Texas Mojo started off in a garage in Plano, Texas in November of 2002. Initially, the concept was straight blues fueled by a passion for rock's roots in American blues. Initially called the Yard Dogs, this trio of musicians played around town at various blues jams in DFW starting in 2003. But the band took on a different mission when the call went out for a new lead guitar player and drummer.

The call was answered by two very capable musicians who came to the band from a different path. Both of these guys had roots in good old fashioned rock and roll. In the case of Scott Lepage, lead guitar player of Texas Mojo, he had a pretty impressive resume playing hard rock in clubs across New Jersey and abroad with bands like Hades, Mucky Pup and Angry Drunk Men back in the 80's and 90s. And drummer Kevin Billings was also a rocker at heart having played in several rock bands over the years.

So what happens when you take a core of blues musicians and spice it up with a little rock and roll? Texas Mojo, that's what. In response ot this change, lead singer Michael Schaefer said, "Adding Kevin and Scott to the mix was the best thing we ever did. They took our initial vision and gave it energy and purpose. And for the first time in our history, I felt a real bond with bands from the 70's that followed a similar path from blues to rock and roll. I've had several deja vu moments during rehearsal or a gig where I've thought, 'man, this must be exactly what Dicky Betts and the Allmans went through.'"

So true. And you can hear it in their studio cuts and live performances. Listen to "Hollow Man" for example off their upcoming CD. Michael Schaefer said, "this track started off as a simple melody that took shape in practice as a different song. After some rework, it took shape as the song on the CD today. And in the studio, we gave Scott free reign to 'explore the space,' which he did and more. The ending wasn't scripted. That's just Scott playing what he felt at that moment in the studio and not wanting it to end. So we let the tape roll. And what we've got is something truly classic and timeless. That's the spirit of Texas Mojo.

We weren't the first to figure this out. The great ones did this well before us. But we are not clones of the past either. Every note we play comes from somewhere deep inside. And that's what ties us to the great artists of our past. Passion and love for music. We take the music in our heads and our hearts and pour it out through our instruments.

Come out to a show and let us show you what we mean.

Texas Mojo is no loger playing out. But if you want to follow what the guys are doing now, checkout: