how did i get here?

Episode 478: Wonderbitch Returns!

hello friends! i hope you're all doing well and enjoying the spring. i am. i was in las vegas this weekend playing a show with skyrocket. i don't get all vegas-y. i didn't gamble, i only had two drinks and i didn't freaky deaky with any prostitutes. a guy asked me if i was looking for "party favors"  while i was walking through the casino at my hotel. so at least i still look like i party even though i was just a nerd heading to his hotel room to do his podcast intro. quick plug. i'm playing some songs tomorrow with the bluebonnets at the townsend here in austin for my friend steven's birthday show. should be a good time.
my guests for episode 478 are austin's psychedelic, 80's dance band, wonderbitch! wonderbitch was on the show a few months ago when they were the austin music foundation's band of the month. now they're back with the worlds premier of their new single, "miracle drive" which drops later this week but you can hear it first on this show. they having a single release show saturday, april 9th here in austin at swan dive. you can find out where they're playing and hear their music by going to wonderbitch.com. we have a great conversation about recording their new song, "miracle drive", social media and how to "michael bay" your career, redefining their sound, finding the best 80's synth sounds and much, much more. i had a great time talking to these guys again. dig it! let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 477: Bruce Sudano

hello friends! i hope you're all doing well out there in the world. i'm good. i have a busy day of running errands, laundry, writing two songs and of course, this podcast. i'm headed to vegas tomorrow to play a show with skyrocket. should be fun. i'm bringing my recording gear just in case i can interview donny osmond or an elvis impersonator. i hope you guys have a good weekend. 
my guest for episode 477 is legendary singer/songwriter, bruce sudano. i caught up with bruce when he was in town for sxsw promoting his gorgeous new album, the burbank sessions. his illustrious career spans five decades starting with the band, alive n kickin' in the late 60's, then his r&b band in the early 70's, brooklyn dreams hooked up with donna summer and wrote and performed, "heaven knows" with the disco star. he ended up marrying donna summer and going on to write "bad girls" with her among many other songs. he work on and in films like, "thank god it's friday", "american hot wax" and "hollywood knights". his latest album, the burbank sessions is absolutely gorgeous. he's still making music that is relevant because it's honest, the expression is raw and real and he is just a bad-ass songwriter. check him out at brucesudano.com he'll be on tour in may. i hope enjoy getting to know this amazning artist/person. i sure did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 476: The Roomsounds

hello friends. i hope you're doing well. it's been a strange weekend. i was knocked out by allergies and spent about 48 hours in bed sneezing, coughing and sleeping. i wrote a song with my friend amy before i crashed on sunday, so i'm still in the songwriting game. i'm actually in two right now. i'll post a link to my soundcloud page on the "how did i get here?" facebok page. 
my guests for episode 476 are dallas' real rock and roll band, the roomsounds! their gorgeous new album, elm st. just came out on friday (3/25) and they're heading out on a southeast, northeast, midwest tour starting this friday, april 1st in tuscaloosa al. go to theroomsounds.com to see if they're coming to a town near you. i caught up with sam and ryan when they were here for sxsw and we had a great conversation about living the underage dream/nightmare in l.a., the drink menu at the double-wide in dallas, recording at fame studios in muscle shoals al, living as a band in rehearsal spaces, condemned houses and a van, having an east coast attitude in the south, following their hearts to the south and much, much more! i hope you enjoy getting to know the roomsounds. i sure did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 475: Heye Minds

hello friends! i hope you're all getting your weekend groove on. what ever that means or looks like. things are good here. i saw some music last night. i saw daniel eyes and the vibes then i saw moonpie, julianna sheffield and david' garza! great time. i'm off from skyrocket this weekend. i think i'm just gonna lock myself away and write songs for a couple of days. wish me luck. 
my guests for episode 475 are austin, hip-hop collective, heye minds! they stopped by a few eeks ago to talk about their monthly hip-hop residency called, "sundaze". "sundaze" is put on by solstice live and heye minds. it takes place the last sunday of every month from 10 pm - 2 am at the vulcan gas company on 6th street here in austin. "sundaze" continues this sunday, march 27th with heye minds, the bishops, jag and dancinatra. find out all about heye minds at heyeminds.com. i hope you enjoy our conversation. i sure did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 474: Major Grizz

hello friends! i hope you've made it out of the sxsw 2016 maelstrom of insanity in one piece. hopefully, no tears were shed. i had a great week. i'm tired. i played some good shows, hosted a great showcase at sxsan jose, wrote a song, did some great podcasts and i'm still here. i'm off from skyrocket this week. i'm just going to work on some new songs and chill out. what are you doing?
my guest for episode 474 is aaron blackerby from the band, major grizz! they have a new frenchie smith produced song, "shitty secrets" dropping this friday march, 25 and they have a single release show on saturday march 26th at the blackheart here in austin. aaron and i had a great conversation about working with frenchie, putting an end to his last band and starting fresh with major grizz and much, much more! aaron is a great hang! i hooe you enjoy our conversation. i sure did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 473: Tailor

