Episode 349: Aaron Behrens and The Midnight Stroll

hello friends! i can't believe it's already february... can you? i hope you're doing well. things are good here. still doing this "song a day" thing. it's pretty hard to keep up. i fell behind over the weekend and now i'll be writing songs every day until feb 27th. all good. i need it pretty badly. do you write songs? what do you do to get everything kickstarted? do play some games? do you do something special? share it with us at the facebook page . we'd love to know.my guests for episode 349 is ghostland observatory frontman and now leader of aaron behrens and the midnight stroll, the amazing aaron behrens! i have been a fan of ghostland observatory for years, then i saw aaron did a solo project, i checked it out and reached out to him. he knew the show and was happy to come by and chat. we have a great conversation about growing up in a small town, finding music, ghostland observatory, touring like mad, being a dad, opening his own studio and much, much more. i had a great time getting to know aaron. i'm sure you will too. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 348: GOBI Returns!

hello friends! i hope you're all doing well. i'm good, but it's been a crazy week. i started this songwriting game with my friend cory where i have to write a song every day until february 25th. it's pretty crazy, but i've written 5 songs this week! i've also done 6 podcast interviews, played a solo show and i'm playing with SKYROCKET! tonight (fri 1/30/15) at hanover's in pflugerville and in houston at the continental club tomorrow (sat 1/31/15). anyway, i'm glad i'm playing this songwriting game. as soon as i write some good ones, i'll post them on soundcloud and let you know.my guests for episode are austin's premier e.d.m. band, GOBI! this is GOBI's second time on the show. they have a fantastic new album, gold on black ice that comes out february 10th. you can pick up a copy before it comes out at their record release on february 7th at holy mountain in austin, tx. we have a great conversation about the making of gold on black ice, playing edm in austin, how they play shows and much, much more. i have a great time talking to phil and dunny. enjoy!ciao! -jg

Episode 345: Cautiontape

hello friends! as you can see, we have THREE shows this week! a busy week here at "how did i get here?" headquarters. things are good here. i had a long rehearsal with skyrocket today. it was good and very productive. we recorded some songs over the last couple of weeks and now we have to work some new parts into old songs. how are you? don't forget that you can like our facebook page, "how did i get here?" and find out what shows are coming up, see pictures and keep up with bands that have ben on the show.my guests for episode 345 are synth-pop band, cationatape! caytiontape just released their debut e.p., how we shine and they have a release show tonight, jan 22nd, 2015 at the spiderhouse ball room in austin, tx. jason and brit stopped by a couple of nights a go and we had cocktails and got to know each other. we had a fantastic conversation about how the band got together, making how we shine with producer robert harrison, dating, pop music, the fact that i have four robes and much, much more! i really had a great time getting to know jason and brit. i'm sure you will too. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 317: Bruce Salmon

hello friends! i hope you're all getting the same weather we are here in austin today... gorgeous, cool and windy. ah... like a dream come true. fall is here and i love it! so, if you're reading/listening to this the day it comes out, it's my birthday. yeah. i can't believe it. it's my 4th birthday since i've started the show. i'm going to have dinner tonight with my girlfriend, zuri and her sister and my cousin, emily. maybe i'll do something fun during the day like go play putt-putt golf or drive go-karts or go day drinking... who knows. either way, it'll be a fun day.my guest for episode 317 is absolutely brilliant musician, bruce salmon! i've known bruce for over 20 years and i've seen him go from funk/rock guitar player with joe rockhead to day job working father to synth/noise guys for alejandro escovedo to where he is now... he's just released his first solo album, a barrel of monkeys and he's been touring the united states, playing his songs, in various incarnations, for people. i caught up with him while he was in austin and we had a great conversation about where he's been and where he's going. it was a very enlightening conversation with an underlying message of "keeping it real". i hope you enjoy it. i sure did. let's get down!ciao! -jg

Episode 315: Three:33

hello friends! i think my long internet wireless router nightmare will be coming to a close soon. time-warner is coming on saturday to fix my problem. until then, i'll be traveling and playing shows. today i'm headed to scottsdale, arizona for a show with SKYROCKET!. tomorrow, we'll be flying to houston for another show and then home on friday afternoon. we have a good time traveling together. check out my instagram for photos of the trip if that's something you're into. my guest for episode 315 is frontman extraordinaire, tony park from the band, three:33! some of you may know tony from his old band and my old friends, pushmonkey. i've known tony for over 20 years and i've seen him play shows at co-op house parties in '92 to seeing sharing a weekly residency with his band, pushmonkey and seeing them open for kiss, to opening for them on their major-label record release tour. in all that time though, i've never gotten to just sit down and talk o tony for an extended period of time. we got to a couple of weeks ago and it was awesome!  i'm looking forward to more hangs with this amazingly talented and super-sweet dude. enjoy our conversation. i did. let's get down!ciao!- jg

Episode 284: Live at Strange Brew 3: Charlie Hodge, Graham Wilkinson and Sphynx

hello friends! i hope yore feeling a nice summer weekend coming your way. maybe you'll be going to a bar b que or a pool party or something resembles a little of both. i played in houston last night with SKYROCKET!. we played at this beautiful park downtown called discovery green. it was a lot of fun. my family came and i got to see a bunch of old friends that i haven't seen in a while. plus, it was a gorgeous night. i'm playing outside tonight and tomorrow too. tomorrow is an all day thing, so i might bring back "playing in shorts" like i did in the late 80's. can you wear shorts on stage? can i start wearing a bathing suit to outdoor shows in the summer?my guests for episode 284: live at strange brew 3 are charlie hodge, graham wilkinson and sphynx! this is a GREAT show!!!! we talk about everything, fatherhood, twins and their secret languages, freaky people on tour, paintball karaoke, the scary drug dealer at the nick in birmingham and listen for the impromptu beatbox song at the end. this show was a great time. thank you to the guests, to strange brew and to everyone who came out. we'll book some more soon! let's get down!

Episode 283: Salim Nourallah

hello friends! i hope you're all doing well... living right eating healthy and keeping yourself sane. i am good. i have a crazy busy day ahead of me, but that's okay. i have a podcast here at the apartment later this morning with a guy. after that, i'm going to sing on kathy valentine's new album then tonight we have a live podcast at strange brew. speaking of live podcast tonight... we have a live podcast recording TONIGHT tuesday, june 17th 2014 at 8 pm at austin's premier listening room, strange brew! my guests will be funny man, charlie hodge, singer/songwriter, graham wilkinson and art/pop band, sphynx! come out and be a part of the show you love!my guest for episode 283 is singer/songwriter/performer/producer, salim nourallah! it seems like i've known salim forever, but we've never really had the chance to sit down and talk. well, he came by the apartment when he was in town a few weeks ago for a show with billy harvey and alex dezen. i've been listening to his albums for the last couple of weeks and i totally love his music. he's produced a ton of bands you've heard of including the latest, and most successful, old 97's album, most messed up. i really like salim and i had a great time getting to know him. i'm sure you will too.ciao! -jg

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 274: Casual Strangers

hello party people of the internet! i hope you are all feeling good and strong. i woke up this morning in a panic. it's may 16th and i have still not found and announced my summer jam 2014. they're even talking about it on the today show so i must be running behind. i'm going to spend the day putting together some episodes of this podcast and booking a residency i'm taking over in july at strange brew in austin. i'll fill you guys in on this as i book it. i am very excited to get going on this. my guests for episode 274 is new psychedelic family band, casual strangers. you might know some of the members who are also in the boxing lesson. anyway, they've been playing shows and recording an album with the great frenchy smith. in fact, they have a show tonight friday, may 16th at the mohawk in austin, tx. if you live here, get out and see them. if you don't live here, you should check out their soundcloud. the band came by a few weeks ago and we had a very spirited conversation about how they do their thing. it's a great conversation and i hope you enjoy it as much as i did. ciao! -jg

Rerun! Episode 200: Highlights (Bob Schneider, Ian Mclagan, Steve Poltz, Glen Phillips, Elizabeth Mcqueen and more!)