Episode 453: Lou Rebecca / Rock Journalist, Kristy Loye

hello friends! i hope you're all doing well and getting ready for the weekend. i have a big show for you guys today. first up, i have a skype conversation with houston press writer, kristy loye! kristy wrote an article for the houston press.com called, "rock and roll is dead, and even axl and slash can't save it". that really hit a nerve with people both with it and against it. go read it for yourself here . i reached out to kristy because i thought she touched on some important issues facing all musicians, how to make a living in an age where support for musicians (and artists in general) is becoming more scarce by the day. great conversation!!!on a completely different note, i also talk to french-pop artist, lou rebecca. lou is playing a show tonight, fri. 1/8 at the vulcan gas company in austin, tx. she moved here 6 months ago from paris, where she grew up the daughter of a pop singer mother and record producing father. she has an ep ready for release but has to figure out her deal with her french publishing company, sony. lou and her husband, daniel, a great photographer and director, came by last week and we had a great conversation. i hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as i did. let's get down!ciao! jg

Episode 440: Casey McPherson Returns!

hello friends! i hope you all had a great holiday weekend. i had a very laid back holiday weekend. i played one show with skyrocket and did a couple of podcasts on saturday and sunday. i got the chance to sit down and talk to paco estrada on saturday at orb recording studios and then sunday morning, bright and early, the trishas came over and we had a great conversation and a lot of laughs. look for both of those in the coming weeks. my guest for episode 440 is one of my favorite people and best friends, the amazingly talented singer/songwriter from alpha rev and flying colors, casey mcpherson! casey has had a busy few years since he was last on. he's released several albums and toured europe a few times with his prog/rock/pop band, flying colors which features mike potnoy and steve morse. he's released a lot of new music with his band, alpha rev. he's also been finding ways to build a community and help his community by raising awareness about affordable housing. this year casey is a black fret nominee and he's performing at the 2nd annual black fret black ball gala at the paramount theater in austin, tx this friday, december 12th. you can find out how to get tickets by going to black fret black ball gala. i hope you enjoy my conversation with casey. i sure did. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 411: Max Frost

hello friends! i hope you've all got your labor day weekend plans in order. maybe you're going to the beach or the lake for one last time this summer. this episode is coming out a little late because i shot another episode of "cooking/drinking with johnny & aj". we shot the episode with willy braun at his gorgeous place and he taught us how to make delicious bbq ribs, coleslaw, beans and a whole lot of tito's and lemonade. it's the best one yet! i'll let you know when it's up! hey! i just want to remind you that we have a live podcast coming up next wednesday, july 9th at the townsend right here in austin, tx from 8-10 pm. my guests will be kathy valentine, miles zuniga, amy edwards and emily bell! find out more about the event here.my guest for episode 411 is the amazingly talented musician/songwriter/producer/rockstar, max frost! i headed over to werd media labs and met up with max. his new single, "withdrawal" is out today. you can get it on itunes or at his website maxfrost.net. he's about to head out on tour for the month of october with austin indie darlings, wild child. so max and i had a fantastic conversation about everything from handling quincy jones' oscar, writing songs with and for people, keeping your integrity whie making pop music, why you should put your songs on soundcloud, discovering himself as an artist and much, much more. plus, he does the best bob schneider imitation ever. max is a very smart and aware person and we had a really great conversation. i hope you enjoy getting to know max as much as i did. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 388: Tapes / Texas Music Water Returns!

hello friends! i hope this episode finds you slaying the dragons of life. i'm doing well. i'm running around, doing laundry, getting this show together before i leave to corpus christi to play with skyrocket tonight. i'm hustling back tomorrow to make it back in time to cover the solstice festival going on here in austin tomorrow, sat. june 20th at pan-am park from noon to 10 pm. a lot of great artists on the bill including, ringo deathstarr, jazz mills, money chicha, zeale, dead love club and more! find out all about it at solticeatx.com . my guests for episode 388 are the incredibly dreamy, electro-instrumental band, tapes! i came across these guys about a month ago and freaked out. they're a new band that just released two gorgeous albums. they're both available on itunes, spotify, soundcloud and of course, bandcamp go HERE to hear and buy these amazing albums! i got to see the band on friday and it was amazing. they make the most beautiful music. anyway, carlos and sergio came by the other night and w had a great chat about growing up in laredo, crazy high school bands, film school, forming tapes, you get a free lesson in spanglish, a peek into how they're gonna make their next record and much, much more. i hope you enjoy getting to know these guys and their music. i sure did. plus, dean wolfe from texas music water and american music water stops by again and tells us how we can support our community through music non-profits like SIMS, HAAM and more by just drinking water find out more at texasmusicwater.com and americanmusicwater.com "you hydrate. we donate" let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 383: Little Brave Returns! / Texas Music Water

hello friends! i hope this episode finds you being able to shut off the tractor beam on the death star so that you can rescue the princess and go home. i want to let you know that i have a show THIS thursday at the roost in north austin. i received a call last night from my friend that books the place and he said someone dropped out last minute and would i play on thursday at 8. so, i'm playing a solo acoustic show at the roost in north austin at 8 on thursday. come out and say hi to me. i want to also let you know that texas music water is the official water of "how did i get here?". dean wolfe from texas music water stops by the show today to quickly give us the background on texas music water and about the non-profits it supports like HAAM, SIMS, Anthropos Arts, Warrior Cry Music Project and more! find out where you can your texas music water at www.texasmusicwater.com "you hydrate. we donate"Episode 383 finds little brave back in the "hot seat". also known as stephanie macias, this is her second appearance on the show. this past april she put out and amazing new double cd, mythology. this album is absolutely gorgeous. going between electronic pulses and totally organic solo ukelele performances. i urge you to not only buy this album, but go to littlebravemusic.com and buy a physical copy. stephanie stephanie made such a beautiful package that also comes with a beautiful booklet. artists like little brave give me hope. she is a creative force to be reckoned with and we have a great conversation about everything from eating right to designing the gorgeous packing for mythology and everything in between. as always, i had a great time getting to know little brave again. i'm sure you will too. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 376: A.J. Vincent

hello my friends! i hope you're all doing well. i just got some horrible news that there is an "allergy tsunami" coming. is that sensationalism or am i in trouble for the coming months and according to the news, coming years as well. yuk! i just got on flonase a month ago. it seems to be working. how do you control your allergies? my guest for episode 376 is one of austin's best, most innovative and entertaining musicians, a.j. vinent! he's just joined austin's hard rock heroes, scorpion child! you might also know aj from his time as the keyboard player for the bright light social hour, or from his insane solo shows. he's won best keyboard player in the austin chronicle music awards. he's got solo music out and it's awesome you can hear it at ajvincent.com. we have a fantastic conversation about  being born and raised in austin, cutting his teeth in a metal/hardcore/indie rock band in high school called, poor man's opera, hearing pink floyd, boston, led zeppelin and tower of power all in one day, we discuss our idea for "speedos" the woman's answer to "hooters", people buy him leslie cabinets, keyboards, joining scorpion child and much, much more. i hope you enjoy getting to know aj. i sure did. let's get down!

Episode 333: Bob Schneider Returns! / We Stop By Antone's Records

hello friends i hope you're all doing well. i hope you're getting prepared for the holidays. i just realized today that i've done nothing about my shopping... i know i'll be buying my christmas gifts at local record stores here in austin. i have a plan. i did it last year and it was pretty cool. i buy music for people that they might not know, but is in their taste range, at local record stores. well, this year, i'm trying to get out to some record stores so that the owners can you what they're known for. today we stop by antone's record store here in austin, tx and talk to musician/co-owner, eve monsees. great chat about the record store that has graced "the drag" since 1987. get out to your local record store and get involved!my guest for episode 333 is the immensely talented singer/songwriter and all-around great hang, bob schneider. this is bob's second appearance on the show. he's started a pledge music campaign for his new album, "king kong" and there's two weeks left for you to give. simply go to bob's pledge music campaign and give. i met bob at an undisclosed location and we talked about everything from our dislike of taylor swift and creed to communicating with just our hearts. yeah. i hope you enjoy our conversation. i did. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 292: GOBI / Löwin

hello friends! i'm just waking up to some crazy reports of flash flooding overnight here in austin. i'm gonna go survey the damage when i go running in a bit. apparently, there was SEVEN inches of rain on the east side where i live. anyway, i hope you guys are all doing well wherever you are.  i want to remind you guys that my tuesday night residency at strange brew in austin continues this coming tuesday, 7/22. i have great guests who have both been on the show, jason blum and salim nourallah. here's the facebook event for it https://www.facebook.com/events/1455990667987885/ i think all of my guests have been on the podcast... ha ha. am i really just realizing that now?episode 292 is a double-header! first up, pop group, GOBI (i'm wearing the shirt they gave me as i'm writing this. thanks guys!). there's not much dance/pop music going on in austin, but i'm happy to report that what is happening is great! the guys from GOBI stopped by a couple of weeks ago and we chatted about what they do, what they're up to and the release show they're having for their single, "born to dance" at stubb's in austin on july 25th. great guys, great conversation. our next guest is sara houser from the rock band, löwin. sara has been on the show before with her old band, the couch, but they have since split up and she has narrowed her focus, written some great songs, put a great band together and is out there kicking ass as we speak. they're actually playing a show TONIGHT friday, july 18th at the mohawk in austin, tx. anyway, sara and i have a great conversation about her journey and the new band, löwin. i had a great time talking to these two bands and it's nice to know that there is such diversity in this crazy little music scene. let's get down!ciao!

Episode 282: Billy Harvey Returns!

hello friends of the american bald eagle! i hope you are all happy, healthy and sexually satisfied citizens of earth. i am good. i went on the new boardwalk that opened behind my apt. it's fucking amazing! i love not having to run on streets or sidewalks next to streets. it's all very luxurious. i want to remind you guys that we're doing a live podcast recoding this tuesday, june 17th at strange brew in austin, tx. my guests will be the hilarious charlie hodge, amazing singer/songwriter, graham wilkinson and one of america's premier dance/rock bands, sphynx! the festivities start at 8 pm. here's some info https://www.facebook.com/events/717473771653649/  come out and get involved with the show!my guest for episode 282 is one of my favorite songwriters/singers/musicians/producers/actors/friends/poets/funny people, billy harvey!!!!! billy and i have been friends for almost 20 years. he's one of the most all-around talented people i know and a great hang. he was in town on tour with salim nourallah and alex dezen and stooped by for a chat. we talked about his newest album in the works, dear danger, playing with katy sagal on "the sons of anarchy" tour, his collaboration with louise goffin, producing, acting, growing a beard, getting off facebook and much, much more. i totally love billy and by the end of our conversation, you will too. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 276: Steve Poltz Returns!

hello friends! i hope you're all doing well. i am. i'm up early today doing laundry and running some errands before i leave town for a couple of days of shows with SKYROCKET!. in fact, if you live in houston, we'll be playing at comic-palooza tomorrow, may 24th 2014. it takes place in the george r. brown convention center. check it out. also, we have a line-up for our live podcast on tuesday, june 3rd at strange brew in austin, tx... we have suzanna choffel, trish murphy, elizabeth mcqueen and jazz mills! it starts at 8 pm and you can find out more about it here, https://www.facebook.com/events/680060505377188/ come out and be a part of our show! my guest for episode 176 is the one and only, steve poltz! steve is one of the most amazing performers/songwirters i have ever seen. hanging out with gets you fired up to do creative things. we got together last year during sxsw and had an amazing conversation that got a lot of response from you listeners. well, steve and i got together again a couple of days ago and went for a walk around the lake and recorded it! we had a great conversation about losing loved ones, not having kids, what it takes to write a song, what to do after gigs, his new album, the accident, his amazing new song, "folk singer" and much, much more. theres some ambient trail and road noise sometimes, but it's like you're on a walk with steve and i. i hope you enjoy our walk as much as i did.ciao! -jg