John Garcia (Album)

John Garcia
Studio album by John Garcia
Released	July 25 2014
Recorded	17 February 2014 - 29 March 2014 at Thunder-Underground in Palm Springs, California
Genre	Stoner Rock, Desert Rock
Length	44:59
Label	Napalm Records
Producer	John Garcia, Harper Hug, Trevor Whatever
John Garcia chronology
debut release (N/A)	John Garcia (2014)	Little Marshall / Bloody Mastiff (2015)

John Garcia is the first solo album by the Desert Rock vocalist of the same name. Working with a wide range of collaborators over the years, John Garcia would see release on July 2014, with Garcia forming the Band of Gold to tour in support of it.

The album is dedicated to his wife Wendy Garcia.

Background

On 12 February 2014 it would be announced that John Garcia had signed a solo record deal with Napalm Records and had begun work on his first solo album, working with Harper Hug and Trevor Whatever. Further details would surface that many of his past fellow musicians would contribute to the record such as Damon Garrison (Slo Burn), Chris Hale (Slo Burn), Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Vista Chino), Dandy Brown (Hermano), David Angstrom (Hermano), Gary Arce (Yawning Man) and Danko Jones. In April it would be announced that Robby Krieger (The Doors) would be contributing to the solo debut as a guest. The main recording sessions took place at Thunder Underground Palm Springs California 2014. Her Bullets Energy was recorded at Horse Latitudes Glendale California 2014. 5000 Miles was recorded at Concrete Jungle Studios Toronto Canada 2014. While the album does feature numerous collaborators and guests, the exact credits from song to song are unknown.

John Garcia would be released on 1 August 2014 to positive reviews from the likes of Blabbermouth and The Sludgelord among others. A music video for "My Mind" would be released on 15 July 2014.

In an interview with Vice, John Garcia explained the makings of the first solo album, how he's had over forty songs saved over time for a possible solo record and working with Robby Krieger:

“	“Since I was 18, really. I’ve had some of these songs in a cardboard box that’s followed me forever, however many times I’ve moved out here in the desert. I’ve been settled for quite some time now, and I got tired of looking at this box. I had 44 songs just sitting there, and I felt bad for them. I said yes to so many other projects, you know? Vista Chino wanted me to do another record and I said no. Hermano wanted me to do another record, and I said no. Same with Unida. And it felt good to say no and finally say yes to this group of songs. I don’t mean that to sound selfish, but these were songs that were special to me. They weren’t b-sides or leftovers. So I finally went through them with my producers to pick the ones that we recorded for the album. I mean, talk about pent-up energy, to finally have some of these songs see the light of day. What a monumental moment—not for the world, but for me—to finally get these fuckin’ things out. Yeah, the first song I wrote was when I was 19 living in Palm Springs with Nick Oliveri. It’s a song called “Her Bullets Energy.” And if somebody had told me back then that I’d release it when I was 43 years old and that Robby Krieger from the Doors would be playing on it, I would’ve told them they were out of their fuckin’ mind. Talk about a trip, man. When we were picking through these songs, my producer Harper Hug said to me, “You know, I hear Spanish guitar on this track.” So I said, “Great idea. Do you know anyone who plays Spanish guitar?” And he said he knew Robby Krieger. I almost fell over in my chair. So he called Robby and sent him the track. Robby liked it, so the next thing you know we’re sitting in the studio recording with Robby Krieger. I mean, a living legend and a super-nice guy. [If Robby was aware of Garcia's music] No. If he was, I didn’t know about it and I didn’t ask him about it. But it was great, man. He walked in with a guitar in one hand and a burrito in the other. He put the burrito down and went to work. We actually talked about golf more than anything else. I’m not a golfer, but in the Palm Springs area where I live, there’s a big retirement community and a lot of golf courses. Robby is an avid golfer, so he comes out here and plays some of the local courses quite a bit.”	”
	— John Garcia, VICE

During the production of the record Garcia would begin work finding a live band. The first person he would ask to join up would be guitarist Ehren Groban (War Drum, Waxy), whom toured with Garcia when Waxy opened for Kyuss Lives! in 2011. Three years later he would be invited to participate on a song for the first solo record, eventually play more than that and ultimately join John Garcia's band. The next musician recruited would be Mike Pygmie, who also performs with You Know Who, The Agents, Melodious Pygmies, The Whizards, Brant Bjork and The Bros and Mondo Generator. Though typically a guitarist he ended up fitting the bass roles as Groban described him as "multi-talented on so many instruments and (I) thought he’d be a good fit.". Pygmie would be hired upon jamming with the band and nailing "Demon Cleaner" on the first try. Lastly would be drummer Greg Seanz (Excel, The Dwarves, You Know Who), who would join when he nailed "Green Machine" on the first take.

Garcia would eventually name his backing band as The Band of Gold when he heard "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne, representing "the strong feeling and emotion" he has for songwriting. But it also encompassed the brilliance of his backing trio. In his own words he felt the band deserved the name. Garcia and his band would tour Australia in support of the self-titled alongside Mammoth Mammoth and Waxy, then follow with a month-long tour of Europe alongside Steak and Komatsu. The majority of the band's set would be from the album but also feature a selection of Kyuss and Slo Burn tunes.

Tracklist

JOHN GARCIA - My Mind (Official Video) Napalm Records

JOHN GARCIA feat. Robby Krieger - Her Bullets' Energy (Official Video) Napalm Records

All songs written by John Garcia except where noted.

• 1. My Mind (4:01)
• 2. Rolling Stoned (4:14) (Black Mastiff)
• 3. Flower (4:04)
• 4. The Blvd (4:41) (Garcia, David Angstrom, Dandy Brown)
• 5. 5000 Miles (3:45) (Danko Jones)
• 6. Confusion (3:38)
• 7. His Bullets' Energy (4:49)
• 8. Argleben (5:19)
• 9. Saddleback (2:44)
• 10. All These Walls (3:05)
• 11. Her Bullets' Energy (4:39) (Garcia, Nick Oliveri)

Personnel

John Garcia

• John Garcia - Vocals, Lyrics, Producer

Guests & Collaborators

• Chris Hale
• Damon Garrison
• Dandy Brown
• David Angstrom
• Ehren Groban
• Gary Arce
• Nick Oliveri
• Jack Kohler
• Mark Diamond
• Mikey Kocsandi
• Monique Caravello
• Robby Krieger
• Tom Brayton

Technical Personnel

• Harper Hug - Engineer, Mixing, Producer
• Trevor Whatever - Producer
• Vic Florencia - Engineer (5000 Miles)
• Michael Dumas - Engineer (Her Bullets' Energy)
• Gene Grimaldi - Mastering
• HL - Lacquer Cut
• Richard Sibbald - John Garcia Photo
• Jared Connor - Layout, Design
• Sam Yong - Layout, Illustrations

External Links

• Discogs
• Bandcamp