Episode 672: Wilson Marks

Hello friends. I have some sad news... we said goodbye to our sweet Greyhound, Dylan on Monday. You've heard me talk about him since the show started. Over the last year, he's not been doing well but he's been hanging in there. I think he hung in there because he loved his mommy, his brother Taylor and me so much. I loved Dylan so much and just wanted to let the world know the amount of joy that this strange and beautiful creature brought to our lives. I love you, Dylan. I always will.
My guest for episode 672 is guitarist/songwriter/educator and all around awesome guy, Wilson Marks! Some of you might know Wilson from being the guitar player for The Love Leighs, McMercy Family Band or Sarah Sharp. Well, Wilson is also a great songwriter and he's releasing his brand new album, Peregrine on Saturday, February 24th. The first single, "Rainbows" is out now. We also premier a brand new song, "Traveling Song" at the end of the show. He's also celebrating the release at The Cactus Cafe' here in Austin on Saturday, February 24th as well. Go to wilsonmarks.com for ticket info and all of your Wilson Marks needs. I had a great time getting to know Wilson. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
Ciao!-JG

Episode 670: Midcentury / Brandon DeMaris & Debbie Stanley - Musicians' Living Wage

Hello friends! Austin post-indie band, Midcentury are my guests for episode 670! Their debut album, Modern Nostalgia comes out this Saturday, February 17th and they're celebrating with a release show that same night. Catch Midcentury's record release show this Saturday Feb 17th at Swan Dive here in Austin, TX. The album's first single, "Warrior" is avaialble now. Go to midcenturyband.com  for more info. We have a great conversation about how Amazon knew Bruce wanted to go on a cruise, how the band came together, making Modern Nostalgia, having patience in this crazy world, mixing Christian rock with hair metal and Tears For Fears and much, much more! I had a great time getting to know these guys. I'm sure you will too. Plus, Brandon DeMaris and Debbie Stanley of DeMaris Entertainment have just announced a new public advocacy endeavor called the Musicians’ Living Wage. It’s a movement geared towards starting the conversation on why it’s important for musicians to earn equitable pay for performing their music. There will be a public forum event with live music and panel on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at The North Door that will act as the introduction to the Musicians’ Living Wage movement. Get tickets for the event here. Let's get down!

Episode 668: Sydney Wright

Hello friends! Musician/songwriter/sound engineer and brilliant pop artist, Sydney Wright is my guest for episode 668! Sydney's latest single, 'You Can Stay" is available now, but she has recorded an entire album and launched an Indiegogo campaign to make more videos and release the album later this year. The campaign ends on February, 16th, so get on over and contribute at Sydneygogo.com. You can also got to sydneywrightmusic.com to see videos, hear music, check her schedule etc. Sydney and I have a great conversation about growing up in an musical family in the small town of Snyder, TX, writing and recording songs as a teenager, being a "soundguy", recording at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, TX with Alejandro Ponce and Stefano Vieni, looping instruments live and much, much more. I had a great time getting to know Sydney. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
Ciao! -JG

Episode 644: Dylan Jones / Ley Line Stops By!

Hello friends! My guest for episode 644 is bass player, Dylan Jones! Dylan is a founding member of world music band, Atash. They have won "Besy World Music Band" at the Austin Music Awards for the last six years. you can find them at Atash.com He's also played with Zoe Vaiccaji, Pilar Andular, Neal Pollack and many, many more! Neal also co-founded anthroposarts.org Anthropos Arts connects at-risk youth with professional musicians, cultivating confidence, integrity, and life skills through musical instruction and mentorship. Dylan and I have a great conversation about discovering music, his first bands, what made him start Anthropos Arts and much, much more! Plus, Ley Line checks in. They've just released a gorgeous new single,  “Respiração (The Breath)”  and they're celebrating with a release show at Radio Coffee and Beer here in Austin, TX on Thursday, November 30th. They're an amazing band and if you live in Austin, do yourself a favor and go see these talented women. You can hear  “Respiração” and their other music and find out when and where they're playing by going to leylinesound.com Have a great weekend. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 615: Löwin Returns Again!

