Episode 609: William Harries Graham

My guest for episode 609 is singer/songwriter, Austin Chronicle writer, non-profit founder, Jefferson Scholar in the prestigeous Plan II program at The University of Texas, William Harries Graham! If you live in Austin and have for the last 14 years, you've probably heard or at least heard of William. Many of us have had the honor of watching the 19 year old grow up in front of us. He's been in the studio with his band and producer Stuart Sullivan recording his latest album St. Claire to be released later this year. You can find his last release, the critically acclaimed, Foreign Fields, show listings, videos and more at williamharriesgraham.com. William and I have one of my favorite conversations I've had since I started this show. We talk about his non-profit Music For Music, his amazing bands, the demands of being in the Plan II Program, growing up immersed in a music scene with Jon Dee Graham as his dad, dealing with the disease, Leggs Perthes and how that relates to the Affordable Care Act and much, much more! William is an amazing artist and human being and this really is one of my favorite conversations I've had since this show started. I hope you enjoy it too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 606: The Big Gun Show / Kayce Laine Checks In!

Happy 4th of July! I had two conversations for episode 606! First up, I video-chatted with the lovely and talented pop artist and recent Brooklyn to Nashville transplant, Kayce Laine! Kayce just released a new single, "Aftergolw" Her third release since her move to Nashville a year and a half ago. We have a great conversation about changing her sound, adjusting to life in Nashville, balancing a job and music and much, much more! Find Kayce and her music at kaycelaine.com Next up are honky-tonking hard rockers, The Big Gun Show!  Gunter Woodson and Yates Hagan stopped by talk about all things in The Big Gun Show. Their new e.p. The Door is available now and they'll be playing this Friday, 7/7 at The Longhorn Saloon in Austin, TX. Go to thebiggunshow.com to see videos, hear music and find out where they're playing next. We have a great conversation about recording The Door with producer AJ Vallejo, shooting their video for their song "Swagger" at a strip club, tequila and much, much more. I hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July! Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 601: The Milligan Vaughan Project

Hello friends! I hope you're all doing well and settling into summer. It really is a mindset. Especially when you get into this summer time heat. In Austin the heat combined with the humidity and temperatures already up to 80 degrees at 7 a.m., there's no choice but to give-in to summer. It's here, baby. Just put on some shorts and flip-flops, find a nice body of water, throw on your "summer jam" and do it right. Having said that, I need to take my own advice and hit these gorgeous Austin, Texas swimming holes. Oh! And my summer jam is, "Weekend" by Sphynx.
My guests for episode 601 are long time Austin favorites, Malford Milligan and Tyrone Vaughan who have joined forces and call themselves The Milligan Vaughan Project! They've been in the studio recording their debut album with the great David Grissom at the helm and they've got an Indiegogo campaign  going and you can help them finish it. Go to milliganvaughanproject.com to find out how to give and for their live dates. They'll be playing tonight, Friday, June 16 at Antone's in Austin. Tyrone and Malford and I have a great conversation about the old days, bringing blues into the new mellinium, growing up Vaughan and much, much more. I hope you enjoy this chat between old friends. I sure did. Let's get down!
cioa! -jg

Episode 587: Black Heart Saints

Hello friends! I hope this episode finds you happy and healthy. Things are good in the world of Johnny. I've been rehearsing this week with my band for our first show at Pecan Street Festival here in Austin on Sunday, May 7th. It's atrting to gel a bit more. We're figuring out what songs of mine sound best with this band. It's a fun process. Other than that, I have a couple of private SKYROCKET shows this weekend and some more rehearsing. We'll be playing in town all weekend which is kind of a treat. 
My guests for episode 587 are Austin Rock band, Black Heart Saints! Even though these guys have only been together for a couple of years, they've got things going. They've played the X Games, opened for tons of big bands, they were named one of Austin's "Top Ten New Bands" at the Austin Chronical Music Awards 2017, they've released their debut e.p. produced by Omar Vallejo and they were named Austin Music Foundation's "Band of the Month" for March 2017. They came by a couple of weeks ago armed with a bottle of vodka and some club soda and we drank the whole thing. These guys are great! It's a fun and informative conversation. I hope you enjoy it. 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 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

Episode 555: Rival Waves

Happy new year my friends! I hope that 2017 brings you everything you want and everything you need. There's a thin veil of optimism this week... or maybe it's just me. I don't know. I don't think I rang in the new year the right way. Not that i didn't want to play the 5th annual SKYROCKET! show in Houston, it's more like I should have prepared and maybe bright a guest. Even jut a friend. I had this wave of, "oh wow. you don't have a girlfriend, you don't have kids, your dogs live with your ex" loneliness when I got back to my hotel. So far, 2017 is preying on my insecurities.
My guest for episode 555 is Joel De La Garza from the rock band, Rival Waves! Their latest single, "Amputee" is available now on all of the digital platforms, just go to rivalwaves.com an get involved. Their next single, "Transducer" comes out Friday, January 20th and they're celebrating the release with a release show at The One-2-One Bar on Saturday, January 21st. Joel and I have a great conversation about getting some of his heroes to play on his recordings, growing up in the Rio Grande Valley and crossing the border to party at 15, Mariah-gate and much, much more. Happy new year!
ciao! -jg

Episode 552: The Mammoths

Hello friends! Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukuh! Happy Holidays! What ever you do to celebrate this time of year, I wish you happiness. I have finished my Christmas shopping. I have done my wrapping and I am ready to head out to speand a few days with my family and celebrate this holiday. Hopefully nobody fights or cries or gets upset or leaves or anything like that. Have a good holiday! 
My guests for episode 552 are Austin rockers, The Mammoths! Their new e.p. Golden Spell comes out January 5th. Their single "So Cold" is out now. This January they'll embark on their first six-week U.S. tour in support of Golen Spell. The tour startis on January 14th in Grand Junction Colorado and ends at Arlene's Grocery in New York City on March 3rd got to themammothsmusic.com to find out if they're coming to a town near you. We have a great conversation about how they write as a band, their love of rock and roll, my love of Astroglide and much, much more! Happy Holidays everyone! Let's get down!
 
ciao! -jg

Episode 537: Nomad City

Hello friends! I hope this episode finds you happy, healthy and ready for the weekend. As usual, I'm heading out of town with SKYROCKET! for the next couple of days to play some shows. Oh! I want to let you know that my band, Ladyband Johnson is playing next Friday, November 4th at The Continental Club here in Austin. The band is Kathy valentine, Dominique Davalos and Christina Comley from The Bluebonnets with me as the singer. Come out. It's rock and roll! Go to the Facebook event page for more info. 
My guests for episode 537 are Britny Lobas and Ray Kainz from Austin rock band, Nomad City! Their self-titled, debut e.p. comes out on December 1st, but you can get a taste of the music and the band if you check out their new video for the song, "Didn't Have a Gun" by going to their website nomadcityband.com. They'll be playing an e.p. release show on December 1st at The Mohawk here in Austin. I have a great conversation with Ray and Britny about moving to Austin from the midwest, growing up in musical families, the rock scenes in Detroit and Cleveland, making their new e.p. at The Orb with Matt Novesky and much, much more! i hope you enjoy getting to know Brit and Ray as much as I did. Let's get down! 
ciao! -jg

Episode 532: Shmu

Hello friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. I had a good weekend. i did spend some of it worried that was too sick to play. I can't tell if I have a lingering cold or just really bad allergies, because it seems like one day, i'm better and the next i'm totally sick again. Anyway, I had a good time singing at the John Lennon birthday show at Threadgill's here in Austin on Sunday. Lots of cool folks joined Stephen Doster's #9 Orchestra to pay tribute to John on his birthday.
My guest for episode 532 is Samuel Chown musically known as Shmu! Shmu's latest album Shhh!!! is absolutely fantastic! Sam and I have a great conversation about growing up in Canada, going to Berklee College of Music, making shoe-gazer/dream pop meets psychedelic glitch music, his label, GTZ Records and much, much more! I hope you enjoy getting to know Sam/Shmu as much as I did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg