BG & THE MOJO HANDS

Blues, Swing and Rockabilly

Guitarist/vocalist, Brian Gross, founded and led BG & the Mojo Hands for an impressive 25+ year run, based from the Washington, DC area. They have regularly performed their captivating brand of Roots Music: Blues, Swing, Rockabilly, and much more to enthusiastic audiences at many diverse venues in the Washington DC/Mid-Atlantic Region. They distinguish themselves in another way, though - they really play with feeling! That's what this kind of music is all about.

BG & the Mojo Hands is available for concerts, festivals, corporate parties, club engagements and other functions

  • Brian is the bandleader and founder of BG & the Mojo Hands and has, during the last 20+ years, continued to expand the band's visibility and performance schedule throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. His versatile and emotional, crowd pleasing guitar playing drives the band and encompasses Chicago, Texas and West Coast blues, swing, jump, rockabilly, and country acoustic delta blues. Brian has been influenced by many artists including Muddy Waters, the "Kings of Blues," Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Slim Harpo, T -Bone Walker, Elmore James, Robert Johnson and Ronnie Earl. He was a founding member of the original DC Blues Society Band that performed at the 6th Annual DC Blues Festival at Carter Barron Amphitheater, and has performed or shared the stage with legendary R&R band Link Wray’s Raymen, Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones, Smokin' Polecats, The Cathy Ponton King Band, and Jesse Yawn. He has studied with recording artists Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, Paul Rishell and Little Annie Raines. Brian maintains a busy teaching schedule of private guitar students through his Brian Gross Annandale Guitar Lessons Studio, and for 20 years taught group guitar classes through the Montgomery County Recreation Department, and Glen Echo Park.

  • Considered among the top of the list of blues harpists East coast, Roger Edsall combines a mix of styles from classic pioneers Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson, as well as everybody's contemporary guru, Kim Wilson. Roger also joins Brian as the other half of authentic country acoustic blues duo, Delectrified. Having shared the stage and the bill with the likes of Maria Muldaur, the aforementioned Kim Wilson, Kenny Neal, Jimmy Thackery and a host of others, it's clear that the savvy of veteran musical experience has served Roger well and is clearly displayed on BG & the Mojo Hands' performances and CDs.n text goes here

  • Charles has played with a who's who of top musicians and bands. His uncluttered, traditional bass playing approach keeps the groove going strong. Charles has a smooth baritone voice and sings favorites by BB King, Howlin' Wolf, Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Reed and more.

  • A Washington DC native, Fred is an accomplished freelance, recording, and session musician who is an equally competent bass player. Fred is very comfortable playing any type of groove - shuffles, swing, slow blues, r&b, boogie-woogie and more. Fred and Charles combine together as a rock solid rhythm section. He has performed with many top regional blues acts including Tough Luck, Bad Influence, Johnny & the Headhunters, Little Ronnie & The Grand Dukes, and Pork Chop & The Top Dogs.

From time to time, we have other contributing members:

Dave Gorogzos Keyboards/Vocals

Bret “Big Boy Little” Littlehales/Vocals
Randy Lilleston Harmonica/Vocals
Fast Eddie Harmonica/Vocals
Seth Kibel Saxophone/Woodwinds
Jimi Jones Drums/Vocals
Arthur Gerstein         Keyboards/Vocals

Sample Song List

SHUFFLES:   
BACKSTROKE                                 
BACK AT THE CHICKEN SHACK   
DUST MY BROOM               
GONNA LEAVE U BABY      
GOT MY MOJO WORKING 
HIDEAWAY                          
HONKY TONK           `          
I DON'T BELIEVE                 
IT'S MY LIFE BABY             
KILLING FLOOR                   
LOVER NOT A FIGHTER     
OUT FRONT                         
RED HOT MAMA                  
SAME OLD BLUES                
SWEET HOME CHI              
THE STUMBLE                     
TOO MANY DRIVERS          
WALKING BY MYSELF        
WILD CHERRY                     
YOU’RE THE ONE               

SWING/JUMP:
ALIMONY BLUES                
*BEEF SALAD                      
CALDONIA                           
DO UNTO OTHERS              
GUITAR SLIM                       
GREEN LIGHT                      
HIPPOLOGY                         
HIT IT                                    
HUCKLEBUCK                     
HURRY HURRY                   
T-BONE BOOGIE          

RHUMBAS/MAMBOS:
ALL YOUR LOVE (MISS LOVIN’)    
CONGO MAMBO                             
JUST A LITTLE BIT                          
STEEL TRAP                            

SLOW:
BLUE GUITAR                      
BLUES AFTER HOURS       
I NEED YOU SO BAD          
MAN AND THE BLUES        
MY HOME IS A PRISON      
NOTHING BUT THE DEVIL 
SHE’S 19 YEARS OLD         
WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS 

R&R/ROCKABILLY:
HI HEELED SNEAKERS                
HONEY DON’T                                 
JOHNNY GUITAR                           
MONKEY AROUND                     
NOT FADE AWAY                            
RAWHIDE                                         
SAN-HO-ZAY                          
SEN-SA-SHUN         

BACKBEAT/R&B:
HONEY HUSH                                  
YOU BELONG TO ME           
BOOGIE WOOGIE
GOING DOWN THE LINE                
GOING TO THE RIVER                    
HAWAIIAN BOOGIE                         
LOOKING GOOD                             
ROBERT NIGHTHAWK NIGHTHAWK STOMP              
SHAKE YOUR $ MAKER       

8-BAR:
KEY TO THE HIGHWAY                  
LOONEY TUNES                              
MY BETH                                          
PICCOLO RAG                                 
FUNKY BLUES
CISSY STRUT                                   
FUNNYBONE                                   

*BG ORIGINAL

Blues Alley
Western MD Blues Festival
Columbia Pike Blues Fest
Frederick Blues Festival
Freedom Plaza (Arlington, VA)
Dulles Hilton Swing Dance
Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club
BlackRock Center for the Performing Arts
Artisphere Center for the Performing Arts
Clarendon Ballroom
Carter Baron Amphitheatre (The 6th Annual DC Blues Festival) Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park (21st & 24th Annual) Columbia Lakefront Festival Xerox Corporation
Friday Night Swing Dance Club (Towson, MD)
Charlottesville Swing Dance
Branded 72
The Zoo Bar

Clyde’s of Chevy Chase
Clyde’s at Mark Center
Ram’s Head
Columbia Village Centers Montgomery Village Lawn Theatre Sweet Caroline’s Sala Thai
Ritz Carlton Hotel, Tysons Corner, VA Crystal City Water Park
Austin Grill
Bangkok Blues
Borders Books and Music
JV’s
Mayorga Coffee Factory
Taste of Bethesda
The Solariun
Summit Station
Okra’s Louisiana Bistro
Barefoot Pelican
Wild Azalea Grill
Bookmont Blues and BBQ
Music city Roadhouse
Kramer Books and Afterwards

Capitol City Blues
Uncle Jed’s Roadhouse
Outta the Way Café
Smokehouse Blue
The Junction
Café Babalu
Rockbottom
Sully’s
Bayou Blues
Bullfeathers of Capitol Hill
Tony & Joe’s/Harborplace, Washington, DC George Starke’s Head Hog BBQ
Old Glory
Whitlow’s On Wilson

Venues Performed