Driven To Drink

I recorded this episode on May 23rd, 2020. George Floyd was brutally executed by a team of Minneapolis police officers on May 25th, 2020. In the weeks between then and now?  The world has changed. I would be utterly remiss if I did not process, with you, the events around us, so we begin with an extended introduction, asserting that white supremacy in all forms...including the school-to-prison pipeline, the carceral state, the entirety of "law and order" as it currently functions, the military and prison industrial complexes, and a myriad other structures and systems...must be defunded and abolished. I refuse to be remiss. Having said that, we spend time with one of the most mind-blowing drummers I've ever heard/seen, Ian Chang.  I'm absolutely certain you'll agree.  Drummer as creator, composer, band-leader, one-man-orchestra, and mad scientist.  Ian Chang is all of those things and more. Please hang.  And please take care of yourself, your family, and your community...however you de

Hey. This was recorded on 5/9/20, a day on which it was snowing in Pittsburgh, Pa. This is a continued exploration of drummer as bandleader and, in this case, a bit of conversation about a drummer's voice.  Not singing.  Not rapping.  But unique expression and communicative style on their instrument.  That is, a percussive voice.  Today's drummer focus...is Anderson .Paak. I also spend some time talking about and listening to Little Richard, who passed on the very day I recorded. Thanks for hanging.  Give a positive review on iTunes.  Subscribe via iTunes or Spotify or Google podcasts, and whatnot.  Love one another.  Be kind.  Not necessarily nice.  But kind. Love yinz. -G

We've met Chris Dave.   We've met Jojo Mayer.   Ever heard of Yussef Dayes?   We're talking about virtuoso drummers as bandleaders/composers/producers, and Yussef Dayes is approximately peerless.  The couple I mentioned above exist in his bracket.  Others, too. But for today, let's just vibe, groove, and nerd out on Dayes.  Also, Tom Misch and Rocco Palladino.  (Yep, Pino's kid, and he's every bit as good as his Father.)  Who's Pino?  Well, we get into that, too.  Little D'Angelo for your pleasure.   Hang, won't you?   Love yinz.   -G  

Once again, you have Mark. You have me. You have music. And boisterous revelry. Also, Thundercat. And Duran Duran. And beat boxing. C'mon.  You have to hang. This is me now. Love yinz. -G&M

Today, we cast our memories back there, lord. And indeed, sometimes we were overcome thinking about it. Mark and I move through the songs that peaked at #1 across my junior year in high school. It's said that the music with which we fall in love in our late teens to early 20s is seared upon our memories and informs our tastes from that point out. To an extent, that's certainly true for me and Mark, though both of us have spent and spend a LOT of time with music, so thank universe neither of us were fossilized in the early 90s. Though, truth be told, it would not be a bad time to get stuck. Won't yinz get stuck with us? In 1991. Bringing you all the hits here on your oldies station. (Jesus, 1991 was 29 years ago and these songs are oldies now.  Yikes.) Hang, though. Love yinz. -G&M P.S. While I've called this a 1991 listening party, and it is, the podcast kicks off with a 2017 performance of the 1979 hit, "Message In a Bottle," because the song is eternally fire and this performance is exceptional.

There's something about Tom Misch's, Rex Orange County's, and Harry Styles' respective (and collective, as they all share that intersection described in the title) music that I simply adore. I think you will too.  Perhaps you already do.  Here you have me and then we will be sharing space with live performances by the three blokes mentioned above.  Innit? Anyway, please hang, have a nice time, and find respite with me. Love yinz. -G Please Note: This episode was recorded on 3/21, so the me bits reflect where I was re: the pandemic at that point in time.  There's nothing problematic there, just...I had the perspective of a human on 3/21 re: COVID-19.

Do you love percussion? Rhythm? Do you prefer to be swung like a perpetual pendulum? We have Chris Dave and Drumhedz. We have Jojo Mayer. We have J Dilla. Doesn't get much better than that. So stick around.  Swing with us. Love yinz. -G

Mr. King, Mr. Hendrix, and Mr. Burside. All live. I sincerely appreciate you hanging and listening. If you dig, you can subscribe via the link above, or though iTunes, Google podcasts, or Spotify.  And you can leave a lovely review.  You can do the Patreon if you'd like.  In any and all cases, I appreciate. Love yinz. -G  

Respite. That's what Driven2Drink is, for me. Respite. Music. Thunderstorms.  Banter. Whiskey. Additional medicinal.  That's my respite rn.  My "Driven to Drink." Taimame? Do you know about her? If you do...I know, right?! If you do not...please rectify that situation. Perhaps with me. Here. Finding respite in Taimame.  And Jonathan Heraux: percussion; Ramiro Marziani: guitar; Melissa Baethoven: violin, vocals; and Li'o: Polynesian dance. Love yinz. -G

