Episode 577: Happy Meals

Hey gang! I hope the world is treating you like a king or queen right now. Things are good here. I've just been working on some songs for my new band. We have a gig on Sunday, May 7th at Pecan Street festival here in Austin and we're getting into the rehearsal room to start knocking out some songs. I'll let you know how it's going. SKYROCKET! will be playing some shows this weekend... Tonight, Friday, March 24th we'll be at Sam's in San Antonio and tomorrow, Saturday, March 25th we'll be at Cedar Street Courtyard in Austin, TX. Come out and party with us.
My guests for episode 577 are Suzanne Rodden and Lewis Cook from Glasgow's, Happy Meals! This phenomenal dreamy, synth, French-pop duo was in from Scotland for SXSW. They came by and we had a great conversation about their e.p.'s Fruit Juice and Apero, the d.i.y. underground scene in Glasgow, our love for Swtched On, touring Russia, India and Europe, working as couple, our ove of synthsizers and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know these fine people. I sure did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 575: Tailor & Zak Loy Return!

Hello friends! I hope you're all doing well and if you're here for SXSW, I hope you're winning the fight. I just got back from talking to Jonas Wilson and Aaron Behrens from The Midnight Stroll at the Tunein SXSW Podcast stage. It was absolutely terrific! It will be up on Tuesday. If you live in Houston, I will be playing tomorrow, Saturday, March 18th at The Heoghts Theater. I'm opening for and singing some songs with BoDeans. I'm really excited about this show. Come out and say hi. Get your tickets here theheightstheater.com
South African powerhouse, Tailor and her producer/guitarist, Zak Loy return to the show for episode 575! They're in town playing some shows for SXSW. You can see them tonight, Friday, March 5th at The Rooftop at 9 pm and more shows tomorrow, Saturday, March 18th. Go to thisistailor.com for times a places. Tailor and Zak and I have a great conversation about making Tailor's brilliant new album, Trust pt. 1 here in Austin last year, pulling it off live, SXSW, having trust in each other and much, mcuh more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 572: Christine Albert

Hello friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. I had a good one. I played a couple of shows with SKYROCKET!, I got to meet my cousin's new baby, Samuel. SXSW is upon us. It starts this week with the interactive and film festivals. I'll be doing a live podcast next week, Thursday, March 16th at 11 am at the SXSW Podcast Stage in the Brazos Room at the JW Marriot in downtown Austin. My guests will be Aaron Behrens and Jonas Wilson from The Midnight Stroll. It's an official SXSW event, so you'll need a badge. For more info go to SXSW Podcast Stage: How Did I Get Here?.
My guest for episode 572 is singer/songwriter/philanthropist and all-around wonderful person, Christine Albert! You might know Christine from her "TexaFrance" album trilogy or her 6 albums and 20 year partnership with Chris Gage in Albert and Gage or her non-profit, Swan Songs. Christine and I have an amazing conversation about her latest album, Everything's Beautiful Now, her time as the Grammy chair, her dealings with CBS Nashville, starting Swan Songs, dealing with death, her Blue Bell Ice Cream commercial in the 80's and much, much more! I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
 
ciao! -jg

Episode 562: The Traveling Ones

Hello friends! I hope you've all had as little stress this week as possible. If you watch the news or engage in social media, you might have noticed there's an unprecidented level of controversy surrounding this country's new prez. There's a lot of unease among folks worried about their rights. A lot of people turning on each other and attacking one and other on social media. A lot of, "I've been too quiet for too long about this but..." posts on facebook from boths sides of the aisle. Just a quick reminder that you should go out and see music. I did that a few times this week and it totally took me out of that "Oh my God! What's happening now?!?!" state of mind I get in when I'm watching the news or what ever CNN has become. Go out and see live music and it will take out of that head and into the beautiful world of art and creativity. 
My guests for episode 562 are Justin Ahmanson and Emily Villareal, professionally known as, The Traveling Ones. Their debut albuum, Meet Me There comes out next Friday, February 3rd and they're playing a release show that same day at Stubb's here in Austin. They'll also be playing other release shows around Texas so just go to travelingones.com to see when they're coming to a town near you. Justin and Emily and I have a great conversation that takes us from their humble beginnings as solo artists to meeting each other, falling in love and joining forces musically, making Meet Me There on their own and much more. It seems to be working for them. I hope you enjoy getting to know Emily and Justin. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 536: Craig Dorfman (Author of "Brighter Day: A Jellyfish Story")

Hello friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. Are you a fan of the band, Jellyfish? Do you ever wonder why they only released two albums (Bellybutton - 1991, Spilt Milk - 1993) and broke up? Do you ever wonder what ever happened to the members of the band? Well, for episode 536 I talk to Craig Dorfman, the man who wrote the book about Jellyfish. The book is called, "Brighter Day: A Jellyfish Story" Craig just picked up distribution last week, so it should make its way into some stores in the next few months, but for now you can get it the "Brighter Day: A Jellyfish Story" facebook page. I reached out to Craig and got a copy of the book. I absolutely loved it. Jellyfish is one of my favorite bands and it was great to hear the whole story told by the people that lived it and told in a single narrative that keeps you engaged the whole time. Craig and I have a great conversation about finding the dozens of people involved in the story and interviewing them and working on the book for over 7 years, his love of music and these guys and their life story and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know Craig. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 533: Amy Edwards & The Hi-Fis

Hello friends! I hope you're all doing well. Things are good here. It's my birthday today. I'm going to the dentist and then going to San Antonio to play at Sam's Burger Joint Music Hall with SKYROCKET!. I feel like I've been fighting off sickness or allergies or whatever it is that i have had for a week. Some days I'm winning, some days i'm losing. I'm pretty sure I'l prevail. I want to let you guys know that my band, Lady Band Johnson is playing on Friday November 4th at The Continental Club here in Austin. I'll post a link to the facebook event page when we make one. 
My guests for episode 533 are Yates Hagan and Amy Edwards from Amy Edwards & The Hi-Fi's! Their new single, a searing cover of The Carpenters "Superstar" is out today! Amy and Yates have gone through some restructuring of their project. They've stripped the live band down to just the two of them. Bringing out a raw, rock approach to their songs. We have a great conversation about the changes they've gone through, recording "Superstar" with AJ Vallejo, making videos and much, much more. I love these guys and I'm sure you will too. Have a great weekend. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 524: BLXPLTN

Hello folks! I hope you're all enjoying you week. I am. I got out to see some music on HAAM day. I ended up at The Townsend seeing The Bluebonnets. It was a great show. I hung out with Mike Flannigin and some of the lovely "HAAMbassadors". HAAM is a great organization. It provides low-cost health care for those in the Austin music business. If you're a musician in Austin, i encourage you to sign up. They're there to help you. If you're a supporter of Austin music, check it out. You can donate on their site. Keep Austin musicians healthy, support HAAM. myhaam.org
My guests for episode 524 are TaSzmin Muerte and Jonathan Horstmann from the punk/industrial band, BLXPLTN! If you haven't heard BLXPLTN, i suggest you get out there immediately and educate yourself. They are amazing. If you live in austin, you can see them next Thursday Sept. 22 at the Red Bull Sound Select showcase at Barracuda here in Austin. Go HERE for more info on the show and to rsvp. We have a great conversation about growing up religious and changing your relationship with a higher power, their upcoming New York Fascist Week album, the punk scene in Austin, making music with a social conscience and much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know the fine cats as much as i did. Let's get down!
ciao- jg

Episode 520: Kady Rain Returns!

Hello friends! Welcome to the last days of summer 2016. Labor day weekend is upon us. I hope you have fabulous plans to close out the summer. I don't really have plans. Does anyone have a boat they want to take on? I'm playing with Skyrocket on Friday at Cedar Street Courtyard in Austin and Saturday, we'll be at Mercer Street Dance Hall in Dripping Springs. Come out and start your Labor Day weekend off with some sweet jams provided me and my pals.
Kady Rain and Ben Bazzrea return to the show for episode 520! Their new awesome e.p., "All I Ever Wanted" came out last Friday! You can find it on itunes, Spotify and of course at kadyrain.com. They'll be playing at The 36th Annual Fall Pecan Street Festival on Sunday Sept. 25th at 7pm go to pecanstreetfestival.org for a complete listing of bands and times. Kady, Ben and I have a great conversation about writing songs, making "All I Ever Wanted", the state of pop music in Austin and the world, making it work as a couple and musical partners, lava lamps and much, much more! I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
Ciao! -jg

Episode 502: Fair City Fire

hello friends! i hope you're getting ready for the big 4th of july weekend. maybe you're listening to this while you're joining the 43 million americans hitting the road this weekend to celebrate summertime and our nation's birth. if so, safe travels and have fun. i don't have a very "holiday weekend" thing planned. my cousin, jennifer is coming in today, i'm playing an acoustic set tomorrow at the townsend for their first anniversary and maybe i'll hit a bbq or pool party on sunday or monday. either way, i hope enjoy your 4th of july weekend safely to it's fullest. 
my guests for episode 502 are brett winning and brian wolff from austin rock band, fair city fire. their debut album, the simple truth came out in april and you can find where ever you get your music online. i met brett and brian a couple of months ago and i was really blown away by their work ethic and ability to think and act outside the box. for instance, brett and brian make their living playing as a duo 3 to 4 days a week, so they're always working on their music/performance skills which makes fair city fire better. they host a podcast where they invite bands they're sharing a bill with over for some drinks and get to know them. you can find the show along with their music and show calendar at faircityfire.com. i hope you enjoy getting to know these guys. i sure 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