completing our 5 day event. The Groove’s first invasion of Beantown was a complete success. After some amazing clam chowder, we checked out our opener, Patt McCann. Just his voice and his keyboard, absolutely amazing, he sounds better and better every day. Please do yourself a favor and check him out.

Patt hooked us up again at Tammany Hall in Worcerster, MA, opening up the show with some beautiful songs, this guy just doesn’t stop.  It was an honor and a pleasure to share the stage with him.  Contrary to what we normally do at Tammany, we played 1 long set, which proved to be a wise decision.  We just hit the gas, and didn’t stop till we were done.  Mike McCann (Pat’s older brother) came up with us and freestyled over some Tribe Called Quest beats.. Completely tore it up!  That family is just out of control.  Here’s what that set looked like:

The Flow

Inside Your Mind

Cayman Review

Get it Going

I Don’t Know

What’s Going On

Follow

Tribe Groove (with Mike McCann)

6 Days

Late in the Evening

Maybe

Now I Know Better

Still Going On

Sledgehammer

Encore 1: James Brown Medley

Encore 2: Lets Stay Together

Thanks again to everyone who came out… we hope to see you at the next show!   First… we gotta hit the studio for a bit.  See ya.

Greg

Album of the moment for me:  So, Peter Gabriel

All I can really say is, the show was amazing. Off the hook. Incredible. One of a kind. Ridiculous. The audience at the Bitter End last night was the very definition of a ‘hometown crowd’. Thank you all so much for coming out and supporting us.
Oak Street opened the night amazingly, as they always do. They lit the fire, blazing.. we just fanned the flame. The vibe onstage, and all over the room was incredible. It was definitely something I’ve never felt before at a show. My favorite moments from the show… Late In The Evening, with Erik on vocals… he KILLED it!… and of course, our newest addition to the set… Sir Duke in the middle of Still Going On. Here’s how the set looked :

Tribe intro > Get It Going
Inside Your Mind
Follow
6 Days
The Flow
Late In the Evening
Maybe
I Don’t Know
What’s Going On
Still Going On > Sir Duke > Still Going On (outro)
Now I Know Better
E: Sledgehammer

Not a bad way to start our month long hiatus. Thanks for all the support,
We’ll see you in August!

Greg

Hey all,
Welcome to the MayoBox, the official blog of Greg Mayo and The Groove. Consider this a little studio/tour diary from the band to you. We’ll be posting pictures, setlists from recent shows, stories from the road. All the things you may want to know about us, and probably some things you don’t.

First, some news… our EP (extended play) is finally available on iTunes for only $4.95! Just open up iTunes and search Greg Mayo and the Groove.

Also, that very same EP has recently recieved a 4 star review on a British website called JustSoul.net… Here!

“You can tell this is not just a band, but a group of fine musicians who have studied and love their music & want you, the listener, to enjoy it too. If you like Funk with a slither of Jazz and a whole handful of Soulful Rock (with a psychedelic edge), you will love it. Energised musicians who know their music, a classic sound with a fresh twist of youthful spiciness.” Tracey Cope -JustSoul.

Anyway, as always, thanks for checking in, and keep spreading the word!
See you soon -
Greg of the Groove