Jon Dee Graham- any fans?

KaiserSoze

KaiserSoze

250+ Posts
For a while now I've been going to Continental Club (Austin) on Wednesday nights somewhat regularly to see McMurtry play. The guy who always plays before McMurtry is Jon Dee Graham. He was always good, but lately he has been on fire. He has become one of my favorite Austin musicians.

Have any of you caught his shows before? I'm guessing he has been around for ages, but I hadn't seen/heard him until the last 6 months or so.
 
I really like Graham, although I haven't gone to a show in a number of years. I thought about catching him at SXSW but see that he slotted for the Continental Club. I hate going over there during SXSW unless it is my closing show so I guess it will be a while before I see him again.
 
I've seen him many, many times, and would put him in the very top echelon of local songwriters. (Actually, I'd put him in the very top echelon of songwriters anywhere.) I love his CC shows. Is Mike Hardwick still playing guitar in his band?
 
I'm with JJazz. I used to see him when he was with Alejandro in The True Believers. I have never gotten to see him solo though. I really his album Summerland.

I know he has played lap steel on great records by Alejandro, Kelly Willis, The Silos and that fantastic, underappreciated Jim Roll record called Lunette.
 
After Jon came back to Austin to work construction following a stint playing guitar for Calvin Russell, he thought his career as a musician was over. Eventually, he started writing songs -- I don't think he ever did with the Troobs, did he? -- and his cassette of demos gained a lot of local interest. Before you know it, "Escape From Monster Island" came out and blew everybody away.
 
"Sleep Enough To Dream" was on that self-titled album. That song was also on Graham's album that came out in the early 90s. That is probably my favorite song of his. I'm pretty sure most of the other stuff by the Troobs was written by the brothers Escovedo. Didn't really stand out to me on the Troobs album, but on his solo album it really stood out as a great song...at least to me.
 
KS...

His documentary is coming out this spring. it's called Swept Away. The soundtrack is out already at Waterloo, it is fantastic. He has had a rough 6 months so it's good to know his CC shows are getting better and better.

His band on Sunday at the Saxon...really isn't "his" back-up band. He and the rest of the guys would probably laugh their asses off if they heard that. It's The Resentments...Stephen Bruton, JDG, Scrappy Jud Newcowbe, Bruce Hughes and Jon Chipman. it's a song writing/ therapy session for the guys. It's a really good time. I don't know if Stephen is doing much right now as he is battling cancer again...his second go around in the last year.
 
I wasn't trying to be rude. I just know those guys really well and they would think it would be seriously funny. Bruton is a monster guitar player and has played with everyone from Kris Kristofferson to Bonnie Raitt. Hughes is a great bass player; he played with Bob Schneider forever and Poi dog Pondering. He is a really awesome singer and no one seems to know. Chipman has been playing drums in this town for years...he plays with the Band of Heathens as well. Scrappy is Scrappy. Used to play with Toni Price and plays with lots of great people in town. He has some really cool solo albums.
Those Resentment shows are incredible...it's pretty much an all-star band. Their banter between songs is as good as the music.
 
Shock: No worries- I didn't take it as rude at all. The humor aspect you mentioned came across in your description.

Hulla: Thanks for the link- good insight.
 
I love JDG. Seen him a few times, but the best was his opening at CC for William Topley - pure magic that night, my friends.
 
Shockorama,

I've been friends with Chipman for many years, too. He is a freakin' fanstastic drummer. He and his brother used to play with George Devore and man those guys could just rock the house down.
 
I had the pleasure of spending two weeks with Jon Dee about two and a half years ago. He told me the story behind the name of his album, "Escape From Monster Island". When I have more time, I'll share it with y'all if anyone is interested. It's about him and his boy, Willy, and is truly moving. What an amazing talent thisman is.
 
I'd love to hear that story, CajunHorn. You don't even have to tell us WHY y'all spent a few weeks together . . .
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Jon and his son, Willy, love to watch Godzilla movies. In the middle of some of the custody crap that always follows a split, they were watching one called "Escape From Monster Island". This became a metaphor to the custody situation, hence the title. He told me that Willy was the inspiration behind every song on that album. He lives for that boy.
 
There was a George Devore and the Roam reunion at Musicfest this past January. It as awesome. Chipman is a great dude even though he is a Sooner.
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Hughes is now playing bass for Fastball. He has a new solo album in the works as well.
 
my old bass player, Harmoni Kelly, plays with John Dee these days. didn't his son have cancer or some bad illness?
 
I think JDG's son has some issue with his hips, but it's allegedly the kind of thing that kids outgrow. There were some benefits a few years ago, but I think it was because his insurance company didn't cover for some reason.
 
If I recall, the insurance company that had been covering Willie went belly up. Before the family found out that they weren't covered anymore, Willie was diagnosed with Legg-Perthes disease. The family unexpectedly went from insured to no coverage with a pre-existing condition.

There is a good story involving the recording of one of Jon Dee's records. Jon Dee and the engineer had a disagreement in the studio and Jon Dee left very pissed. He later called the engineer to tell him he wanted his tapes and the engineer said "fine". A short time later the engineer dumped an unspooled reel of 2" tape on Mike Hardwick's lawn and left Jon Dee a message telling him it had been delivered. Jon Dee and Hardwick **** themselves, but of course it was a prank. The engineer still had Jon Dee's tapes and they soon finished the record together.

The tape on Hardwick's lawn was old David Garza demos that had been sold as used tape by another studio.

I'm glad to see fans of Jon Dee's music here. He's a great artist and a really good person.
 
OK. I just saw the new documentary about Jon Dee called "Swept Away". The DVD is set for a May 20 release but you can apparently preorder it on Amazon if you so desire.

This should be required viewing for all who consider themselves a music fan.

Mark Finkelpearl, the film maker, was at a Jon Dee show in Arlington, VA. They had some advance copies of the DVD there.

It is done very well and shows a ton of insight into Jon Dee. The entire show has many full songs, not just 2 minute clips. Lots of great conversation with Jon Dee and the film maker stays out of the way, not interjecting himself into the movie.

Some very meaningful insight into his son's illness with great comments from Alejandro. Willie even sings his great song "Rock and Roll In The Street". Jon says it is a better Iggy Pop song than Iggy Pop has ever done. There is a great shot of Jon and Willie on his back porch steps. They then go into "Faithless". I had to stop to catch my breath.

You can tell he really loves his two sons. It is truly a great, very touching movie.
 
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