Press & Video

MoJoW & the Vibration Army Plot Another Santa Barbara Invasion

Good Vibrations

If taking the stage of the Lobero Theatre in front of an at-capacity audience isn’t a daunting enough prospect, then sharing it with S.B. stalwarts like Glen Phillips, Karla Bonoff, and Kenny Loggins certainly must be. But when MoJoW & the Vibration Army joined their esteemed colleagues at the Naples benefit concert there last spring, the group not only held their own, they won over a legion of new recruits. With the vibrancy and eclecticism of their sound surpassed only by that of their jumpsuits, the Los Angeles-based duo proved themselves to be an instant hit.

With the buzz of their last visit still lingering, the husband-and-wife team of John and Moriah Whoolilurie are gathering the troops to launch yet another sonic attack on Santa Barbara. Last time around, the duo teamed up with some of music’s elite to pay tribute to environmental diversity. But for this visit, the group will take to the SOhO stage alongside the gorgeous gals from the Rainbow Room to celebrate cultural differences. It just goes to show that when it comes to spreading their message, for MoJoW & the Vibration Army there is only one weapon in their armor —music.

“Music for us not only is a form of expression, but also a really profound form of communication that inspires joy and happiness and also informs,” explained Moriah. “Something that John and I have really honed during the last seven years is how to deliver that message in a really gentle way. Everything is made up of vibration—music, art, dance, smile, and joy. So by using music to open up that frequency, it makes it a little easier to then talk about the environment or voting or social issues. We are finding poetic ways to express what is going on in our society.”
Ho Ho with MoJoW at SoHO

* When: Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008, 8 p.m.
* Where: SOhO, 1221 State St., Santa Barbara
* Cost: $10
* Age limit: 21+

Full event details

Those past seven years not only involved honing their art, but also finding their place in the world. Having casually crossed paths several times previously, John (who was busy crafting a musical career in Santa Cruz at the time) received a call from Moriah and decided to head to Humboldt County (where she was a practicing midwife) to pay her a visit. Eleven days after John’s arrival, the pair had not only drafted a vision for the Vibration Army, but were married and, soon after, relocating to Joshua Tree.

“Moriah and I really wanted to start a new life for ourselves,” recounted John. “So we decided to head out to Joshua Tree because our friends who run the Joshua Tree Music Festival bought a place out there really cheap. We basically drove down there one day and had bought a house the next. Joshua Tree was good for us because we needed some time to develop both our relationship and music.”

“And it was really the perfect place to do that because the desert is so raw,” Moriah added. “It really was a clean slate for us. It was an amazing opportunity for us to start from the sand up.”

The musical vision that developed was quickly christened MoJoW & the Vibration Army. While the “Mo” stands for Moriah and John accounts for the “Jo,” the “W” represents the pair’s adopted last name (Whoolilurie). It’s a fusion of their respective maiden names that represents the equality of its two forces, as well as the duo’s shared musical ethos. Meanwhile, the “Vibration Army” is something of a call to arms—one where the crusade is about inspiring empathy and understanding through music and art. Having refined their vision in the expanses of the Mojave, the Whooliluries then took their act on the road—to the streets of Los Angeles, specifically. It’s a locale that Moriah feels lends itself perfectly to their musical message.

“Los Angeles is an interesting city,” she explained. “It is this artery that pumps information into the world. There’s the film industry and music industry and television industry—all these very powerful, media-based industries that project images across the world. This is the place where we knew we needed to be and where the opportunities are. So for the last few years we have had this portable roaming show that we do in the street. And while we started on Venice Beach, we are now showing up all over the city.”

Though the pair has made quite the splash, and even appeared on the cover of L.A. Weekly, you are more likely to find them performing to a room full of school children then selling out Hollywood hotspots. Through their hybrid mix of blazing brass instrumentation, grooving bass beats, keyboard loops, thoughtful lyrics, and outrageous costuming, and their subtle takeover of venues ranging from South Central schools to political debates at the historic Kodak Theatre, MoJoW & the Vibration Army have managed to fuse as many disciplines as they have musical styles.

“Expression comes not only through words, but also through joy and happiness and all these other forms of communication,” explained Moriah. “And music for us is not only a form of expression, but also a really profound form of communication that can inspire peace and joy.”
4•1•1

MoJoW & the Vibration Army will perform at SOhO this Sunday, December 28. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com for details.

