Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Chicago-style Blues from California’s Central Valley

The MoFo Party Band
"Low Down"
CD Baby (self-released)
2010

Formed in the late ‘80s in Fresno, CA, by brothers John Clifton on lead vocals and harmonica and Bill Clifton on guitar, the MoFo Party Band became a favorite among local audiences. It gained international recognition by performing at venues such as the Belgian R&B Festival in Peer, Belgium, the Luxembourg Jazz & Blues Rally, and the Blues Express Festival in Poland. They have shared the stage with notable artists like B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Robert Cray, Charlie Musselwhite, Otis Rush, and Tommy Castro. Led by the brothers and accompanied by a rotating cast of talented musicians, they offered a brand of good-time blues that is thoroughly entertaining.

The band’s fourth and final album, “Low Down," released in 2010, was their best studio effort. Although recordings can’t fully capture the high-energy performance and interplay of their live shows, this one comes close. The album consists of nine band originals and a cover of Rusty Zinn’s “Dying on the Vine.” The rollicking “What Kind of Woman Is That?” along with the driving rhythms of “Down the Road I’m Going” and “Broke and Hungry,” as well as the swaying instrumental "Gydnia," create a truly enjoyable experience.

Although the MFPB exists today only in the memories of concertgoers, John and Bill continue their individual musical pursuits as blues musicians. John performs as a solo artist and has released several albums, while Bill leads the trio Bill Clifton and the Chicken & Whiskey Band. Together, they have created an incredible legacy of fun, toe-tapping blues that everyone can enjoy.

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