Episode 606: The Big Gun Show / Kayce Laine Checks In!

Happy 4th of July! I had two conversations for episode 606! First up, I video-chatted with the lovely and talented pop artist and recent Brooklyn to Nashville transplant, Kayce Laine! Kayce just released a new single, "Aftergolw" Her third release since her move to Nashville a year and a half ago. We have a great conversation about changing her sound, adjusting to life in Nashville, balancing a job and music and much, much more! Find Kayce and her music at kaycelaine.com Next up are honky-tonking hard rockers, The Big Gun Show!  Gunter Woodson and Yates Hagan stopped by talk about all things in The Big Gun Show. Their new e.p. The Door is available now and they'll be playing this Friday, 7/7 at The Longhorn Saloon in Austin, TX. Go to thebiggunshow.com to see videos, hear music and find out where they're playing next. We have a great conversation about recording The Door with producer AJ Vallejo, shooting their video for their song "Swagger" at a strip club, tequila and much, much more. I hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July! Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 605: Troy Campbell Talks House of Songs and more!

My guest for episode 605 is singer/songwriter, filmmaker and founder of The House of Songs, Troy Campbell. The House of Songs started in 2009 as an international collaboration between Austin artists and artists from Denmark. Eight years later, they've expanded to collaborations with 13 countries all over the world and have opened a new House of Songs in a 90 year-old dormitory in the Ozarks. You can find out all The House of Songs, watch videos and get involved at thehouseofsongs.com Troy and I have been friends since the 90's and we have a great converation about everything House of Songs, bringing the world together using music as the handshake, exploding instruments made of ice in Sweden, House of Songs in the Ozarks and much, much more. I have always loved spending time with Troy and hearing his stories and ideas. This time is no different. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. let's get down!
Ciao! -jg

Episode 596: Jen Zava

Hello friends! I hope you all had a good Memerial Day weekend. I did. I didn't really do much. A much needed relaxing weekend. Hey! We're celebrating our 600th episode with a live podcast next Monday, June 5th at 8 pm at The Townsend here in Austin. My guests will be AJ Vallejo, Jane Ellen Bryant, Jaimee Harris and Nakia. If you're a fan of the show and you would like to be a part of this special night, check out our facebook event page and come out and join us. 
My guest for episode 596 is Jen Zava! Jen's brilliant new album, Power To Change comes out this Friday, June 2nd. She's celebrating with a release show this Thursday, June 1st at The Townsend here in Austin, Texas. you can go to jenzava.com for more info on the album and release show. Jen and I had a great conversation about making Power To Change with producer David Messier, Growing up in Georgia, being a mom, playing in cover bands, garage bands and coffee shops and much, much more! I hope you enjoy getting to know Jen. I sure did. Let's get down!
 
ciao! -jg

Episode 594: Donut Musik

Hello friends! It's been a tough week for this music community. We lost two pillars on Sunday... The great Jimmy LaFave and the amazing George Reiff. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones at this time. I know this music community is reeling from two powerful losses, but remember that these beautiful souls and their music will live on within us forever. They'll be missed.
My guests for episode 594 are Alice Spencer, Brian Beattie and Dony Wynn, collectively known as Donut Musik! These amazing talents joined forces and are finally bringing their beautiful, strange and highly entertaining music to the people. They're doing their "Donut Musik's Wang Dang Doodle" at The Townsend in Austin, TX on Wednesday, May 24th and Wednesday, May 31st. Shows start at 7:30pm. You can find out more about the shows and see videos at their facebook page. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. 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 592: girling

Hey guys! I hope you all had a good weekend. I had a strange weekend that made me believe that something celestial or astroligical was working against me, my tires and my man-purse. I did some driving and played some shows. We got to play a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It was a huge gala that rased over a million dollars for the JDRF. It feels good to be a part of that especially because my sister Nicole has "type 1". Anyway, I also got to spend some time with my aunts and my grandmother which was good. we had breakfast on Mother's Day and it reminded me how grateful I am to have such a loving family.
My guests for epsiode 592 are Andy Sharp and Rusty Zagst from the garage-rock band, girling! Their brilliant new, John Croslin co-produced, e.p. Side 1 comes out this Friday, May 19th on Nine Mile Records! They're celebrating with a release show on Friday, May 19th at The Sidewinder in Austin, TX. You can find out more information about the show and get the album at girlingmusic.com Andy and Rusty came by a few weeks ago and we had a great conversation about making Side 1, working with the legendary, John Croslin, the evolution of girling from a solo/side project to a collaborative band, their time in Kissinger and much, much more! I had a great time catching up with Andy and Rusty. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 591: Echocentrics