LA Weekly 2008 People Edition

Superheroes

It was a memorable sight, like a Black Rock City version of the Saint Paddy’s Day parade: a 6-foot-8 redheaded man in a bright-green jump suit, like a leprechaun on steroids, with looping pedals belted around his waist. He’s playing a guitar, with a saxophone hanging behind his back. Improbably, he’s also on roller skates, lugging a portable amp in a child’s wagon, and by his side, a tiny woman in outrageous platforms, a green Afro and hot pants sings and shakes her pot of gold down Los Angeles Street. This parade of two call themselves MoJoW & the Vibration Army.

MoJoW is an amalgamation of their names. The “Mo” is for Moriah, “Jo,” for her husband, John, and the “W is for Whoolulurie, their official married surname, a fusion of their former ones (his Whooley, hers Lurie). You may have seen their roving show outside the presidential debates on Hollywood Boulevard, at antiwar rallies, at the downtown women’s shelter, while strolling Sunset Junction, or onstage at music festivals, bringing their homemade funkadelic grooves and spreading their positive, often-political messages.

“We really like to create music with a message,” says Moriah. “We like to entertain but also promote a spiritual, healthy lifestyle with respect to all things to make life better for everybody, whether that’s voting, spending more time with your family or turning off a light when you leave the room. But we’re not telling people what to do. We don’t think we’re above anybody. We just love each other so sincerely we try and let that shine through and encourage through our own example.”

Their love began with a bona fide whirlwind romance six years ago. Moriah was a practicing midwife in Arcadia, and John an accomplished musician and session player in Santa Cruz. They had twice run into each other, coincidentally, and Moriah took John’s number. There were no lightning bolts or earthquakes, or any other evidence of love at first sight, but a few months later Moriah decided to call John out of the blue and asked him to visit her. They spent 11 consecutive days together, and on the final day, they drove to San Francisco and got married.

The Vibration Army was essentially formed during those 11 days. The newlyweds moved to Joshua Tree, and after Moriah learned to play bass, they began writing songs together about human consciousness, spirituality and environmental responsibility. They didn’t get into politics until John was hired to perform at an after party for Dennis Kucinich, during the 2004 presidential race. Moriah tagged along and became an instant convert, driving the next day to the Kucinich headquarters in Cleveland to work for his campaign. Kucinich asked the Vibration Army to be his opening act, pumping up the crowd before he spoke. The Whooluluries went on a national tour with him, dressing in red, white and blue and performing original songs, including one Kucinich adopted as his campaign theme song, “Imagine the Dream.”

“It really shifted our perspective about the potential for honest democracy,” Moriah says. “But we try to be nonpartisan. People have to educate themselves and find what feels best for them.”

A year and a half ago, the couple moved to Los Angeles. They settled in Los Feliz, where they felt a strong sense of community, and came up with a game plan for infiltrating their new city — just show up. They searched for local happenings online and “just showed up” in full roaming show gear — matching outfits, platform shoes, dangling sax, wagon and all.

Eventually, word got out, and now the Vibration Army are invited to perform at everything from benefits and birthday parties to lectures and school assemblies, where they put on one of four different shows they’ve created for kids, on topics like bullying, recycling, healthy diet and exercise, and democracy. Though their shows continue to evolve, one constant is their flashy costumes.

“They really create a show,” says Moriah, who tailors them, like they do their songs, to the event. “And in a way, they remind people too that no matter who you are, there’s a superhero in everybody.”

Photo by Kevin Scanlon

Jambands.com

...Although the party went late, it did not stop the crowd from being up in time for Mojow and the Vibration Army first thing Sunday morning. If there was ever a local band in Joshua Tree, it is this awesome couple who truly do it all. Although they have added drums to their otherwise full sound, they still rock hard as a duet. Wife Moriah on bass and husband John looping, singing, beat-boxing, playing the saxophone, the guitar or the keys. They even called up Venice Beach star Harry Perry. Amongst a slew of others films, this turbaned, rollerblading guitar player has been in White Men Can’t Jump and Dragnet. He took Mojow to another level, bringing his 60’s sensibilities to the stage. They closed the set with a Mojow staple called “Peace in the Middle East.” The song concluded with husband John playing a solo on the soprano sax offering a stunning display that moved perfectly between the Jewish wails and the Arabic croon and showed us just how similar they really are...

"Work Your Mojow"

You'd be hard-pressed to find many jazz-funk bands these days as it is, let alone one that features socially conscious lyrics, white-boy beat boxing, outlandish costumes, and a six-foot, eight-inch tall, redheaded saxophone player. That's why Mojow and the Vibration Army—a husband-and-wife duo consisting of Santa Barbara native Moriah (Mo) and John (Jo) Whoolilurie—are such an anomaly. Together, the quirky pair manages to create a full funk sound by sampling and looping their beats while Jo adds vibrant sax riffs and Mo drops rhymes promoting self-respect, environmental responsibility, and political involvement. The band will celebrate the release of their latest album, Work With What You Got, with a positive vibe you’ll find only at SOhO on Monday, June 18 from 8-10:30 p.m.

“The Hills come Alive with the Sounds of the Joshua Tree Music Festival”

Our hi-desert duo – Moriah-Melin and John Whoolilurie, aka Mojow, sample, loop and layer their way to a full band sound. They’re amazing on stage, and when they’re off stage, watch out – they can create a parade all on their own. Where’s the band? I only takes two.

Anyone who has ever driven along the California coast immediately north of Santa Barbara is familiar with the natural sanctuary that exists there. This rural parcel has, for the most part, been spared the harsh hand of development that seems to have struck the rest of Southern California, but with a very real threat of development looming over the Naples property, that could soon change.

In 2000, a collective of environmental and community organizations banded together with one purpose: to help protect the rural nature of Naples. (The group eventually formed the Naples Coalition.) With the immediate threat stemming from an antiquated subdivision map of the Naples property, underscored by both exhaustive discussions and protracted legal battles, there are only two things that are certain about Naples: First, no Naples soil has yet been disturbed, and second, whatever happens there will no doubt profoundly impact the rest of the Gaviota Coast.
The first Cash for the Coast benefit concert, featuring rising star Brett Dennen, was staged at the Unitarian Society, while ALO’s Zac Gill led the charge at SOhO for last year’s installment. While both of those undertakings successfully fulfilled their charter, they also laid a firm foundation for expanding the event this year.

When Cash for the Coast hits the stage of the Lobero Theatre this year on Friday, March 21, it will feature a collective of musicians that span the generational spectrum. From emerging talents such as Jonathan McEuen and MoJoW & the Vibration Army to established artists like Rain Perry, Kenny Loggins, Glen Phillips, and Karla Bonoff, version 3.0 features both a who’s who of local talent and a cross-section of musical styles. This was something of the utmost importance to concert producer Patricia Clarke.

“Mojow’s Mojo”

If peace and justice ever needed a soundtrack, the time is now, so it is with great satisfaction that we recommend a trip this Saturday eve to Elsie’s for a night of quirky, fun, and liberally minded music courtesy of Mojow and the Vibration Army. A looping-based “band” that consists of SB native Moriah-Melin and partner John Whoolilurie, Mojow is all about bridging the gaps between music, art, and political/social consciousness, and they do so with funky costumes and interactive performances that get the crown involved. Plus, the show’s only $5, so make this Saturday one that’s both fun and meaningful.

“Musicians for Peace: Vibration Army”

For three days, there were 181 concerts scheduled throughout 26 countries – all focusing on bands singing about peace. The show I saw featured a local duo, Mojow and the Vibration Army, which consists of the alluring Moriah-Melin and Shaggy (of SCOOBY-DOO) look alike John Whoolilurie. I wasn’t sure what to expect but when the venue began to get packed with locals and the stage was covered with instruments of all kinds, I was pretty intrigued. Whoolilurie explained that they always do “looping” concerts and began the first song. It was an intense “scat” session between the two, as they played off each other’s vocal riffs and basically sang 4 minutes of jazz improvisation. From that point on, the show was unbelievable. Whoolilurie used live vocal drum loops, as he proceeded to play guitar, keyboards and saxophone, while Moriah-Melin held it down on the bass dancing like a snake charmed by a flute. The crowd also danced through much of the show while the band demonstrated an uncanny ability to pull off torch songs, progressive rock, world-beat music, and even an extraordinary flamenco tune. During the flamenco tune, the duo had enough loops layered that they were able to do some partner Spanish dancing during the song. As this was a musicians for peace benefit there, there were several anti-war songs in the set. One of the most touching was a slow ballad, “Living Near the Base,” about their local community’s experience living near the 29 Palms marine base. The songs where interspersed with encouragement from the duo for people to become active in their beliefs and make their voices heard.

“John Whoolilurie’s Mojow and the Vibration Army”

John Whoolilurie was one of my personal Santa Cruz saxophone superstars, so I am very excited to note that for his most recent foray into the musical abyss he is joined by his primary partner-in-crime, Moriah-Melin. Mojow and the Vibration Army have returned to our town from their Joshua Tree abode to enthrall us with their theatrical, unique and occasionally political performance pieces. All their material is completely original, intricately layered and electronically looped. Their music shifts constantly. It can go from hip-hop to funk in a mater of seconds. Moriah’s singing voice is so beautiful it brings tears to the eyes of this German cynic, which is quite a feat. She also incorporates dancing, great costumes and theatrics while playing the bass. It is amazing to hear what kind of intricate “noise” just two people can make.