Hello friends! My guests for episode 615 are Sara Houser and Michael Sanders from the band, Löwin! Sara has been on the show a few times over the years, but they've taken a step back from playing every show they can and started focusing on releasing a string of singles as they define and redifine who they are as a band. The latest in that group is the brilliant summer single, "Sloop", a poppier offering which follows on the heels of the more rock feeling, "Say Say". Both are great songs and both explore the depth of a band that's always growing and always reaching for something more. You can find all things Löwin at lowinband.com. I have a great conversation with Sara and Michael about everything from the band's songwriting and recording process, to the story about Michael getting robbed and shot on his way home from a show during SXSW a few months ago. I really loved getting to know Sara and Michael. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 610: Jackie Venson Returns!

Hello friends! My guest for episode 610 is guitarist extraordinaire, Jackie Venson! Jackie stopped by last week when she was in the middle of playing some of the biggest shows you can play in Austin and last night she started her run of shows opening for Gary Clark Jr. Her lastest single, "Flying" debuted a couple of weeks ago on Vibe.com. You can find "Flying" and Jackie's other releases, tourdates, videos and bio at jackievenson.com. Jackie and I have a great and sometimes raunchy conversation about touring Europe last month, the "sad sandwich hour", playing to 20,000 people the night before our interview, touring with Gary Clark Jr. and much, much more. I had a blast talking to Jackie. I always do. Enjoy! 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 580: Scott Collins & Lexi Cardenas

Hello friends! I hope you all had a great weekend and that things are all going your way. Things are good here. I am still kinda tired from my crazy week/weekend of SKYROCKET! shows. The convention we were playing (check the intro on ep. 579) took a step into the world of the insane on Thursday night when Vanilla Ice showed up for soundcheck and didn't like what he heard. I talk all about it in the intro. By the way, if the intro sounds a little different, it's because i recorded it in my hotel room on Saturday night before my gig. Hope you enjoy it.
Scott Collins and Lexi Cardenas are my guests for episode 580! Their gorgeous new e.p., Let's Start Here comes out this Saturday, April 8th and they're celebrating with an e.p. release show this Saturday at The Blackheart here in Austin. Scott was on a few months ago when he had just opened his studio, Chicken Run Studios andsince then I've run into him and kept in touch. He's a really sweet and cool guy. You can find out their schedule and hear their music at scottcollinsproject.com. Scott and Lexi and I have a great conversation about making Let's Start Here, how they met, what constitutes a "hat guy" or a "hat band", Lexi's years in El Paso, violin vs. fiddle and much, much more! I hope you enjoy our conversation. 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 541: Mandy Rowden Returns!

Hello friends! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Mine was good. I went to the Mac & Cheese Festival on Sunday with my friend A.J.. It was a pretty amazing experience that ended in possibly worst stmach ache I've ever had. What happened was, I went to the festival hungry. They were toally over-serving and I ate the whole 5-8 pounce servings right off the bat. There were tons of different cheeses including Gorgonzola, Bleu Cheese and other crazy cheeses mixed with bacon, chorizo, pork, brisket and anything else you can imagine. I say, if you go, only taste the mac & cheese and you'll be fine. You can watch our adventures at The Mac & Cheese Festival on our show "Cooking/Drinking with Johnny & AJ"
Singer/songwriter, Mandy Rowden returns to the show for episode 541! Mandy has just released a new album, 1,000 Miles and has been touring behind it. In fact, she's been touring since she was last on the show promoting her album, These Bad Habits which was #2 in The Austin Chronicle Music Awards. Mandy came by a few weeks ago and we talked about touring, making 1,000 Miles, strange times at The Americana Music Awards, Girl Guitar Austin and the opening of Girls Guitar Nashville and much, much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!