hello friends! i hope you're having the time of your life. sxsw 2016 is in full-swing. i know this because i'm really, really tired. most people at sxsw usually are. i got to host the first day of the south by san jose' showcase on wednesday. it was a fantastic show that featured some of my favorites like ian moore & the lossy coils, the bluebonnets, dan dyer and the amazing sweet spirit. the whole day benefitted the SIMS foundation and i think we raised some good money for the cause. today i get back to playing with skyrocket at hanover's in pflugerville and tomorrow, the house of blues in houston. 
my guest for episode 473 is south african musical powerhouse, tailor! tailor was in austin last month making her third album. she was working with my friend, zak loy as producer and he suggested she come by and do the show. we totally hit it off and had an extremely honest conversation about making music, her career, her love life, what makes her tick and sooo much more. i hope you enjoy getting to know tailor. i sure did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 472: Brannen Temple

hello friends! i hope this episode finds you well. austin, texas is in the depths of sxsw. it's all happening. bands are running around town. pedestrians are in the middle of the road looking at their phones. people are littering. i had a hangover the other day. all signs that sxsw is in full-swing. i got to attend a very special documentary screening last night. it's called "the shopkeeper" and it's about my mentor, musician/songwriter/producer, mark hallman. i had the good fortune of getting to be in it and it was absolutely amazing. my friend rain perry made it. i'll keep you guys up on what's going on with it and when it's going to come out. keep an eye out for "the shopkeeper".
my guest for episode 472 is drummer, brannen temple. you might know brannen from his bands, temple underground, black red black blaze and more. or you might know him from his work with, sheena easton, eric johnson, janet jackson, the dixie chicks, boz skaggs and many, many more. brannen is one of the best drummers and musicians i've ever seen in my life. most people that know him say that too. he's also one of the coolest guys i've meet and have had on the show. we have an in-depth conversation about what music means, what it does, what it can do. brannen's approach to studio and live playing. this is honestly one of my favorite episodes. prepare for a lesson in true cool. enjoy my conversation with this masterful musician and soulful human being. i sure did. let's get down!
ciao! -jg

Episode 471: Modern Outsider

hello friends! i hope you're all in your positions for the maelstrom of insanity heading our way like a giant category 5 hurricane made up of hipsters, entertainment industry professionals on spring break, corporate take overs of your favorite street corners, drunk fans and the president and first lady of the united states. i think i am. if you're not in austin or coming to austin this week for sxsw, maybe you'll get sleep and wake up sane. if you are coming to austin or live in austin, good luck bro! let the insanity begin.
my guests for episode 471 are chip and erin adams, owners of modern outsider records. the just won "best record label" at the austin music industry awards on monday. they've only been around for five years and have put out records by dana falconberry, quiet company, moving panoramas, the crookes, black pistol fire and many more. they started out with a simple mission: discover and release good music. they've stuck to it and in a time when labels are folding and straning to survive, the've made modern outsider work. find out why they started it and how they make it wok. i hope you enjoy getting to know chip and erin. i sure did. let's get down! 

Episode 470: Otis The Destroyer Returns!

hello friends! i hope you all had a fantastic weekend. i had a good one. i was back to work with SKYROCKET! after a week off. we played in san antonio on friday and san marcos on saturday. i missed my peeps. i'm playing a solo show this thursday march 10th at the volstead here in austin. in fact, it's the hotel vegas/ the volstead's fifth anniversary and there are some great bands and artists on the bill including my pals, joseph king, casey mcpherson, sweet spirit and many more!
my friend, taylor wilkins from otis the destroyer returns to the show for episode 470! otis the destroyer has a brand new e.p. out called, belushi that came out last week. it's great and you can find it on itunes, spotify, otisthedestroyer.bandcamp.com and at their shows. they have a show THIS friday march 11th at hotel vegas. i suggest you get out and see this amazing rock and roll band. i hope you enjoy our conversation. i sure did. let's get down! 
ciao! -jg

Episode 469: Joe Salinas Returns! / Rev. Wade With "Soul Of A Musician Series" Stops By!

hello friends! i hope life is treating you well. news is pouring in about the president and the first lady being the keynote speakers at sxsw this year. that's pretty exciting for austin. it makes me think what those motorcades will do to enhance the over-the-top sxsw traffic. honestly, i think it's cool that they're coming. i'm finalizing my sxsw schedule... i'm doing some podcasts, hosting a SIMS showcase at the san jose' with awesome bands like, sweet spirit, ian moore and the lossy coils, the bluebonnets and more and i'm doing shows out of town with skyrocket. i'm looking forward to a week of madness. speaking of madness, if you live in austin and you're looking for a way to extend your "sunday funday", rev. merrill wade from st. matthews episcopal church has started "soul of a musician series", at the iron cactus north. rev. wade stopped by to tell us what it's all about. if you'd like to find out more about it go to soul of a musician series on facebook.
my guest for episode 469 is filmmaker/photographer/musician, joe salinas! joe has been on the show again to chat about his latest project, a documentary about the legendary punk band, the big boys, called "you can color outside the lines". he's ben traveling all over the country talking to punk legends, rock stars and other raconteurs about the effect of the big boys in punk music. you can find joe's work at joesalinasfilms.com i had a great time catching up with joe about his adventures. i'm sure you will too. let's get down!
ciao! -jg