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 588: Matt Hubbard

Hey gang! I hope you all had a great weekend. I did. I played a couple of shows with SKYROCKET!. They were both a lot of fun. I had a hard time sleeping on Saturday night. Like, I fell asleep for like 20 minutes then I was up until 5 a.m. I slept for a bit and woke up for the day. I was pretty out of it on Sunday. I got some stuff done with the podcast and met a friend for lunch. Other than that, I just kinda wandered around kind of out of it and hung out with my dogs a bit. Good weekend.
My guest for episode 588 is the amazing keyboard/vibes/trombone playing, Matt Hubbard! Matt just got done playing some shows with Edlie Brickell and The New Bohemians a couple of weeks ago and he'll be returning to his residency every Wednesday at 9:30 at C-Boys here in Austin, TX tomorrow. You might know matt from his trio or his work with so many artists like, Willie Nelson, Ricky Lee Jones, Golden Dawn Arkestra, his band, 7 Walkers with Papa Mali and Bill Kreutzmann from The Grateful Dead and many, many more. You can find him and his music at matthubbardtrio.com I really enjoyed my conversation with Matt. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 582: Bourgeois Mystics

Hello friends! I hope you all had a good weekend. I did. I played, spent time with my aunt and my cousins, hung out with my dogs, watched a few movies and chilled out. I'm spending the week organizing and writing some songs for my new band that still has no name. We rehearsed a few times last week and worked on some songs I've written over the last year and a half or so. Stuff sounds good and we'll be ready for our first gig at Pecan Street Festival on May 7th.
My guests for episode 582 are psychedelic art/funk band, Bourgeois Mystics! their debut album, Eureka! comes out this Friday, April 14th and they're celebrating with a release show at The Parish here in Austin on that same night. They're also hitting the road next week for a 3 week tour of the northeast and southeast United States. Go to bourgeoismystics.com to see if they're coming to a town near you. Zaalo, Zach and Trevor from the band came by last week and we had a great conversation about how they came together, making Eureka!, mixing jazz, prog, funk and rock for a unique sound, abstaining from masturbation to be a better musician and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know these dudes. 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 571: Dr. Joe

Hello friends! I hope you're all doing well. I'm feeling much better than I have been for the last week. I went to the doctor, she prescribed some steroids for my swollen throat and I'm on the mend. I thnk I got overtaken by allergies. After the big cedar allergy thing in January, I stopped taking all of my allergy meds. Bad move on my part. I was feeling so bad, I thought I had strep throat. Luckily I don't. Hey! If you're on Houston tomorrow, Saturday, March 4th, SKYROCKET! will be playing at Fitzgerald's. We go on at 9. Come out and party with us.
My guest for episode 571 is Joe Sparacino otherwise known as, Dr. Joe! Jane Ellen Bryant told me to get to her "single release" show early a couple of weeks ago so that I could catch the opening band, Dr. Joe. Well I did and I loved it. Joe and I talked after the show and I invited him to come on the podcast. They'll be performing 4 times for SXSW just go to drjoemusic.com to find out where and when and to hear some of his live recordings. Dr. Joe and I have a great conversation about growing up an army brat, going to dental school, playing at dueling piano bars in college, making his album with Frenchie Smith and Sean Rollie and much, much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know this great artist, Dr. Joe. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 558: Skye Strickler

Hello friends! I hope this episode finds you well and enjoying life to it's fullest. Things are good here. I've doing tons of podcasts this week. Six to be exact. I got super-behind during the holidays to where a couple of weeks ago, i was doing podcasts the day before they are posted. I haven't goten behind like that in a few years, so I'm making up for it over the next couple of weeks by getting ahead again. Over the next few weeks, look for great converations with Leopold And His Fiction, Daisy O'Connor, Demi The Daredevil and more. 
Pop artist, Skye Strickler is my guest for episode 558! Skye's brilliant, debut e.p., DNA is out now. You find it and more at skyestrickler.com. I met Skye a couple of months ago and I've run into him at different events. He is a really nice guy with incredible energy and an amazing wealth of talent. Skye and I have a great conversation about growing on a farm in rural Kansas, his humble beginnings in musical theater in his teens, the dangers of being "rufeed", making DNA with his producer in Guadalajara and much, much more. I had a great time getting to know Skye. I'm sure you will too. Let's get down!
 
ciao! -jg

Episode 556: Seela Returns!

Hello friends! I hope the new year is treating you well. Before I get too far into this, I talk about SKYROCKET! playing at Cedar Street tonight (Friday 1/6) in the intro... Well, it's been cancelled due to the weather. I guess I'm going to go out and take advantage of "free week" here in Austin this weekend. There are a lot of shows. If you live here, maybe I'll see you out. 
Seela Misra returns to the show for episode 556! Her gorgeous new album, Track You Down is out now. She'll be playing a record release show at The Cactus cafe' here in Austin on Wednesday, January 18th. Seela and i have known each other and been friends for years. I always have a blast hanging with her and this time was no different. We have a fantastic conversation about making Track You Down, touring with Matt The Electrician, her love for her dog and husband, what to do with your hands when you're just singing back-up with someone and much, much more! I hope you enjoy our conversation. 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 527: Alesia Lani / Bonnie Whitmore Stops By!

Hello friends! i hope you're all doing well and living the dream. Bonnie Whitmore stopped by last week to talk a little bit about her new album, Fuck With Sad Girls which is officially available everywhere on October 28th. However, if you want to get the album early and you live in Austin, Bonnie and her band will be playing at The Continental Club next Thursday, September 29th at 10 pm and you can buy a copy of Fuck With Sad Girls at the show. Bonnie and i have a quick conversation about the album, the show, The Beatles and more. 
My guest for episode 527 is the amazing soul singer, Alesia Lani! Alesia's latest single, "Love You" is available now where ever you find music online. Alesia is playing the 36th Annual Fall Pecan Street Festival here in Austin, tomorrow, Saturday, September 24th at 3:15 pm on The Neches Stage. Alesia is an amazing singer and her first album, First Impression and latest single, "Love You", are absolutely gorgeous. We have a great conversation and i hope you enjoy getting to know this talented and charming woman as much as i did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 526: George Reiff Returns!

Hello friends! I hope this episode finds you all doing well and ready for fall. My guest for episode 526 is the amazingly talented bass player/producer/mixer and my dear old friend, George Reiff! George has been undergoing treatment for cancer since a brain tumor was discovered a couple of months ago. He had the tumor removed, but has been undergoing radiation treatment and a new experimental treatment. He has insurance, but all of this treatment is expensive and he's not been able to work since he was diagnosed. To help with bills, people have organized some beautiful benefits and there is a gofundme.com page where anyone can donate. I encourage you to donate. Here's the link https://www.gofundme.com/georgereiff George and I have a great conversation about producing and mixing albums, new pop music, fighting cancer, our music family that has shown so much support and much, much more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. I sure did. Let's get down!
ciao! -jg