Austin Mo: Keeping the Blues-Rock Fire Alive
There’s something unmistakable about Austin Mo when he picks up a guitar. Rooted in blues and classic rock but driven by a sound and energy all his own, the California guitarist, singer and songwriter has been building a reputation as one of the exciting young players carrying guitar-driven music forward.
Austin first took the stage at the Sacramento Music Festival in 2015, drawing inspiration from artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Santana, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company. Encouraged by Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon to pursue original music and find his own musical voice, Austin has spent the years since developing as both a songwriter and performer.
And he started making waves early.
At just 16, Austin was one of only five young musicians in the U.S. selected to perform throughout Europe with the Blues Kids of America. He was later inducted into The Brotherhood of the Guitar and selected for several major guitar competitions, including the Guitar Slingers Competition at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, where he was one of 16 finalists chosen from more than 2,000 entrants.
In 2023, Guitar.com named Austin among its “Top 10 Young Blues-Breakers Making the Blues Fun Again.” Since then, he has formed his own blues-rock trio, opened for artists including Tesla, Y&T, Jared James Nichols, Eric Gales and Chris Cain, and shared the stage with players including Frank Hannon, Miles Schon and Jared James Nichols.
Finding a Guitar That Feels Like Home
For a player whose style combines soulful blues phrasing with the power and attitude of classic rock, the connection between player and instrument matters. Austin found that connection in the Venus Revolution Elite Blue Morpho.
“From the moment I picked up a Blue Morpho, I was in heaven. I couldn’t believe a guitar this light could produce such a massive sound.”
The Revolution Elite’s lightweight, ergonomic design gives Austin an instrument built for long rehearsals and performances without sacrificing the sound and response he wants onstage. But for Austin, one feature in particular made the guitar immediately familiar.
“The neck feels like home. It reminds me of my first guitar and makes everything I want to play feel completely effortless.”
That sense of effortlessness matters for a player whose performances can move from expressive, nuanced passages to fiery lead work. Instead of thinking about the instrument, Austin can concentrate on the music.
And then there’s the Blue Morpho itself.
With its striking finish and distinctive design, the guitar has become part of Austin’s stage presence—and something audiences notice.
“What amazes me most isn’t the guitar—it’s the reaction it gets. Seeing people stop, stare, and smile when they experience it never gets old.”
Keeping the Fire Alive
Austin’s connection to guitar goes well beyond his own career. As an instructor at Rockstar Music Academy in Lincoln, California, he works with students of all ages and skill levels, encouraging them to develop their musicianship and keep their enthusiasm for playing alive.
At the same time, he continues to push his own music forward. Austin is currently working with producer Joe Merrick of Guilty Dog Studios on new original material as he continues performing and bringing his blues-rock sound to new audiences.
For Austin Mo, it all comes back to the same thing: the connection between the player, the instrument and the audience.
And when the right guitar disappears into your hands, there’s nothing standing between you and the music.