Episode 567: Jane Ellen Bryant Returns!

Hello friends! I hope you're all having a decent Valentine's Day. I have no plans. I don't want to participate in a day that magnifies my relationship short-comings and loneliness. However, it's going to be happening al around me today, so I should just stay in. I DID just hit an all-time low a little while ago, My grandma called to wish me a happy Valentine's Day. Now, I know that's sweet, but there is a level of sadness to knowing that she woke up this morning thinking, "No one is going to wish Johnny a happy Valentine's Day today. I better do it, so that he knows someone loves him". Happy Valentine's Day!
The amazingly talented and always entertaining, Jane Ellen Bryant returns to the show today! Jane's brilliant, new single, "All In My Head" drops THIS Friday, February 17th. The song was co-produced by Jane and the great Chris "Frenchie" Smith and recorded at The Bubble. She's having a single release show this Friday February 17th at C-Boy's Heart & Soul here in Austin, TX. To get the single or Jane's latest e.p. Twenties and find out where she's playing, go to janeellenbryant.com. Jane and I sat down an hour before the innauguration and had a great conversation about co-producing "All In My Head", the innauguration, playing shows, keeping a band together and much, much more. I hope you enjoy my conversation with this amazingly talented woman. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 553: Cure For Paranoia

Hello friends! I hope you all had a great holiday weekend! I hope your Christmas was a great success. I had a great Christmas! I got to spend time with my family. Everyone enjoyed each other's company. The dinner was a success and i think we all did well with the presents. There are kids ther now so that adds a whole new level of joy and celebration. We drank a lot of vodka and had a lot of laughs. Happy holidays everyone!
My guests for episode 553 are Dallas hip-hop/soul/funk band, Cure For Paranoia! They've only been around a year and in that short time they've released two singles with their response to the Dallas shootings, "We Matter" which was featured on the Huffington Post Blog, they opened for Ludacris, they played Erikah Badu's birthday party, they've played all around Texas and won "Best New Act" in The Dallas Observer Music Awards just a few weeks ago. We have a great conversation about their incredible journey. Find out when they're coming to a town near you at cureforparanoia.com. I hope you enjoy getting to know these guys as much as I did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 551: Chris Taylor Returns!

Hello friends! I hope you're all staying warm. I am. I actually made a huge dent in my Christmas shopping today. That's always a relief. How did we make Christmas so stressful? It makes you realize how poor you are, how much you wish you could give people. At the same time, you stress out getting your cousin's boyfriend something you think he'll like and he's not even going to show up. I spent a lot of time the last couple of years buying people music I thought they would like, but i've seen a couple of cd's I bought over the last couple of years still in the cellophane. Merry Christmas!
San Antonio's hyper-prolific artist/singer/songwriter, Chris Taylor returns to the show for episode 551! Chris put out three albums in 2016, the electronic, Re: Imagine, the gorgeous double-album, Never Ending Now and the politically infused, USBlues. Three fantastic albums! You can find all of his albums and his amazing artwork at christaylorworld.com. Chris and i met up at Sam's Burger Joint Music Hall before my gig in San Antonio a couple of weeks ago. We have a great conversaion about what drove Chris to make 3 albums this year, playing with his band, fighting fear with art, what the election year means to him and much, much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I did. 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 449: Casey Monahan

merry christmas! i hope you're all in a good place. i hope i'm in a good place. i wish you all happiness, love and peace this holiday season. i will be on my way home this christmas day. i'm going to spend the weekend back home with my loved one, zuri. maybe we'll go to a movie, see a band, play some yatzee... end of the holiday decompression and relaxation. because even if i wasn't working any of my "jobs" this week, being with family and that whole thing can be pretty intense and a couple of days of quiet and mellow vibes. i'll talk to you on tuesday and fill you in on star wars, family time, last-minute shopping, christmas and more. merry christmas!my guest for episode 449 is behind-the-scenes texas music legend, casey monahan. if you don't know casey, he was a writer for the austin american-statesman,  he was the director of the texas state music office for 25 years under governors ann richards, george w. bush and rick perry, he created the texas music register, he was on the team that brought the grammy chapter to texas in 1994, he produced roky erickson and much, much more. in january 2015, when the new regime took over the texas capital, casey was let go. the music community was outraged, but casey turned his energy toward his family and now is back at work consulting music businesses and more. casey is a great hang, a wealth of music knowledge and a real sweetheart. i hope you enjoy my conversation with casey. i sure did. let's get down! merry christmas! -jg

Episode 430: Frank Turner

hello friends! i hope this episode finds you prepared to "fall back" this year. yes! it's time to set your clocks back an hour. plus, it's halloween. if you live in austin and don't have halloween plans, my band, skyrocket, will be playing at cedar street courtyard. we'll be playing around 9:30 or 10. dress up and come out and play. a couple of more announcements as well... sunday, nov. 1st from 4-10pm is jumperfest at the volstead and hotel vegas. there will be tons of bands and artists playing including myself with all proceeds going to the national motorcycle safety fund. click HERE for more info on the event. my guest for episode 430 is the amazing singer/songwriter, frank turner! frank was in austin on tour this week in support of his new album, positive songs for negative people. he's been on tour of the u.s. for over a month with plans to return a lot in the new year. anyway, i met up with frank backstage  at emo's in austin, tx before his instore at waterloo and his show later that night at emo's. frank and i had a fantastic conversation about record stores, the punk ethos, touring the u.s. and much, much more. i had the pleasure of getting to see his solo instore at waterloo and full-band emo's show with his band, the sleeping souls. both shows were amazing and intense. if he comes to a town near you, go see him! i hope you enjoy getting to know frank as much as i did. let's get down! ciao! -jg

Episode 397: Phranchyze Returns!

hello friends! i hope you're not worried about being one of the 37,000,000 people about to be exposed as adulterers through their affiliation with ashleymadison.com. i'm doing well. i'm still staying at my ex's house, dog sitting while she's away. the dogs and i have been having fun. i've posted some photos of our adventures on the "how did i get here?" facebook page. if you haven't "liked" it yet, please be sure you do. you'll get updates and pictures from me about he show and my own adventures. also, you'll get updates on our 400th episode live podcast next week! that's right! we;re having a live podcast/party for episode 400. it takes place next wednesday, july 29th from 8-10 pm at the townsend right here in austin, tx. my guests will be aj vallejo, jazz mills, nakia, suzanna choffel and cocktail guru, justin elliott. there is no cover for this event. come out and celebrate 400 episodes!!!my guest for episode 397 is austin bred rapper, phranchyze! his new mixtape, "the anime tape" is out now along with his various other releases. you can find out all you need to know at www.phranchyze.com. he's featured on the bill of the upcoming weird city hip hop festival in september at empire garage and control room. phranchyze was on a couple of years ago and got his journey from battle rapper to opening for snoop, rakim and many, many more. this time around, phranchyze is married, we talk about religion, politics, the austin music scene, representing austin, the magic of "hennessy and horchata", superheroes and much, much more. i always have a great time talking to phranchyze. i'm sure you will too. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 390: Kalu James Returns!

hello friends! i hope you are living life like an angel of love and happiness. i am well. i am working on some guitar stuff for a gig i'm playing next friday with amy edwards. it's really fun to just play electric guitar and be loud and not even have to sing. i'm looking forward to it. also, i wanted to let you guys know that i'll be playing some songs with the bluebonnets next thursday at the grand opening for the townsend which is a new, swanky club opening here in austin. also, while we're on the subject of gigs.. i'm playing song swap with william harries graham on sunday, july 5th at the continental club gallery. come out and say hi!my guest for episode 390 is talented singer/songwriter, kalu james! this is kalu's second time on the show. he's had a couple of life changing years since he was last on the show a couple of years ago. i saw him play a month or so ago and was reminded what a great artist he is and what a genuine and nice person he is. so, we did it again. we have a great conversation about, the magic in the continental club gallery, becoming the man of the family, re-prioritizing life, writing songs about nothing, über adventures, american racism, a live album in the can and much, much more! i want to thank kalu for coming in and being so honest and real about where he is in his life. kalu is a great artist and a great guy. i hope you enjoy our conversation. i did. let's get down! ciao! -jg