Table of Contents
If you like laid-back rock grooves and gentle reggae riddims, you should definitely check out Mr. Mota. Born in Boulder and residing in Austin, this talented four-piece brings authentic island sounds onto the American stage. Mr. Mota is about feeling good, bringing love, and spreading your message through the magic of music. The Mota boys have just released a new EP with Puerto Rican rapper Jamby El Favo and an exciting single in collaboration with lifestyle brand Dime Bags.
Mr. Mota features Will Rosenthal on guitar and vocals, Jake Young on drums, and brothers Ari and Max Lerman on bass and vocals. In this article, we’ll review the story and sounds of Mr. Mota, along with some of their recent and upcoming shows.
Introducing Mr. Mota
Mr. Mota creates a highly original blend of classic reggae and modern rock. This musical project started life as a five-piece jam band, with the boys playing a unique mix of covers and originals across multiple genres. Along with their favorite reggae sounds, they initially played some blues, bluegrass, soul, and even funk. The five original members were Will Rosenthal on vocals and guitar; Max Lerman on vocals, keys, and sax; Ari Lerman on bass, keys, and sax; Willie Vogel on guitar; and Brendan Lamb on drums and percussion.
Max Lerman and Will Rosenthal initially bonded over their shared love for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They were influenced by a huge range of sounds, however, from classic ’70s rock to ’90s rap and ’00s indie. “It was Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, I was into a lot of old music and there is a lot of rap influence,” said Lerman. “There was a lot of old rhythm and blues guys like Marvin Gay and Curtis Mayfield…I would say our major influences are blues and rock, but we do some indie stuff. We have some folk stuff where I’ll play the banjo. We definitely have some reggae stuff and then across all those genres.”
The Mr. Mota boys were born and bred in Boulder, Colorado, and that’s where the band took shape. The Lerman brothers were South Bend natives, and the other members lived in the gentle suburbs nearby. The band officially formed in May 2020, and they quickly became one of Boulder’s premiere live bands. After lots of backyard sessions and jams, they decided to turn their hobby into something serious. Mr. Mota refined their craft playing in and around Boulder, peppering their covers with unreleased originals like “Smoke Too Much” and “Bella Blue.”
Debut single
“Smoke Too Much” became the band’s debut single, with Max Lerman’s raspy vocals and cool delivery matching the humorous theme of the record. This song was created by Lerman and Rosenthal, and the songwriting is solid without taking itself too seriously. The band’s rhythm section also deserves special mention, with Ari Lerman delivering an unforgettable reggae-style bass line and Brendan Lamb laying down some snappy hi-hats and snares. According to the band, this single “took so long to make. Every time we were close to having it done, we just wanted to go in a different direction.” When they recorded their first take, however, “everything just came together perfectly.”
From the national stage to Austin, Texas
After playing some great shows in Colorado, two members of the band decided to go their own way. Mr. Mota is now a four-piece, with guitarist Willie Vogel leaving the group and Jake Young taking over percussion duties from Brendan Lamb. The four current members have an electric energy onstage, and they also work with local artists to create a fantastic visual experience.
Mr. Mota played lots of successful shows at The Fox Theatre in Boulder, including one memorable gig called “Mr. Mota’s Graduation Party.” They first hit the studio in 2022, but unfortunately, those recordings never saw the light of day. Instead, the band headed out on their first national tour. It was the summer of 2023, and people were hungry for live music in a post-pandemic world. The band independently booked and headlined more than 40 shows during this time, both in the Midwest and on the East Coast.
Mr. Mota performed at some famous venues, including Mercury Lounge in NYC; Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont; Portland House of Music in Portland, Maine; and Charleston Pour House in Charleston, South Carolina. The success of this tour led to their Winter 2024 Northeast US tour, which, in turn, helped to inspire their recent move to Austin, Texas. Mr. Mota was getting better all the time, and they wanted to pursue their dreams in “the live music capital of the world.”
Recent releases
After moving to Austin in early 2025, Mr. Mota has been busy in the studio. They’re currently collaborating with artists and brands as they build new connections and grow their audience in America and around the world.
Jam N Mota EP with Jamby El Favo
This exciting collaboration is all about relaxed tempos and feel-good vibes. Jamby El Favo brings his relaxed, old-school flow, rapping in Spanish over guitar skanks by Mr. Mota. The band shares vocal duties with the rapper as a beautiful harmony is created between languages and vocal styles. On this new EP, Mr. Mota works with Jamby El Favo to recreate some of the rapper’s most popular songs. They do a great version of “Ausente,” and they also take on “La Carta,” “Prófugo,” and “Ven.” This EP will introduce Mr. Mota to an entirely new audience, as Jamby El Favo is a rising star in Puerto Rico and across the Spanish-speaking world.
Hot Box with Dime Bags
The latest release from Mr. Mota is also a collaboration, this time with the hip Dime Bags brand. “Hot Box” was released on April 18, and it sounds absolutely great. This track is released by InnerCat Music Group, and it features a nostalgic music video inspired by the That ’70s Show. As part of the launch, the band announced a special partnership with the iconic lifestyle brand Dime Bags. According to Max Lerman, this song is “about clearing your head, finding some peace, and connecting with your people. That’s what we’re chasing every time we get on stage, and we tried to bottle that feeling into this song.”
“Hot Box” was produced by Grammy-winner Mariano Aponte and recorded at InnerCat Studios in Miami. It features a warm and vibrant sound, with Mr. Mota blending their famous island vibes with tight modern production and heartfelt storytelling. According to Lerman, “Hot Box was initially inspired by my first car. It would sit on the street outside of my parents’ house and, when they went to sleep, Ari (Mr. Mota bassist and brother to Max) would sneak out and blast our favorite songs. It’s really where I fell in love with reggae music and started to discover the legends like Peter Tosh and Junior Murvin.”
Recent and upcoming shows
Mr. Mota has performed three shows so far in 2025, all in their current state of Texas. They played the 40 Oz to Freedom (sublime tribute) show on April 20, which was a great time for all involved. They also played a show with Blue Tongue, Los Alcos, and Shared Walls on June 6. This quadruple-header left people with lots of happy memories.
More recently, Mr. Mota played the Sip Yard in Port Aransas on June 29, and they’re also set to play Ghost Note Brewing in Dripping Springs on July 4. The good times keep coming with Mr. Mota, with more shows tentatively booked for later this year. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on their socials to get the latest news, or check the upcoming gig section on their website.