Hey gang! I hope you've had a good week. Maybe you're getting ready for the weekend. I am. The weekend usually means my work time. I'm traveling this weekend. Sunday is Mother's day. I hope you remembered to get something for your mom or the maternal figure in your life. I am behind on my Mother's day gifts for my aunt and grandmother. I think I'm going to get flowers on Sunday morning on the way. Good idea, right? I'll let you know how it turns out on Tuesday. 
My guest for episode 591 is guitar player, producer and all-around great guy, Adrian Quesada! Adrian returns to the show to the show to talk about his psychedelic/cinematic solo project, Echocentrics. Their latest album, Echo Hotel is available now. You can find it at theechocentrics.com You might know Adrian from his many bands including, the Grammy winning, Grupo Phantasma, Money Chicha, Brownout, Spanish Gold or his production like The Sword's High Country and more. Adrian is one of my favorite musicians and producers around. He's an amazing dude with great stories. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 589: Flyjack / Alex Dezen Checks In From The Road

Hello friends! I hope you're all doing well. It's a gorgeous day in Austin, TX and I always appreciate that. Quick promo, I'm playing with my new band on Sunday, May 7th at The 40th Annual Pecan Street Festival here in Austin. We're playing at 1 pm on the Trinity stage. There are a lot of awesome bands playing both days so go to pecanstreetfestival.org for the full line-up and times. Alex Dezen (formerly of The Danmwells) checked in from the road the other day. He just released a new solo album Alex Dezen II and he's on tour supporting it. He'll be in Austin tomorrow, Saturday, May 6th at 3Ten Austin City Limits Live. Go to alexdezen.com for tickets and information. Alex and I video chatted about his album, the tour and our mutual friends. I was glad to meet him, even virtually as ive been a fan for years. I hope you enjoy our chat.
My guests for epsiode 589 are Buck McKinney and Brad Bradburn from Austin funk/soul band, Flyjack. They just released their second album, New Day a month ago and they'll be playing some shows in May including Last Concert cafe' in Houston on May 13th and The Blackheart in Austin on May 20th. Go to flyjackmusic.com for more info on album and dates. We have a great conversation about Buck and Brad's transition from Gnappy to Flyjack, making New Day, flying the flag for late 60's & early 70's deep funk and rare groove, working with a 10-peice band and much, much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 588: Matt Hubbard

Hey gang! I hope you all had a great weekend. I did. I played a couple of shows with SKYROCKET!. They were both a lot of fun. I had a hard time sleeping on Saturday night. Like, I fell asleep for like 20 minutes then I was up until 5 a.m. I slept for a bit and woke up for the day. I was pretty out of it on Sunday. I got some stuff done with the podcast and met a friend for lunch. Other than that, I just kinda wandered around kind of out of it and hung out with my dogs a bit. Good weekend.
My guest for episode 588 is the amazing keyboard/vibes/trombone playing, Matt Hubbard! Matt just got done playing some shows with Edlie Brickell and The New Bohemians a couple of weeks ago and he'll be returning to his residency every Wednesday at 9:30 at C-Boys here in Austin, TX tomorrow. You might know matt from his trio or his work with so many artists like, Willie Nelson, Ricky Lee Jones, Golden Dawn Arkestra, his band, 7 Walkers with Papa Mali and Bill Kreutzmann from The Grateful Dead and many, many more. You can find him and his music at matthubbardtrio.com I really enjoyed my conversation with Matt. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 587: Black Heart Saints

Hello friends! I hope this episode finds you happy and healthy. Things are good in the world of Johnny. I've been rehearsing this week with my band for our first show at Pecan Street Festival here in Austin on Sunday, May 7th. It's atrting to gel a bit more. We're figuring out what songs of mine sound best with this band. It's a fun process. Other than that, I have a couple of private SKYROCKET shows this weekend and some more rehearsing. We'll be playing in town all weekend which is kind of a treat. 
My guests for episode 587 are Austin Rock band, Black Heart Saints! Even though these guys have only been together for a couple of years, they've got things going. They've played the X Games, opened for tons of big bands, they were named one of Austin's "Top Ten New Bands" at the Austin Chronical Music Awards 2017, they've released their debut e.p. produced by Omar Vallejo and they were named Austin Music Foundation's "Band of the Month" for March 2017. They came by a couple of weeks ago armed with a bottle of vodka and some club soda and we drank the whole thing. These guys are great! It's a fun and informative conversation. I hope you enjoy it. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg