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Its 38 degrees cold, damp and windy. I am back in Boston. Damn, I’m missing that Brazilian vibration right about now!

We had a wonderful tour. The only problem was that we only played 3 shows in 13 days so there were too many days off.  Musically, the tour really became unified with both ALO and Matt Costa’s band becoming a house band for Donavon and myself. We really had some great jams and there was a real unity amongst all of the musicians. Check out my youtube.com station phillyglove to see some of the jams.

When I look back on the tour and Brazil in general I have a lot of highlights in my mind. However I think the greater purpose of the trip was for me to write this new joint called “Peace, Love and Happiness”. I wrote this song the minute I got back to my room after playing for the children of the favella (ghetto). I was both uplifted and ashamed when I went to the favella. To see people living in such squalor in a huge, rich city…I’ve never seen poverty like this except on TV. Where everything seems so far away. I was uplifted by the undaunted spirit of the youth. I was ashamed that I haven’t done enough personally and that our country and their country has allowed so much of the world to exist in such dire poverty. I was impressed to find out that Jack Johnson had donated 10,000 dollars to build the structure where the children have their surf school. I plan to help with a donation as well.

So Brazil really made me think about the condition of the world. So much beauty and so much pain. Ahhhhhhhhh

I want to give a big shout out to the other bands, artists, photographers and film makers who traveled with me. So many memories and without a doubt I will be back to Brazil!

One love,

G

4 days in Sao Paulo and we are off to Rio. Sao Paulo was happening. Aside from a real nice acoustic solo show I had, I sat in with Donavon the following night, hit a samba club and drank too many Caiparinhas. Ugh. I’m ready to get to the beach.

This is the full on Brushfire Records tour with Donavon, Matt Costa, ALO and yours truly.  There is definitely a lot of camaraderie between all the groups. Our touring party is 35 people which is great except it makes check in at the airports a pain in the ass.  On a high note there are definitely plenty of peeps to hang with....

Donavon is getting ready to record a new record and we are going to sess out today. As a songwriter, I have too many songs that never get put out. A record can only have 10-16 tunes or so and I usually record 20-60 songs per record. I have recorded 24 songs for the new record so I will have 10 slamming tracks left over. Maybe Donavon will like one.

Making records is a crazy thing and sometimes hit songs don’t make the record because they just don’t seem to fit in at the time. An example is “Milk and Cereal”. My A&R guy at the time Michael Caplan refused to put this on the Philadelphonic record. This song is on the Front Porch Loungin’ bootleg (unofficial release).  That said anytime I can place a song in a good home it’s a blessing.

On another note we are off to a Favela (the ghetto) much like City Of God today to try and see some music and possibly video the experience. The Favela’s are almost entire cities that are dangerously amazing in Rio.  They are sun drenched in, violence, music, and poverty all set to the landscape of the beautiful South American coast.  We will be taken to the Favela to see the band AfroReggae who put on shows in the Favela to give back to the community that the musicians came up in. I am hoping that the vibes will be positive and that we will be blessed with an amazing musical and cultural experience. I hope no guns go off (something that happens all the time in the Favela). If anyone has seen the movie “City of God” then you will know where I’m going.

Peace in the Middle East! Bring the troops home

G

Tu tu bene! It’s all good. That’s what they say here in Brazil. It feels pretty all good to brother G too. Last night I played my show with Matt Costa at the art museum here in Sao Paulo. We played for a lively and intimate crowd. The room was kinda of boomy but the crowd was really enthusiastic and to my surprise, they were singing along with all of my jams. It really blew my mind. My first time playing down here and peeps really know and love the music. Give thanks! My only regret was that I couldn’t play every song they wanted to hear because I only had an hour!

At the end of the set I called up Donovan Frankenreiter for a version of Hot Cooking. Then we had Matt Costa and ALO join us for a big jam on “Sympathy for the Devil” too much trouble.

We went out on the town after and had some caparinas and dinner. The food here is amazing. I haven’t had one bad bite. Rice and beans, greens, plantains and whatever meat or fish you want. So good.

The Brazilian people are full of life and love and they are very friendly so we are just having a good old time. Just watch out though because though caparinas will kick your ass!

That’s it for now. I’ve been listening to the tracks we recorded at Longview. I think we have some killer sh*t. I needed to step away from them for a couple days and even these really rough mixes sound nicey nice.

Peace in the Middle East. Bring the troops home.

G

Hello hello, I chilling in the plane. United service to DC and continuing on to Sao Paolo, Brazil. It’s gonna be a long night but I’m looking forward to seeing a new country tomorrow morning. You see, I’ve been to Toledo, I’ve been to Sioux City, I’ve been to Paris and Lyons but I’ve never been to South America and I’ve certainly never been to Brazil.

Honestly, I haven’t even had a chance to think about this killer run I’m embarking on because I’ve been in the studio for the last 10 days. In 9 days of studio tracking we cut 15 new songs with most of the overdubbing done as well. We have been extremely efficient during the 2nd Down and Dirty session. Now we will take a couple weeks off and step away from the session while we let the cream rise to the top. I do believe we have recorded some real gems. 

After waiting 4 or 5 days for Chris D to edit drums and rhythm tracks, cut background vocals and various other overdubs.  I finally got my chance yesterday to step to the mic. I overdubbed guitar, vocals and harmonica on 10 tracks and basically went straight for 12 hours. Then it was wake up, pack your shit and hit the road on a dismal New England cold rainy day to make the 5:15 flight on the way to Brazil.

Luckily, I have the day off when I arrive. I need it! I’m pretty excited to play in a new country and see how the vibes are in Brazil. I’ve heard so much about this magical place. It sounds like a place just full of spirit. I’m going to go represent Philly style and show them what this hip hop blues is all about. I will be performing acoustic solo. Matt Costa will be joining me on the bill so it should be a jolly good time. My thumbs are tired of typing so I will say goodbye!

Peace in the Middle East. Bring the troops home!

Happy late Halloween! I hope you all got lots of candy!

Well we are hard at work up here at Long View Farm for our second Down and Dirty session. I was feeling super stoked about the Philly session in July but I have to say, I’m feeling like we are in the process of kicking the shit out of that one. For real this new stuff is sounding large!

We are recording at the studio where we recorded Philadelphonic and Electric Mile. The studio is in a huge red barn on a quiet country road. It definitely took me a day or two to mentally leave the city vibrations and soak into the New England country side. It’s just beautiful. The fall foliage is in full effect. The meals are home cooked. Everyday I wake up and go for a jog in the woods before getting some big big breakfast. Then its music all day and night.

We have cut 14 rhythm tracks in 5 days and now we are getting the tracks prepped for lacing. That is we are getting ready to frost the cake. Don’t worry it will still be dirty!!

Anyway, fall is here and the Harvest moon shone bright this year.

Take it easy World peace Wiggle like a Worm - G

On November 6th, Vegoose and Bonnaroo will release “Thank You. Goodnight. Live Tracks from Bonnaroo and Vegoose,” a collection of 10 live performances from Jack Johnson, G. Love & Special Sauce, Matt Costa, Money Mark and ALO.  The album will be available to purchase at Independent Music Stores in the US, at both Bonnarroo and Vegoose music festivals, as well as at the artist’s websites.

A preorder through Musictoday will begin instantly through Bonnarro and Vegoose websites. All preorders will automatically register for a chance to win a grand prize package of Brushfire’s full artist catalogue along with two guest VIP tickets for Bonnaroo 2008.

Over the past few years, Brushfire artists have been pleased to be a part of the amazing festival lineups at both Bonnaroo and Vegoose. This compilation captures just a few of the great moments laid to tape in Manchester and Las Vegas, including:
Jack Johnson’s “Island Style” a duet with local Hawaiian star John Cruz as well as “Staple it Together”, and “Constellations”, two tracks from his 2005 triple platinum LP In Between Dreams.
G. Love and Special Sauce’s “Take You There” from 1997’s Yeah It’s That Easy, and “Hot Cookin’” from his latest (and fastest selling) LP Lemonade.
Matt Costa’s “Song We Sing” and “These Arms” from his debut album, Songs We Sing.
Money Mark’s “Color Of Your Blues”, from his debut LP Brand New By Tomorrow.
ALO’s “BBQ” and “Wasting Time” from their 2005 release Fly Between Falls.

Carrying on the tradition of great festival appearances, ALO performed at this weekend’s Vegoose Festival, held October 27th and 28th at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium.  The lineup for Bonnaroo 2008 will be announced early next year.

For more information:
www.bonnaroo.com
www.vegoose.com
www.thinkindie.com
www. brushfirerecords.com