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griffith park radio · gpr episode 15 - Bay Area Psychedelia

gpr episode 15 - Bay Area Psychedelia

GPR contributor Graeme Ashley rifles through his bag once again for a tasteful selection of Bay Area psychedelic sounds. From locally grown to globally known, this all-vinyl episode showcases bands and artists that sculpted one of the most important musical scenes in American history. Give Graeme a follow on his record-sharing account, @kingswell_spins

griffith park radio · gpr episode 14 - perth, australia

gpr episode 14 - perth, australia

In this week’s episode, we take a deep look into an unlikely hotbed of some of the most talented rock artists the world has ever seen. The isolated city of Perth on the west coast of Australia has spawned acclaimed musicians of all genres, however the late 2000’s and early 2010s saw the rise of a tight-knit group of psych rockers, packing out local stages for years developing their sound before ultimately going worldwide. This scene not only produced one of my personal heroes, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, but incubated a community of players that went on to influence rock across the globe - Nick Allbrook, Cameron Avery, Shiny Joe Ryan, and more. In today’s episode we play several of these musician’s main projects, side projects, and some of the groups keeping the Perth psych rock sound alive today.

Cover: Perth 2013 Band Map found on Nick Allbrook’s Facebook Page

griffith park radio · gpr episode 13 - a pedal steel diaspora

gpr episode 13 - a pedal steel diaspora

The Pedal Steel’s unmistakable, smooth glissando spreads a creamy, hazy, psychedelic glaze over any musical backdrop. Its sonic properties, both dreamy and driving, can command a rhythm even the most tone-deaf boot can’t resist stomping to, or bring a room to tears when paired with a proper country crooner. Whether coming from a steel guitar, lapsteel, pedal steel, or “frying pan,” the sound is shared across genres disparate as Hawaiian and Western Country, pop and jazz fusion, rock and Nigerian Juju. Its origins are intertwined with its more popular cousin who you may have heard of - the electric guitar (in fact, the electric guitar is a byproduct of trying to electrify the lapsteel, the pedal steel’s grand-daddy).

On today’s episode we take a look at some of the music that drove the innovation of the pedal steel, and hear from the talented players keeping its sound alive today.

Cover: Paul Bigsby, motorcycle mechanic & inventor of the modern pedal steel

griffith park radio · gpr episode 12 - Danny Avins pt. 2

gpr episode 12 - Danny Avins pt. 2

Danny Avins returns to the airwaves with a second offering of latin flavors from his tasteful collection. Today's episode Danny taps into his Paolista roots and serves up a punchy plate of Brazilian Samba, Funk, and Boss from a host of iconic Brasileiros. As always, Danny's episode was recorded entirely on vinyl from his personal collection. **DISCLAIMER** this episode may cause you to enter a fugue state and book a spontaneous one-way flight to Rio De Janeiro.

Pay Danny a visit at Groove Merchant Records in San Francisco for a clinic on choice latin selections, and give him a follow at @dannyavins_ to catch his next gig in SF.

griffith park radio · gpr episode 11 - love, Jhune

gpr episode 11 - love, Jhune

This week, prolific producer and dear friend TJ Wee p.k.a Jhune shares with us some of his favorite tracks ranging from eras modern and bygone, sonics accessible and obscure. In this episode he flaunts his diverse musicality with unexpected genre blending, and weaves together a fascinating musical junket, the influences of which clearly shine through in his own productions.

For more, check him out on instagram at @___jhune

griffith park radio · gpr episode 10 - going back home

gpr episode 10 - going back home

This time of year, a lot of people go back to their home town. Sometimes, you need a sultry, nostaglic soundtrack to dredge up old memories on a long walk in the crisp fall/winter air. This episode was made ~specifically~ for this purpose, with collaboration from the GPR community.

griffith park radio · gpr episode 9 - gordon

gpr episode 9 - GORDON

This week, Lewis Caldwell aka GORDON dances between genre boundaries fluidly and at times unexpectedly in an episode that gives a keen look into his creative sense and spirit. When not in the mix, Lew runs GORDON, a prominent brand at the intersection of cardistry* and fashion, while also a skilled and established cardist himself.

* Cardistry is the art of shuffling cards. For an example of what this looks like, check out one of GORDON's cardistry edits in the link here

GORDON website (high quality goods for sale here) - www.gordon.international/

griffith park radio · gpr episode 8 - Graeme Ashley

gpr episode 8 - Graeme Ashley

Local Los Feliz collector, Bay Area native, and great friend Graeme Ashley aka Kingswell Spins shows off prime cuts from his collection of Bay Area/West Coast hip-hop & g-funk vinyl in this week's episode. Displaying his deep knowledge of the major players in early west coast hip-hop such as Rappin4Tay, Ant Banks, Richie Rich, and The Jacka, as well as modern contemporaries Larry June, SOBxRBE, The Alchemist and more, he walks us through over 3 decades of evolution of the g-funk and bay area sound.

Stay tuned for more episodes from the Graeme, and to learn more about him and his selections, give him a follow on ig @kingswell_spins.

griffith park radio · gpr episode 7 - jvl

gpr episode 7 - jvl

The latest in dance and beyond from gpr head honcho jvl. Hope you dig

griffith park radio · gpr episode 6 - madeupthere

gpr episode 6 - madeupthere

My good friend and 90s alternative aficionado madeupthere aka Elle Davidson has blessed us with a smashing episode this week. In her own words, this episode is:

"90s alternative radio if major label promo guys didn’t exist"

"the sweet sound of 1994. geffen records. everything kind of centered on the weezer sound"

"this is pure 90s alt, not grunge. not shoegaze."

Give her a follow for more quotable moments @madeupthere

griffith park radio · gpr episode 5 - Danny Avins

gpr episode 5 - Danny Avins

Hailing from San Francisco, my friend Danny Avins shares his impressive collection of hard mambo, guaguancó, boogaloo, and cha-cha rarities. Comprising what we know as Salsa, these subgenres stem from a complex web of Afro-Carribean influences, and carry with them a rich history of dance. While mambo, cha-cha, descarga, and guaguanco originate from Cuba and Puerto Rico, boogaloo rose to prominence in the dancehalls of melting-pot Spanish Harlem in the 1960-70s.

These tracks are almost all performed by big-bands and do not feature any electronic instruments, and this episode was recorded entirely from Danny's personal vinyl collection.

In Danny’s own words: “It’s so intoxicating, the rhythms and rhythm sections that are so unbelievably locked in with each other alongside fantastic piano/flute/horn players and always a beautiful singer. It’s more stripped down and less electric than rock for example, it feels like you’re listening to some friends jam in a high school gym or something. It’s irresistible to not want to dance or feel happy listening to this stuff.”

Fun fact: Danny and I played little league baseball together. Pay him a visit at Groove Merchant Records in San Francisco for a clinic on choice latin selections and more.