Episode 583: Redd Volkaert

One of Austin's greatest musicians, Barry "Frosty" Smith passed away on Wednesday. He was 71. His vast and impressive list of credits includes Funkadelic, Lee Michaels, Sly and the Family Stone, Jimmie Vaughan, Soulhat, Papa Mali, Delbert Mclinton and many, many more. I was lucky to get see him play so many times over the years and it was always an inspiring experience. The last time I saw him was around three years ago at the Continental Club Gallery where he was playing with Mike Flanigin.  That night, I saw the master at work and then got to exchange a few words after. Rest in peace Frosty. Thank you for the groove. We'll miss you.
My guest for episode 583 is the amazingly talented guitar legend, Redd Volkaert! You might know Redd from his work with Brad Paisley, George Jones, Tim Mcgraw, Dolly Parton, his years with Merle Haggard and many, many more. He's put out several albums and instructional videos. If you live in Austin, you can see him every Saturday at 3:30 pm at The Continental Club and every Sunday at 7:00 pm with his band, Haybale at The Continental Club as well. Redd and I have a great conversation about growing up in Canada, falling in love with the guitar, his years in California, playing with Merle Haggard, what inspires him and much, much more! I hope you enjoy getting to know Redd. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 581: The New Bernardo / Grounded in Music Founder, Joe Stallone Stops By!

Hello friends! I hope you're all having a good week. I have been staying with my dogs all week. We have been having a good time. They're getting old but they're still really fun. I had a couple of rehearsals with my new band this week. those were fun. it's always a good time going through songs and seeing if they work with the band and stuff like that. I'll keep you posted on the progress. Grounded in Music founder, Joe Stallone, stopped by a few weeks ago to chat about Grounded in Music's 10 anniversary celebration taking place next Wednesday, April 12th at The Gibson Guitar Showroom. The benefit features music from The Peterson Bros., Suzanna Choffel and is hosted by Kathy Valentine. You can find out more about the event and get tickets at groundedinmusic.net
My guests for episode 581 are Patrick Armstrong and Aaron Long also known as, The New Bernardo! They were joined by their producer and my old friend, Eric Jarvis. We had a chance to catch up on the Sunday of SXSW while they were all in Austin. They have some new music up on their bandcamp page We have a great conversation about Aaron and Eric's musical family, how Aaron and Patrick came together, getting big names to play on their songs, BOCA food truck and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting tonknow these dudes. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg
 

Episode 560: "Honky Tonk Heaven: The Legend of the Broken Spoke" Co-director, Brenda Greene Mitchell

Hello friends! Well, it's today. This strange day we've all been anxious about. Wether you're excited about this president or bummed, there's still an odd level of anxiety about all of this change. A lot of people in my circle are gong to be marching against this guy in Austin tomorrow. I'm not. I really don't think that's gonna do much for anyone except make you feel like you marched and no one outside of your fellow marchers cared about your march. That's just me. I just hope we can all find a way to get along and I hope this guy isn't as bad as he's making it seem he'll be. Good luck to all of us. 
My guest for episode 560 is "Honky Tonk Heaven: The Legend of the Broken Spoke" co-director, Brenda Greene Mitchell! This brilliant documentary tells the story of the legendary Texas honky tonk, The Broken Spoke here in Austin. The story is told through charismatic and tenacious owners, James and Annetta White and includes interviews with such legends as, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jesse Dayton and more! I've had the pleasure of knowing Brenda since I was 11 or 12. She has always been passionate about music and has owned clubs, promoted shows and benefits. The movie is brilliant and touching and you can find it at brokenspokefilm.com I hope you enjoy my conversation with my dear, old friend, Brenda. I sure did. Let's get down!
 
ciao! -jg

Episode 557: Barbara Nesbitt

Hey gang! I hope you're all thawing out after the freezing winter weather that engufed most of the United States this weekend. I actually have my windows open today and it's really nice out. With all of the freezing weather this weekend, my gig on Friday got cancelled and i ended up staying home Friday and Saturday night. I'm glad we don't have long winters here because just after two days, I start to go nuts and get really depressed. So sad and confused that I gave in to a Red Lobster "Shrimp-fest" commercial... I talk aboutit in the intro. 
Singer/songwriter, Barbara Nesbitt is my guest for epsiode 557! Her fourth solo album, the gorgeous, Right As Rain comes out this Friday, January 13th and she's playing a release show at Strange Brew Loungeside here in Austin on Saturday, January 14th. Barbara and I have a great conversation about co-producing Right As Rain, playing in a jam band in her teens in Virginia, long singing engagments in China, The Whiskey Sisters and much, much more! To find out where and when she's playing go to barbaranesbitt.com I hope you enjoy getting to know Barbara. 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 546: Monte Warden

