Blacktop Mojo – Live – G2 – blacktopmojomusic

Review By Darren McIntyre

Blacktop Mojo are a post – grunge hard / rock outfit from Palestine, Texas who originally formed in 2012, the boys have given us I Am in 2014, Burn The Ships in 2017, Under The Sun in 2019, Blacktop Mojo in 2021 & Fallen in 2024. The boys have been touring and gigging all over the US and make their welcome return to the UK having been on a successful support tour in 2025, the boys have also been busy in the studio working on their new album Discount Fireworks which they hope will be dropping in October 2026. To wet our appetites for the new record the boys are heaing out on tour and tonight they bring their Texas Checkmate rock n roll juggernaut to my hometown Glasgow, please join me as I take in the flavour of this band from Palestine, Texas, the place is packed to the rafters with punters ready and waiting to rock out with this band of Texans and as the lights dim and the house PA fades the boys rumble onto the stage to a heroes welcome and as they sup up the applause Matt steps forward and bellows out Howdy Glasgow and bang off we go –

Burn The Ships – The track erupts into life witha real sludgy guitar riff that has a thundering snare drum punch to really let the song come to life as Matt unleashes his soaring vocals that really grab our attention. The boys are pumped and ready as they come at us with a real grungy, gritty riff that brings the cool, meaty bassline to our attention as they hit the ground running, the place is singing along and really getting into these 5 Gladiators as they deliver an anthem track. The rhythm section is commanding the room with it’s precision kicks and cool beats as the boys get us to clap along to the groove as this gig starts bubbling under the surface as the boys watch our faces light up with sheer joy as they hit us with –

Come Get Your Coat – The track comes at us with a real foot stomping beat as the rhythm section commands the room with it’s punchy snare / bass kicks that really grab our attention. Matt leans in with a real roaring vocal that lets the track tell it’s own story as this dark, brooding monster unfolds before us and lets us feel the energy oozing from the tight, dark stage as the boys kick on and let us have it, the funky, mellow bassline is grabbing our attention as Catt lets rip with a real gutsy beat that allows this track the room it needs to punch us straight in the face. Matt chats with us and has a cool exchange with the audience as he allows his gravelly vocals to wander freely through the arrangement as the solid guitar solo kicks in the doors and hits us right between the eyes with sheer power driven licks that let the track take us on the journey as we throw our fists in the air and get ready to wander into –

Sweat – A crunching, raspy guitar lick opens the track as the boys prowl the stage and hit us with a real punchy rhythm section that gives this arrangement depth, swagger and bags of attitude. The dirty, gravel soaked vocals bellow from the stage as the boys run freely through the track and hit us with a real sludgy, foot stomping, well rounded track. The place is nodding along to this real infectious number as the dark, brooding bassline hits us with a cool, mellow groove that just lets the track unfold, the boys are smiling from ear to ear as they deliver a cool, fist pumping piece that just tells us that the boys are here and they mean business as we wander into –

Gut Shot (New) – The twin guitar assault erupts as the boys kick in the doors with this gritty, rockin beast as the rhythm section controls the room with it’s solid, meaty snare punches that rain down on us. Matt leans in and lets his gritty vocals lead the charge in this new unreleased track. The slick, crisp guitar licks are weaving their way through the track as the boys settle into their stride with a punchy, rockin tone that just puts a smile on your face from the outset, the tempomchanges pace a little as Nathan kicks things off with his snare / bass beats that work well alongside the sizzling twin guitar assault that we are witnessing tonight. The boys have really brought their A – Game tonight as they are giving us their all in this foot stomping bruiser as we roll into –

The End – A cool, mellow bassline eases through the intro as a cool, mellow guitar pick gets the track off the ground as Nathan brings the groove with a punchy snare / bass combo that just grabs our attention. The gritty, meaty vocals are weaving their way through the track as the tempo builds as the boys just kick in the doors with a real romping riff that lets us know that the boys are back, the mellow, punchy rhythm section is letting the track breathe as it lets the funky, mellow bassline drop in and hit us with a real delicious beat that just stops us in our tracks as the boys are now getting warmed up as they hit us with this cool, punchy piece that shows us a darker, edgier side to this rockin outfit from Texas, we are being treated to a real southern rock show tonight ladies & gentlemen as we stroll into –

Can’t Sleep – Matt straps on his guitar as a cool, dark bassline wanders through the intro as Matt lets his killer vocals lead the charge of this thought provoking number as we fix our eyes on the stage. The rhythm section kicks in with killer cymbal crashes that rain down on us as this awesome number unfolds, the crisp, clean guitar riffs are adding depth and swagger to this little ditty as we feel the energy coming at us right now. The place is just buzzing with excitement as the boys drop the hammer and really give us a well put, rockin show that just ticks all the boxes. We are throwing our fists in the air as this bruiser really grabs our attention as the boys give us a real rock n roll show tonight as we drop into –

Latex – A punchy snare / bass kick gets this track on the move as the full on bassline drops in and really lets the tone flow freely through the venue as Matt lets his melodic, rockin vocals get us movin. The boys lean in and hit us with a twin guitar combo that just elevates the number as we feel the energy pouring through the track, the heavy bass kicks give the track depth, attitude and room to breathe as this real thought provoking number does it’s thing and wraps itself around us as the boys shift through the gears and really let us feel the full force of this killer 5 – piece rock n roll unit. The place is swaying from side to side as we get a rasping guitar solo as Ryan steps front and centre and offloads big time as we watch in awe as the boys take us on the journey with them as they let us feel the groove hitting us from all sides as they deliver a killer track that lets us roll into –

