Episode 626: Kathy Valentine Returns Again!

Former Go-Go, current Bluebonnet and one of my favorite people, Kathy Valentine returns to the show for episode 626! Kathy's has a busy year and she's back on the show to talk about it. Plus, she's started a new series assembling the talent of women in the arts called, "She Factory". The first of the series is a song pool featuring Nina Diaz (Girl In A Coma), Carolyn Wonderland, Jane Ellen Bryant, Suzanna Choffel, Ruthie Foster and Patricia Vonne. It takes place at The Townsend on Tuesday, September 19th from 8-10:30. You can find out all the details HERE. Kathy and I have  great conversation about The Bluebonnets newest album, Tonewrecker, her solo singles she's been releasing,  the idea behind and the future of "She Factory", her memoir and much, much more! I always love hanging out with Kathy. I'm sure you will too. 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 617: Celebrating 6 Years of "How Did I Get Here?"

Hello friends! Welcome to episode 617! Six years ago today, August 10, 2011, I released episode 1 of "How Did I Get Here?" with my guest, Suzanna Choffel. I thought it would be nice to put together a clip show of some of conversations I've gotten to have with people I love and admire over the last six years. Frank Turner (ep. 430 -10/30/15) talks about the coreleation between the punk and folk ethos, Kathy Valentine (ep. 18 -10/22/11) tells her story about joining The GoGo's, Hunt Sales (ep. 88 -7/29/12) discusses the ups and downs of an illustrious career, Angelo Moore (ep. 261 -4/4/14) on how he fell in love with the Theremin, A Giant Dog (ep. 330 -11/27/14) on Sweet Spirit and how they came together, Bruce Sudano (ep. 477 -4/1/16) on the transition out of disco into pop and singer/songwriter music, Penelope Spheeris (ep. 407 -8/12/15) on why Paul Stanley was in bed with so many girls when she interviewed him for "The Decline of Western Civilization Part 2: The Metal Years", David Grissom (ep. 89 -7/27/12) being onstage with The Dixie Chicks in London in 2003 when Natalie Maines made the George Bush comment, John Bush (ep. 314 -10/6/14) on meeting Edie Brickell and starting The New Bohemians, AJ Vallejo (ep. 600 -6/13/17) AJ gets naughty at a live podcast with Nakia, Jaimee Harris and Jane Ellen Bryant. I want to thank all of the guests who have been on the show and all the publicists, managers and friends who help me get folks on the show. Mostly, I want to thank YOU for listening. Thanks for a great six years. I'm looking forward to the next few years and all the conversations I'll have. Have a great weekend. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 611: Fragile Rock Returns!

Hello friends! The world's only emo puppet band, Fragile Rock returns to the show for episode 611. Last time we were joined by guitarist, Ryan Hill and back-up singer, Emily Cawood. This time we're joined by Brently Heilbron who plays lead singer, "Milo" and Megan Thornton who plays bass player, "Nic Hole". Their brilliant new album, Wake Up To The Break Up came out last Friday and they were on NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts" last week as well. Go to fragilerockband.com for all of your Fragile Rock needs. Megan and Brently and I have a great conversation about starting a band from a Facebook post, their experience on "America's Got Talent", how a highly emotional show can keep a band on the verge of break-up, traveling to Washington D.C. for NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts", making Wake Up To The Break Up and much, much more! I love Fragile Rock and I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 604: Buenos Diaz

My guest for episode 604 is guitar-slinging singer/songwriter, Nick Diaz who plays under the name, Buenos Diaz! His new self-titled album is out now. Nick's been on tour playing guitar in Alejandro Escovedo's band since the beginning of June, but he'll be in Houston on July 22 at The Mucky Duck with his band, Buenos Diaz. You can find out where they're playing and how to get their music by going to buenosdiazmusic.com Nick came by about a month ago and we had a great conversation about growing up in Houston and going to blues clubs, living in New Orleans, San Francisco and New York, making Buenos Diaz, playing with Alejandro Escovedo and much, much more! I had a great time getting to know Nick. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!

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 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 571: Dr. Joe

Hello friends! I hope you're all doing well. I'm feeling much better than I have been for the last week. I went to the doctor, she prescribed some steroids for my swollen throat and I'm on the mend. I thnk I got overtaken by allergies. After the big cedar allergy thing in January, I stopped taking all of my allergy meds. Bad move on my part. I was feeling so bad, I thought I had strep throat. Luckily I don't. Hey! If you're on Houston tomorrow, Saturday, March 4th, SKYROCKET! will be playing at Fitzgerald's. We go on at 9. Come out and party with us.
My guest for episode 571 is Joe Sparacino otherwise known as, Dr. Joe! Jane Ellen Bryant told me to get to her "single release" show early a couple of weeks ago so that I could catch the opening band, Dr. Joe. Well I did and I loved it. Joe and I talked after the show and I invited him to come on the podcast. They'll be performing 4 times for SXSW just go to drjoemusic.com to find out where and when and to hear some of his live recordings. Dr. Joe and I have a great conversation about growing up an army brat, going to dental school, playing at dueling piano bars in college, making his album with Frenchie Smith and Sean Rollie and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know this great artist, Dr. Joe. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 570: Fragile Rock

Hello friends! First off, I have to apologize for not putting out a show on Friday. I actually had an emotional meltdown on Wednesday night which left me exhausted and depressed on Thursday and then i woke up feeling a cold or something coming on on Friday. I played gigs in San Antonio and Houston on Friday and Saturday. I was sick, playing shows and driving all over the place. I spent Sunday sleeping and just laying in bed. Today, I'm going to the Dr. to find out what's going on. Anyway, I'll fill you in on everything on Friday's show. 
My guests for episode 570 are Emily Cawood and Ryan Hill from "the world's only emo puppet band", Fragile Rock! Their brand new e.p., Weepy, came out a few weeks ago and they were featured on NPR's "All Songs Considered" earlier this month. They'll be playing a couple of SXSW shows on Monday, March 13th at Spider House and Sidewinder. Go to fragilerockband.com for more info. Emily and Ryan and I have a great conversation about how leader Brently Heilbron came up with the idea of an emo puppet band while going through a divorce, their songwriting process, their odd audition for "America's Got Talent", the real definition of "disco nap", serious improv, how Bowie would have loved them and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know these creative and entertaining people. I sure did. 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