Mojo Blues Band

The Mojo Blues Band is a blues band from Austria which was formed in 1977 by guitarist Eric Trauner and pianist Joachim Palden. The name of the band is derivated from "mojo", a talisman in the voodoo cult.

Band history
The founders of the band played before 1977 in clubs of Vienna. In 1977 Palden won a boogie woogie contest. The first prize was a record contract. They decided to form a band, which they named "Mojo Blues Band". The line up was:
 guitar, vocals Erik Trauner
 piano Joachim Palden
 bass Matthias Mitsch
 drums Bobby Sperling
Being the only blues band in Vienna they were often booked as backing band for blues artists who were touring in Austria. They played for example with Johnny Shines, J. B. Hutto, Charlie Musselwhite, Louisiana Red, Sunnyland Slim, Champion Jack Dupree, Homesick James, Honeyboy Edwards, Leon Thomas, Katie Webster, Hal Singer, Jan Harrington and Eddie Clearwater. They also played together with Axel Zwingenberger. This is documented on CDs.

In 1980 they teamed with Dana Gillespie and changed their style more to Rhythm ´n Blues. At the early 1990s their song Alligator Walk became a hit in the US Shag 8 a special dance) scene. Following this they toured North- and South Carolina. 1989 they visited Chicago and came back with 16 hours material they have recorded with musicians from Chicago. The CD "The Wild Taste of Chicago" was made out of this tapes. 1993 Christian Dozzler left the band to form his own group. So Eric Trauner had to learn playing the harp.

2001 the band played her last concert consisting of:
 Erik Trauner, (voc, guit, slideguit, harp)
 Daniel Gugolz (bass),
 Markus Toyfl (guit)
 Peter Müller (drums)
 Thomas Horneck (piano)
Peter Müller founded the label Styx Records. But soon Trauner formed the band again. Members are:
 Siggi Fassl (vocals, guit)
 Charlie Furthner (piano)
 Didi Mattersberger (drums)
 Herfried Knapp (bass)

List of blues musicians they have played with

Discograhie

Mojo Blues Band
 Shake That Boogie, 1978
 Hey Bartender, 1980
 ... And the Boogie Woogie Flu, 1982
 Hot Bricks, 1984
 Midnight in Swampland, 1987
 Champ's Housewarming, feat.: Champion Jack Dupree, Axel Zwingenberger, Thorsten Zwingenberger, 1988
 The Wild Taste of Chicago, feat.: A. C. Reed, Big Mojo Elem, Willie Kent, Taildragger, Tim Taylor, 1989
 Alligator Walk, 1991
 Super Blues News (3 CD-Box), 1992
 Blues Roll On, feat.: Johnnie Allan, Harry Siomoneaux, Taildragger, Big Mojo Elem, Big Wheeler, Steve Bell, Little Mac Simmons1994
 Rhythm & Blues Party feat. Red Holloway (sax), 1996
 20 Years in the Blues Jungle, 1997
 A Chicago Blues Night Live, feat.: Taildragger, 1999
 Southern Blues Cruise, 1999
 Blues-Parade 2000 Vol.1 und Vol.2 (DoppelCD-Box), feat.: Jimmy McCracklin, Nappy Brown, Jimmy Anderson, Bob Gaddy, Larry Dale, ua.,''1999
 Get Out Blues, 2004
 Thirty Year Blues Affair, 2007

Erik Trauner Solo
 Up Slide Down, 1995
 I'll Fly Away, 1998
 A Scarecrow´s Moan 2006

Singles 45rpm und CD-Singles 
 1982 Sea Cruise (45 rpm): Bellaphon 100-31-005
 1988 Rosa Lee (45 rpm): EMI Austria 12C006 1334337
 1988 Shim Sham Shimmy/Hungarian Stew Axel Zwingenberger/Champion Jack Dupree/MBB (45 rpm): Vagabond VRSGL 8.88014-7
 1991 Alligator Walk/ Mellow, Though & Easy (45 rpm): EMI Austria 1-33484-7
 1992 Wintertime Is Coming/ Sleepless (45 rpm): EMI Austria 12C 006-133492-7
 1992: All My Money´s Gone/ Better Of Dead (45 rpm): EMI Austria 863004-7
 1992: All My Money´s Gone/ Better Of Dead/Rollin´and Squezzing (CD - Maxi): EMI Austria 863004-2

Videos 
 The Wild Taste of Chicago, 1989

Other websites 
 Official website 

Blues bands