Hello friends! I hope you're all doing well. I am. I got to play at The "Eye Love Savannah" show that my friend Todd Wolfson put together on Monday at Monkey Nest. I was honored to be a part of the music, but even more, I was honored to be a part of my community. It's sad to have to get together because something unfortunate has happened to a memebr of our tribe, but it's amazing how quickly and how powerfully we come together as a community to lend support and raise money for our own. It was very moving to see and hug savannah for the first time since her accident and I'm very glad she's still in our lives. You can still donate to her gofundme page every bit makes a difference. 
Legendary singer/songwriter and frontman for Americana pioneers, The Wagoneers, Monte Warden! I played a show with Monte and his new band, Monte Warden and the Dangerous Few a few weeks ago and invited him to be on the show. I haven't seen him in the last 15 years or so and was pleasantly surprised to see how much music he's written for others including, Carrie Underwood and Goerge Strait and many more. We have a great conversation about how he discovered music, going from cease and desist orders with The Wagoneers to recording a new album and playing a residency, getting sober and why, the idea behiind the jazzy country of Monte Warden and the Dangerous Few, getting his song "Desperately" recorded by George Strait and much, much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
 
Ciao! -JG

Episode 544: David Halley / Nomad City Stops By

Hello friends! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and you're living that "Black Friday" dream. You know the dream, the one where you don't have to be with your crazy family anymore and there are tons of leftovers that you can eat cold, right out of the fridge. The people you're tired of hanging out with are the kind of people that go shopping on "Black Friday", so you're happy they're gone. Hey! If you're in Houston tonight, Friday, Novermber 25th, SKYROCKET! is playing at Fitzgerald's! Come out and say hi. Also, it's a fabulous escape from your family. 
 
My guest for episode 544 is legendary singer/songwriter, David Halley. David has a new album coming out, A Month Of Somedays on December 6th. A Month Of Somedays is David's first album since the classic, Stray Dog Talk over 20 years ago. He's playing a record release show here in Austin next Saturday December 3rd at 9:30 pm at The Townsend. David and i have a great conversation about what he's been up to for the last 20 years, working on A Month Of Somedays with Will Sexton and J.D. Foster, fatherhood and much, much more. I love David Halley and his music. It was a real treat to get to talk to him. Plus, Brit and Ray from Nomad City stop by and talk about their e.p. release show next Thursday, December 1st at The Mohawk. Big show. Good times. Let's get down! 
 
ciao! -jg

Episode 541: Mandy Rowden Returns!

Hello friends! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Mine was good. I went to the Mac & Cheese Festival on Sunday with my friend A.J.. It was a pretty amazing experience that ended in possibly worst stmach ache I've ever had. What happened was, I went to the festival hungry. They were toally over-serving and I ate the whole 5-8 pounce servings right off the bat. There were tons of different cheeses including Gorgonzola, Bleu Cheese and other crazy cheeses mixed with bacon, chorizo, pork, brisket and anything else you can imagine. I say, if you go, only taste the mac & cheese and you'll be fine. You can watch our adventures at The Mac & Cheese Festival on our show "Cooking/Drinking with Johnny & AJ"
Singer/songwriter, Mandy Rowden returns to the show for episode 541! Mandy has just released a new album, 1,000 Miles and has been touring behind it. In fact, she's been touring since she was last on the show promoting her album, These Bad Habits which was #2 in The Austin Chronicle Music Awards. Mandy came by a few weeks ago and we talked about touring, making 1,000 Miles, strange times at The Americana Music Awards, Girl Guitar Austin and the opening of Girls Guitar Nashville and much, much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!

Episode 529: Reckless Kelly

Hey gang! I hope you've all had a great week. Things are going well here. Heading out to Houston to spend some time with my grandmother. She's 94 now. We're very, very close, so i'm trying to spend as much time with her as i can. SKYROCKET! will be playing in Houston tonight at The Continental Club. People were saying it's sold out. As of last night, it was not, so if you live in Houston, come out tonight Friday 9/30 and party with us! I'll be going to ACL Festival this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes on Tuesday's show. 
My guest for episode 529 is the amazing Cody Braun from Reckless Kelly! For 20 years Reckless Kelly has been making amazing americana music and touring the country relentlessly. They've just released their 11th album, the stunning, Sunset Motel. The album is a gorgeous example of a band taking a sound and running with it and 20 years down the road, there's amazing growth and depth beyond what they even expected. Cody and I have a great conversation about growing up in Idaho, playing in his dad's band with his brothers, moving to Austin and starting Reckless Kelly, their experiences with releasing albums and touring the U.S. for 20 years, the importance of art in everything from writing songs to album packaging, making Sunset Motel and much, much more. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Cody as much as I did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 526: George Reiff Returns!

Hello friends! I hope this episode finds you all doing well and ready for fall. My guest for episode 526 is the amazingly talented bass player/producer/mixer and my dear old friend, George Reiff! George has been undergoing treatment for cancer since a brain tumor was discovered a couple of months ago. He had the tumor removed, but has been undergoing radiation treatment and a new experimental treatment. He has insurance, but all of this treatment is expensive and he's not been able to work since he was diagnosed. To help with bills, people have organized some beautiful benefits and there is a gofundme.com page where anyone can donate. I encourage you to donate. Here's the link https://www.gofundme.com/georgereiff George and I have a great conversation about producing and mixing albums, new pop music, fighting cancer, our music family that has shown so much support and much, much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg