Episode 625: Ray Prim / Reenie Harwood Collins Stops By To Talk About HAAM Day!

My old pal, singer/songwriter, Ray Prim returns to the show for episode 625! His amazing new album, To Whom It May Concern drops next Friday, September 15th and he's celebrating with a release show that same night at The North Door here in Austin. Go to rayprim.com for ticket and album info. Ray and I have a great conversation about making To Whom It May Concern with co-producer, Omar Vallejo, winning a Black Fret grant and what he did with the money, relearning guitar after shoulder sugery, he tries to sell me on "Game of Thrones" and much, much more! It's always a great chat with with this talented and hilarious dude. Plus, Reenie Harwood Collins stops by to talk about HAAM Day (Tuesday, 9/12) and all things HAAM. Go to myhaam.org for a listing of music, venues and participating businesses. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 621: Cowboy Diplomacy

Hello friends! I hope you're all doing well. Ian Cochran and Matt Leslie from Cowboy Diplomacy are my guests for episode 621! Their debut album, It's No Alibi comes out today, Friday August 25th. The album was produced by Eric Harrison and mastered by the legendary Howie Weinberg (Wilco, Spoon). Cowboy Diplomacy has only been around for a year, but in that year they've been runner-up for "Best New Band" in The Austin Chronicle Music Awards, nominated for a Black Fret grant, garnered a big following through their residency at The Black Heart and much more. Find out how to get their album, when they're playing next and more by going to cowboydiplomacymusic.com I had a great time getting to know Ian and Matt. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 614: Michael Ramos

Hello friends! My guest for episode 614 is keyboard player, producer, songwriter and studio owner, Michael Ramos! Michael has most recently been touring with country artist, Pat Green but he's about to hit the road playing with Shawn Colvin on her tour celebrating 20 years of her album, "A Few Small Repairs". He's also been in his studio, Brown Recluse Studio, producing artists like Jackie Venson and Gina Chavez. Michael has been playing keyboards and on the road since he was a kid and has toured with artists like John Mellencamp, BoDeans, The Rembrants, Charlie Sexton and countless others. He's also produced albums for artists like, Gina Chavez, Nakia, Patty Griffin and many others. His band, Charanga Cakewalk had a great run as well. I've known Michael since I was 15 and have always looked up to him as a musician and great person and we have a fantastic conversation about his illustrious career. I hope you enjoy it. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 600: Live at The Townsend w/ Nakia, Jane Ellen Bryant, Jaimee Harris & A.J. Vallejo

Hello friends! Here is episode 600, recorded in front of a live audience last Monday, June 5th at The Townsend here in Austin, TX. I want to thank everyone who came out and celebrated with us, The Townsend for having us, Carles Zanetti for recording the show and running sound, you for listening and my wonderful guests, Nakia, Jane Ellen Bryant, Jaimee Harris and A.J. Vallejo! We have an insane conversation about new albums, upcoming tours and reunions, Jaimee's much anticipated album, Nakia and Jane's adventures in reality television, what happened when A.J. misspelled Queen in a Google search and much, much more! This is a fun, loose and slightly offensive show. I hope you enjoy it. I sure did. Thank you so much for listening to this show. It's been a true blessing in my life to connect with my music community and to bring this show to you guys. Thank you. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 593: Wendy Colonna Returns Again!

Hey gang! I hope the week is treating you right and you're easing into your weekend. It's funny, when most people are gearing up to get off work on Friday and head home, or out of town to "have a weekend", I'm usually packing up my car to head out to a show and start my two-day intense work weekend. You can actually see me in action this weekend in Houston. SKYROCKET! is playing at Fitzgerald's in Houston tomorrow, Saturday, May 20th. Come out and say hi. Those shows are always a good time. 
My guest for episode 593 is the amazingly talented, always entertainging and now, extremely pregnant, Wendy Colonna! Wendy's brilliant new album, No Moment But Now comes out today, Friday, May 19th. Go to wendycolonna.com to find out where to get it and what her summer looks like. The first single off the album, "Every Second" was featured on Apple Music's "Hot Tracks" and Spotify's "Fresh Folk" Playlist. Wendy and I have a great conversation about living "home free", Scoring Coke and State of Louisiana commercials, Her partnership with producer, Mark Addison, falling in love, starting a family, being a 2016 Black Fret winner and getting $17,000 to finish her album and much, much more. I had a great time catching up with Wendy. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 590: Suzanna Choffel Is Back!

Hello friends! I hope you all had a good weekend doing weekend things and what not. I played all weekend. I played with SKYROCKET! on Friday and Saturday nights in Dripping Springs and San Antonio. Then Sunday i played at The Pecan Street Festival with my new band. It was a great time, but I hurt my back during the show. I'm on the mend. Gang, I want to remind you that we are celebrating our 600th episode with a live podcast recording at The Townsend in Austin, TX on Monday, May 5th at 8pm. My guests will be A.J. Vallejo, Nakia, Jaimee Harris and Jane Ellen Bryant. Find out more about it here!
My guest for episode 590 was our very first guest and has appeared on this show more times than I can count. The amazing Suzanna Choffel returns to the show! Her gorgeous new album, Hello Goodbye, comes out this Friday, May 12th. She'll be celebrating the release with a few special shows this weekend. She's playing Friday, May 12th at 3Ten Austin City Limits Live and Saturday, May 13th at The Mucky Duck in Houston. You can go to suzannachoffel.com for more info and to hear her new single, "Go Forth". Suzanna and I have a great conversation about making Hello Goodbye, motherhood, her years of travel and experience that led to Hello Goodbye and much, much more. I always love my conversations with Suzanna. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 561: Leopold And His Fiction Returns Again! / Moxxy Stops By!

Hello friends! i hope this episode finds you all doing well in life. Maybe you marched this weekend in the historical march. If you did, congratlations. That was an historic event for everyone. Quirky pop band, Moxxy stopped by the other day to talk about their self-titled e.p. that just came out a couple of weeks ago. The e.p. was produced by Quiet Company frontman, Taylor Muse. If you live in Austin, you can see Moxxy this Thursday, January 26th at The Sahara Lounge. Check it out!
Daniel Leopold from Leopold And His Fiction returns to the show for episode 561! They're releasing their new album, Darling Destroyer this Friday, January 27th. They'll be on tour of the U.S. from now until March 13th. Go to leopoldandhisfiction.com to find ut if they're coming to a town near you. If you live in Austin, they'll be playing a record release show at Stubb's tomorrow, Wednesday, January 25th 2017. Daniel and I have a great conversation about what it took to make Darling Destroyer, touring the U.S. like crazy and much, much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
 
ciao! -jg

Episode 548: Carson McHone / Bonnie Whitmore Stops By!

Hello friends! I hope this episode finds you happy and healthy. Bonnie Whitmore stopped by yesterday to talk about a benefit she's having this Sunday at C-boys Heart & Soul. The benefit is to raise money to release Chris Porter's album he had just finished making when he died in a car accident this past October in North Carolina. They have a great line-up including Will Johnson (Centromatic, Monsters of Folk), Alejandro Escovedo, The Mastersons and more. Plus, a tribute to Chris and his music performed by his friends including Bonnie and many others. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased in advance at cboys.com.
My guest for episode 548 is talented singer/songwriter, Carson McHone! Carson is a Black Fret nominee this year and will be performingat the Black Fret Ball tomorrow, Saturday, December 10th at The Paramount Theater. You can go to Blackfret.org for more information. Carson and I had a great conversation about growing up in Austin, getting her first gigs at The Hole in the Wall when she was still a young teen, working with Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shinyribs and more, touring with Gary Clark Jr., writing songs, cowboy boots and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know Carson. I sure did. Let's get down!
 
ciao! -jg

Episode 528: Walker Lukens / Randy Miller From ALL ATX Stops By!

Hello friends! I hope you had a great weekend. This is a big week in Austin music. The new ALL ATX album, Low Down Violet Crown: Austin Rocks the Blues comes out this Thursday, September, 29th and they're celebrating with a big release show at ACL Moody Theater that same day. The album features 17 tracks with the best of Austin artists covering classic blues rock songs. The concert on Thursday features The Doobie Bros., Bob Schneider, Doyle Bramhall ll, Carolyn Wonderland, Jackie Venson, today's guest Walker Lukens and many more. Randy Miller, producer of the album and the show, stops by to fill us in on all things All ATX. go to allatx.org to find out how and where to buy the album and how o get tickets to the show. 
My guest for episode 528 is the amazing Walker Lukens! Walker is featured on the new All ATX album and he'l be playing the show on Thursday at ACL Moody Theater, but he also has a new e.p. coming out next month. Walker's brilliant new e.p., Never Understood, produced by Jim Eno (Spoon), comes out October 14th on Modern Outsider Records. He'll be playing the ACL Festival on October 8th and playing release shows around Texas in October. We have a great conversation about making Never Understood, growing up in Houston, navigating this crazy music business and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know Walker as much as i did. Let's get down!
Ciao! -jg

Episode 499 Part One: The Music

hello friends! i want to remind you that we are recording our 500th podcast live this coming monday, june 20th at 8 pm at the townsend here in austin, tx. my guests will be nakia, kathy valentine, taylor muse (quiet company), suzanna choffel and aj vallejo! come out and celebrate with us! enjoy fine cocktails, delicious snacks and a great conversation with some of he most entertaining musicians around. plus, there's no cover!!!
episode 499 part one: the music is a playlist i put together out of some of the music i've been turned on to by guests over the last hundred episodes. part two will be excerpts of conversations from soem of the last hundred episodes. look for that on tuesday. here's the track listing for episode 499 part one: the music...
 1. "baby when i close my eyes" - sweet spirit
 2. "stop the world" - mike flanigin w/ gary clark jr.
 3. "echo of whoos" - calliope musicals
 4. "no one gonna give you love" - my jerusalem
 5. "down to the ocean" - jeremy nail
 6. "atta blues" - emily wolfe
 7. "withdrawal" - max frost
 8. "september in your eyes" - bruce sudano
 9. "summer samaritan" - los coast
10. "ready for war" - love & chaos
11. "work" - tank washington
12. "heartbreak bugaloo" - the midnight stroll
13. "sweet dreaming" - daniel eyes and the vibes
14. "southern suburbian" - sally allen
15. "one" - moving panoramas
16. "polyester" - john evans
17. "i don't wanna have to lie" - lolo