Episode 595: The Mastersons Return!

Hello friends! It's been a long week for the Austin music community. I got to see some good music on Wednesday night. That felt good. I saw James Junius at The One-2-One Bar, Donut Musik at The Townsend and Cotton Mather at 3Ten ACL Live. Pretty badass for a Wednesday. You shoudl see the shit I missed. SKYROCKET! is playing tonight at Hanover's in Pflugerville. Come out and party with us if you live in the North Austin area. I hope you all have a fun and safe Memorial Day weeekend. 
Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore, also known as The Mastersons ruturn to the show for episode 595! Their gorgeous new album, Transient Lullaby is out now. They're about to head out on tour for the rest of the year opening for and playing with legendary songwriter, Steve Earle. They played some release shows this last weekend but sadly lost their co-producer for this album, and our mutual friend, George Reiff, on Sunday. We got together Monday morning as scheduled after some deliberation about wether we should do it or not. Well, we decided to sit down and talk about this Transient Lullaby, their touring experience, our friend, George, touring with and opening for Steve Earle, writing this album all over the U.S. and Europe, the current political climate and much, much more. I love Chris and Eleanor as artists and as people. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

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 578: Raul Midon

Hello friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. I was back at work with SKYROCKET!. We played Friday in San Antonio and Saturday in Austin. They were great shows. This week we're back at it on the private party scene. we're playing 5 shows this week, so that should be interesting. I got to play with some of my new band on Saturday! That was really, really fun. We'll be playing our first show at Pecan Street Festival here in Austin in May. I'll let you know when it's happening.
My guest for episode 578 is the amazing Raul Midon! His brand new album, Bad Ass and Blind just came out last Friday and he is embarking on a U.S. and European tour as we speak. Go to Raulmidon.com to find out when he's coming to town near you. Raul came by when he was in town for SXSW a couple of weeks ago and we had a fantatsic conversation about making Bad Ass And Blind, his time at The University of Miami Music Program, being in the jingle scene, playing with Shakira for two years, teh New York jazz scene and much, much more! I hope you enjoy getting to know Raul. 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 568: Ian Moore Returns Again!

Hello friends! I'm a little late putting this out because I went to see Sphynx last night and then went and sang karaoke. I was drunk and terrible which is a great combo right? Anyway, Sphynx was incredible. Their new e.p. is out and it's awesome. Other than that, I want to invite you to a storytelling/improv show I'm doing tomorrow at The New Movement Theater here in Austin. It's called The Megaphone Show. I'll be telling stories and then an improv group will act them out. Should be fun. If you're in town, come out and say hi. Here's a link The Megaphone Show
My dear friend, the amazing Ian Moore returns to the show for episode 568! His gorgeous new album, Strange Days comes out next Tuesday, February 21. Ian was in town rehearsing with his new band and they're hitting the road on the west coast starting March 2nd and ending up in Austin for SXSW. Ian and I have a great conversation about making Strange Days and his last e.p. The Noble Art, selling out vs. making a living, his new non-profit, SMASH bringing affordable health care to Seattle musicians, his songwriting workshops, family and much, much more! I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao!- jg

Episode 510: Jackie Venson

hello friends. i hope this episode finds you all doing well. i'm good. i'm glad that these conventions are over. i thought it was exciting to see the first woman accepting her party's nomination for president. i watched it live. i like what she's saying. i'm really glad these conventions are over. i feel like this campaign has been going on forever. hey! if you want to get away from all things political and you're listening to this show the day it comes out, skyrocket is playing tonight, friday, july 29th at speakeasy here in austin. come out and party with us. 
my guest for episode 510 is musical powerhouse and guitar hero, jackie venson! jackie has a new album, live at strange brew, coming out on september 16th and is heading out on a west coast tour starting next wednesday, august 3rd. go to jackievenson.com to find out if she's coming to a town near you. jackie and i have a great conversation about growing up austin, her time at berklee college of music, making a switch from classical pianist to blues guitarist in 2011, recording her new live album, why she likes short guys and so much more. i had a great time getting to know jackie. i'm sure you will too. let's get down! 
ciao! -jg