Social distance with me, will you? You, me, and a Bill Withers full live performance from 1973. Brilliantly mixed, mic'ed, recorded, and polished for the era.  (Bill Withers and his band, that is...not me [I mean, I think I do a good job with me but nothing like actual professionals and what the folks were able to do here with this performance {Plus I'm in no way comparing myself to Bill Withers.}.].) Thanks for hanging. Love yinz. -G  

D'Angelo. Vanguard. Listening. Party. That's the only four words you need, really. Such joy. Such funk.  Such soul. Rhythm. Blues. Whatnot. Live. Hang with us, won't yinz? -G

This is a listening party celebrating T-Pain's unaltered voice, personality, and his accompanist Toro; the song, "I Keep Forgettin'," by Michael McDonald; and the band who made the song, "I Keep Forgettin'," with/for Michael McDonald. Here's your playlist for the episode: "Party at the Airport" x Deck of Jack (D2D themesong) "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" x T-Pain & Toro "Drankin' Patna," x T-Pain & Toro "I Keep Forgettin'," x Michael McDonald "Stomp!" x The Brothers Johnson "Strawberry Letter 23" x The Brothers Johnson "Hold the Line" x Toto "Thriller" x Michael Jackson How can you not? Pour you a drank.  Put in the headphones. Have some tea. Chill. Won't yinz? -G

The Comet is Coming is something else. CiC is prog-funk/metal/jazz. CiC are aliens. I dig them so much and I think you will too. Plus, as a bonus? A T-Pain palette cleanser. How can you resist? You cannot. Love you. -G  

What do Reuben Wilson, Marving Gaye, G. Love and Special Sauce, and A Tribe Called Quest have in common? This may or may not be living, but listen to this episode to find out...or just vibe with all of the amazing music sharing those Inner City Blues. Love that yinz're here with us.  Hope that Yinz remain.  Oh, and love yinz. -G  

Relinquishing the final minutes of Mark's and my conversations recorded ambiently on a stereo mic, for posterity and to provide a few laughs and some lovely music for yinz. DJ R-Tistic gave me permission to use his (...along with DJ Trayze, who absolutely murdered the stage and club at a friend's celebration several years back, an experience that I'll carry with me to my grave, hitting a solid running man, transition to cabbage patch, body roll, side to side, and a James Brown split into the hereafter...) stellar go-go remix of Mariah's, "All I Want...," so there's that! And we'll close with the official D2D themesong, "Party at the Airport," by Deck of Jack. I hope this episode finds you well, or at least brings you joy. -G  

Part 3. Me and Mark. Mark and I. Me, Myself, and Mark. iMark. Mark and Greggie make a Porno. (...what the...) Hi everybody. Thanks for hanging with us.  Have some fun with us. (We didn't make a porno.) [...not that there's anything wrong with that...] -G

2019 reminds me every day why I'm ready for it to be gone. Yet, 2020 has been huffing and puffing impatiently since 2016 and I'm not entirely sure I'm ready for it either. It's all a clusterfudge. But...there is always the "drink" to which you are driven.  Not necessarily a drink, either, but whatever helps, relaxes, soothes, alleviates, provides catharsis, respite, the strength, or whatever you need to keep on keeping on. For me, there is always music, always friendship, always laughter, always substances of mild to moderate mind alteration. Some come hang with us, won't you? Have a laugh.  Hear a song or two. Drink...YOUR drink. -G (&M [music factory])  

Over here with bread for a year and additionally a few bonus bits, songs, and tags.  We're going to close out 2019 and trepidatiously yet confidently step into 2020 with laughter.  Laughter and music.  That's what I do.  Some drinking (...and remember, driven2drink is not about alcohol, really.  The concept is...that which drives you to do or drink or take or embark upon the things that help you to find internal peace and homeostasis even in the midst of existential crisis or whatever daily travails you endure and/or obstacles impede you.  You may be driven to have some herbal tea, listen to smooth jazz very loudly, and snuggle with your angora rabbit in a hooded Snuggy.  That's YOUR driven to drink.  And for me?  Here?  Laughter and music are the things to which I return.  And also alcohol.  And other things...) and a lot of singing and laughing and consuming soulful aural art. Anyway, you should hang out.  Have some fun with us.  Listen t

The year, was 1973. I was, perhaps, conceived and incubating as the performance you're about to hear was originally recorded. Stevie Wonder...and Wonderlove.  This is...wonderful, and full of love, so the band's name is doubly perfect. What do Stevie and the early 80's movies Footloose, Flashdance, and Breakin' have in common?  Hang out, and you'll find out. Here is an intimate concert along with several surprises along the way. Thanks for hanging.  Love yinz! G  

Hi. Do you know Kelsey Lu? You should. Truly, check out her two albums, "Church" and "Blood."  She's an exceptional talent.  Singer.  Songwriter.  Multi-instrumentalist.  Just...wow. Here we'll spend some time with a few VERY early performances. I've noise reduced and polished, but it's still VERY live.  But she shines.  Bright. I appreciate yinz being here and love spending time with you.  And music.  So hang. -G