Tail Lights – Matt again straps on his guitar as Ryan 7 Catt hit us with a real soothing, delicious bass / guitar ripple that just has us staring at the stage and watching this magical night unfold as the boys give us all they have. The rhythm section is kicking off big time as the snare punches fill the air as Nathan lets us know he is here and ready to take the track onwards, Matt gets us to sing along with the lyrics as we feel the emotion pouring from the stage as the boys take it down a notch with this epic track that is a real fan favourite. The cool, mellow, delicious bassline is the star of this track as Catt pounds away and lets the boys do their thing as we feel the energy coming from Matt as he lets his towering vocals take the track forwards as we stand and let him control how this track goes down. The vocals are just incredible as we feel the emotion wrap itself around us as the boys pull out the big guns mid set and let me tell you it’s a corker that lets Ryan offload with a spectacular solo that just gives us goosebumps as we drop into –

The River – Matt wanders around the stage as this melodic number unfolds and lets us feel the sludgy groove wrap itself around us tonight as the boys bring the dark, brooding feel to this cracker. The bassline drops in and delivers a meaty, funk laden groove that works so well with the rhythm section as it comes at us with a solid snare / bass combo that allows the track to really come for us, the place is feeling the love from the boys as they steamroll their way through this awesome setlist and bring a real diverse, gritty, rockin groove as Matt asks us to let them know we are still in the building tonight. The rhythm section is really bringing the heat as it gives us a cymbal crash that works well with this rasping tone as the boys wander into –

Raised By Wolves (New) – This new track is a real mellow, emotion filled number that lets Matt bring his incredible vocals to this killer track that really grabs our attention as the boys lean in and let us feel the love pouring from the stage. The guitar work is quite incredible as the boys are like a really well oiled machine that just gets better and better every time we hear them, the vocals are stunning and the lyrics are really grabbing our attention as the boys settle into their stride and let us have it both barrels as this new number gets the seal of approval as we stroll into –

The Void – This is another track that lets Matt strap on his acoustic guitar and show off his playing skills that work well with his incredible vocals that are weaving their way through the venue tonight. The rhythm section is bringing the heat as Nathan controls the direction of this real thought provoking number as the boys step forward and hit us with a twin guitar assault that really gives the track depth and swagger that just gives us a sense of belonging as this bruiser builds and builds and really tells us that the boys are firing on all cylinders tonight as we hurtle through the setlist and drop into –

Prodigal – Matt chats with us and tells us that the boys miss being away from home but feel right at home with us as this smoldering number opens up and lets us feel the emotion coming from Matt’s incredible vocals. The sweet, mellow guitar picks are weaving their way through the track as the dark, meaty bassline wraps itself around us as this thought provoking number grabs us, the place is silent and just loving having these boys in our back yard as we let the band unleash their infectious brand of rock n roll that just allows us to go on the journey with the boys as they deliver in spades with this real diverse set that takes us through their impressive back catalogue as we hit the business end of the show as we come onto –

Where The Wind Blows – This kick ass track begins with Catt dropping in with a real sludgy, delicious bassline that works so well with a punchy rhythm section that allows the groove to flow. Matt gets us involved with the vocals as he gets the house lights put up as we bellow out his instructions as this foot stomping, gritty rocker track comes at us, the boys are prowling the stage and really delivering a full on groove fest that just builds and builds as the boys kick ass and take names as we throw our fists in the air. The place is just rockin out to this impressive 5 piece that knows how to show up and rock out as the snare / bass punches deliver a real deep, funking beat that just flows effortlessly through the venue as we the boys leave the stage to a hero’s departure. The place is shouting one more song, one more song as the boys return and hit us with –

House Of The Rising Son(Acoustic) – The boys return with a classic cover that just brings a smile to your face as we let them unleash this classic that wanders freely through the venue as Matt leans in and lets his gritty, melodic vocals lead the way as Ryan lets his fingers do the talking as the boys lead us into –

Wild Horses – Matt straps on his acoustic guitar as this toe tapping number leaps into life as the place is again silent as the boys drive their juggernaut right through Glasgow with this awesome number. The boys have not stopped smiling since they took to the stage as we feel the love oozing towards us as this epic night of blues soaked rock n roll will live on for a while yet, the slick, crisp electric guitar licks are pouring from the stage as the boys take us homeward bound with their killer track that leads onto –

It Won’t Last – Malcolm steps forward and gives us sharp, crisp, clean licks that work well with the rhythm section as this toe tapping number unfolds as Matt leans in and lets his colossal vocals take the track down the road. The place is watching the stage and feeling the love oozing from every member of the band as this killer track kicks in the doors and lets us know that Blacktop Mojo came, saw & kicked ass, the crowd are cheering ono stop as the boys deliver a real masterclass in rock n roll as we drop into the last track of the night –

Dream On – Matt tells us this is a song we did not write and if we did we would have taken a private jet to come see us tonight which brought a huge laugh from the crowd. The cool, melodic guitar intro gets the track off the ground as Matt leads the charge with his powering vocals as this bruiser erupts into life as the rhythm section kicks things off with a pounding snare / bass combo that is just on the money, the classic track is just putting a smile on our faces as the boys give us a track that is worthy of ending the night in style as we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves tonight and that is no lie. Matt chats with us as he tells us that it has been a pleasure coming onstage tonight to perform for us as he knows times are hard and that money is tight so we thank you which is a real nice way to sign off.

Blacktop Mojo –

Matt James – Lead Vocals / Guitar

Ryan Keifer – Guitar / Backing Vocals

Malcolm Booher – Guitars / Backing Vocals

Matt ‘Catt’ Murtis – Bass / Backing Vocals

Nathan Gillis – Drums

Setlist –

Burn The Ships

Come Get Your Coat

Sweat

Gut Shot (New)

The End