Episode 509: Eric Tessmer

hello friends! i hope life is treating you well. i had a good weekend of shows with skyrocket. i did a podcast with a band called, drop out vegas when i was in houston on saturday. they're an amazing pop band and we had a great conversation in my hotel room. look for that in a couple of weeks. i'm looking forward to making some new music this week with some friends and shooting a cooking show with aj. friday, skyrocket will be playing at speakeasy in downtown austin. it's our first gig in this awesome venue. come out and say hi if you can.
my guest for episode 509 is guitar hero, eric tessmer! eric's new e.p., EP1 comes out this friday, july 29th. he'll be playing release shows this weekend. friday, july 29th at antone's in austin and saturday, july 30th at dan electro's guitar bar in houston. eric and i have a great conversation about miraculous guitar purchases, growing up in richland center, wisconsin, making EP1, working with the great jacob sciba, living in his rehearsal space, getting sober and much, much more. you can find out more about eric at erictessmerband.com. i hope you enjoy getting to know eric as much as i did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 504: Van Wilks Returns!

hello friends! i hope you're having a good week and ready to cruise into the weekend in style. i have no idea what that means, but it sounds nice. if you live in san antonio, my band, skyrocket will be playing at sam's burger joint music hall, tonight, july 8th 2016. come out and get into the festivities that you can only get into by cutting loose with skyrocket on a friday night in s.a.. i'm playing friday, but i'm off saturday and next weekend. slow month for the skyrocket clan. i have no idea what i'm doing on saturday night. maybe some good peeps are playing and i'll see a band or two.
guitar hero, van wilks returns to the show for episode 504! van has a new album out, 21st century blues. i think it's his best and toughest sounding album yet. the more i have these conversations with my elders, the more i am convinced that if you stay inspired and stay true to yourself, you will always grow and your art will always be honest and good. such is the case with van wilks and his first album in ten years, 21st century blues. van and i have another great conversation. i never ceased to be inspired by van and the other amazingly talented people in my life that i look up to. i hope you enjoy our conversation. i sure did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 488: John Evans

hello friends! i hope you're al doing well. i had a great weekend of gigs with skyrocket. i got to have mother's day brunch with my girlfriend, her sister and her grandmother on sunday. i ended up taking a 4 hour nap after brunch. i've been digging riding around in my new car. it's working out great! i spent my travel time this weekend listening to the audiobook of "under the big black sun: a personal history of l.a. punk" by john doe with tom desavia and a host of others from the first generation of l.a. punk scene including jane wiedlin and charlotte caffey from the gogo's, mike watt, henry rollins and a bunch more. getting to hear everyone tell their own story makes you feel like you're there. great book. anyway, i'm about to talk to co-author, tom desavia via skype for the show. look for that on friday.
my guest for episode 488 is songwriter/producer/frontman/sideman/band member and one of the coolest most talented guys i know, john evans! his brilliant new album, polyester comes out THIS friday, may 13th. he's also having a couple of release shows this weekend, friday, may 13th at the continental club in austin and saturday, may 14th at raven tower in houston. go to johnevansband.com to find out how to get all of his albums and find out when he'll in a town near you. john came by a few weeks ago and we had a great conversation about picking up the pieces of a shattered heart after losing his daughter, the magic of prince, making polyester, touring with el trio grande, what he does as a producer, the fact that i probably saw his band play "i love rock n roll" when we were in jr high together and much, much more. john is a great hang and a phenomenal talent. i hope enjoy getting to know him as much as i did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 445: The Welch Family (Kevin, Dustin & Savannah) / Dwight Twilley Checks In!

hello friends! i hope you all had a great weekend! i did. i was back in the saddle with skyrocket. we went to houston and played a corporate christmas party. it was good, but i didn't feel well during the show. like the whole show. i soldiered through though. came back to austin on saturday, did this podcast with the welches took a two-hour nap and played hanover's with skyrocket. i felt much better. we had a good time. i'm struggling with wearing earplugs on stage... i hate it.episode 445 is a super-sized episode loaded with extra goodness! first up, i have a quick skype conversation with power pop legend and one of my heroes, dwight twilley! dwight is playing a solo acoustic show THIS thursday, december 17th at the hole in the wall here in austin, tx. here's some more info on the show twilley @ the hole in the wall anyway, dwight and i catch up since our last chat (around a year ago) about playing solo shows, his art book, smoking and more! it's a good time. next up, we're joined by kevin, dustin and savannah welch! they're taking their "welch family throwdown" around texas this week. they'll be in wimberley, the woodlands and ft. worth. find out more here welch family throwdown we have a fantastic conversation about making music as a family, dustin's non-profit, soldier songs, kevin's songwriting retreats, nashville then vs. now, broadway faces and much, much more! i love the welches. i'm sure you will too. let's get down! ciao! -jg