Mojomama headlines this week at Rock & Rails

Mojomama is no stranger to the Rock & Rails stage and each year the award-winning rhythm and blues band is pleased to return. Jessica Rogalski, the band's co-founder and soloist, talked to us about Mojomama, why they appreciate the chance to return each year, standout memories from past performances, and what it's been like to found a band with her husband. .

Q: So this isn't your first time performing at Rock & Rails?

JR: No. I think this might be the fifth time, fourth or fifth time.

Q: So are you excited to be back?

JR: Oh yeah. It's the greatest crowd to play for anywhere. I mean, we play all over, across miles but this is absolutely the best - they're full of energy and they dance....When they're there, you know it.

Q: Can you tell us any stories about your shows here?

JR: Once when we were here we backed up Reggie Wooton. His brother is Victor Wooten, a famous bass player, and they come from this famous musical family. Satir DeMarco brought him out and we got to back him up. We're just rolling with the punches, Reggie was just yelling out songs and we were like, okay, let's go.

Q: Any other Whistle Stop Park memories?

JR: Probably last year stood out, right after the pandemic. We were the first band to open up the season and the energy in the crowd was just unlike anything we've seen. I think every one of us was just so grateful to have music back in our lives and to have the festival coming back. You could just really feel the intensity of the joy and the happiness.

Q: Thanks for those stories. Now, can you give us a little background on Mojomama? Help us get to know the band?

JR: Sure. My husband Paul and I are the founders of the band and we started it back in 2002, so this is our 20th anniversary. Our guitarist, Bob Burnham, has been with us for more than a decade. So I think about eleven years now, and very instrumental part of the sounds of the current Mojomama. Our drummer's name is Colin Brown. He joined us last year.

Q: How has the band evolved over the years?

JR: We are really blessed to have worked with amazing musicians over the years and we continue to, you know, be very close friends with everyone who's ever been involved with Mojomama. We actually started a music instruction called called Mojo Music Academy in Longmont. Our business has been going fifteen years now, and counting. And we've got a beautiful location at 4th and Terry with about 14 teachers.

Q: How did you and your husband meet, and what's it like working together?

JR: We were actually introduced because I was with Funkifino and Paul joined the band. He was the bassist. Then, eventually, we started our own band.

And we're very, very fortunate to be on a similar path, but we're good at being individualistic. So I support him and what he needs and he supports me and what I need. And the truth is, we're good at different things, and it happens to be like how the puzzle fits

Q:So is there anything else you'd like the audience to know before you play in Whistle Stop Park?

JR: Actually, yeah. I'd like to talk about an experience we had right before the pandemic, and how it's connected to something we've created for our audiences currently.

Q: Tell me more.

JR: Right before the pandemic, the shutdown happened. We had worked really hard to create a show based on the power of women and the festival was called the Woman Up Festival. We played at eTown on February 28th as part of a triple bill, right before everything shut down.

I was playing with two of my best friends. It was the culmination of understanding how, as women, we can support each other, raise each other up. It was really powerful and meaningful and it happens to be the last thing we got to do before we basically stopped our life.

Q: Does something like that give you something to consider during lockdown?

JR: Yes, absolutely. And now we have a brand new album of things during the pandemic and what we all experienced during the last few years as a band. The album is called "We are One."

Q: And it will be available at Rock & Rails.

JR: Yes. We hope people can check it out.