The Colourflies are a band started in 2011 from very humble beginnings from a small town. With highs and lows they’ve touched the graces of bands the likes of The Lemonheads, Big Star, The Posies, Green Jelly , The Wallflowers, The Ginblossoms and countless others. Greg Richling ( Wallflowers) has signed on to executive produce an upcoming release by the band, with Vocal production from Bryan Cook. Spearheaded by dexterous Matt Legard , a Jazz taught frontman  with a four octave vocal range. The Colourflies were signed recently to the European Record Label, Shore Dive Records, and have recently wrapped up a European tour as well as playing on National TV. They are due to release their next record in July.

Original songs included: You Only Call When You are Lonely, Hair, Green Tea..., Rush, Kimberly, Jellyfood , Junebug.

“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley

Some thoughts on a great artist that I’ve been obsessed with with for almost 4 decades: John Coltrane. 

I lay out my criteria on why Trane should be considered the best artist of the 20th century.

Show notes:

Matt discusses his 30 year theory of revival and says he was grateful to have been in studio to record the masterpiece “Grace”. 

Matt explains how the members of the band were thrown together (like a “stir fry”, despite not really knowing eachother at all).

Also, he says that there was a white knuckling effect of taking musical risks when he was playing and recording with Jeff Buckley. Matt explains that he realized he couldn’t continue with Jeff and that this was a scary decision. He says there were things going on that were a deal-breaker for him. 

Matt gives some insight into Buckley’s personality. Jeff was very funny. He also was very insightful into people’s emotional condition. 

We conclude by exploring the possibility that Buckley didn’t have an emotional protection that other performers, such as Rufus Wainwright, seem to need to survive long term in the music business. Matt talks about people with special needs and how they experience music. Finally, Matt describes the powerful symmetries between him, Rufus and Jeff, regarding father-son relationships. 
Thanks Matt. It was honor! You are a legend!

Theme Music “Kanga Roo” Sydney September 1995

“Last Goodbye” Frankfurt February 1995

“Dream Brother” Hamburg February 1995

Co-Edited by Konrad Meissner

Thank You to Mercedes Beene for consultations and your fabulous blog : https://notwithyoubutofyou.blogspot.com

Hey! Did you know you can contact Matt for lessons or recordings (what he calls underdubbing)?
Click here to learn how to get in touch with him:

https://soundbetter.com/profiles/182750-matt-johnson

"From recording the seminal cult-creating album Grace with Jeff Buckley to years of touring with the beloved St. Vincent, I've worked with a wide spectrum of artists over the past two decades including Rufus Wainwright, Angus and Julia Stone, and recently Miike Snow.

I'm originally from Texas but living in New York City opened up the most opportunities for developing a drumming career. I've recorded and played with Rhodes, Jade Bird, Teddy Thompson, Jeff Taylor, John Mayer, Dan Mangan, Dean Wareham of Galaxy 500, Tal Wilkenfeld, Will Stratton, Elysian Fields, Cones, Dope Lemon, Martha Wainwright, The Walking Who, Gabriel Kahane, Chris Stills, Anna Calvi, Duncan Sheik, Vivian Bond, Harper Simon, Keren Ann, Gerry Leonard, Reeves Gabrels, Tom Freund, Beth Orton, Suzanne Vega, Rickie Lee Jones and Miirrors.

I have also have worked with great producers such as Marius Devries, Rick Rubin, Simone Felice, Andy Wallace, Eric J, Andrew Wyatt, John Agnello, John Alagia, Thomas Bartlett, Tony Buchen, Tony Visconti, Tony Berg, Ben Harper, Hod David, and Kieran Kelly."

Matt uses:

- Istanbul cymbals 

https://istanbulcymbals.com 

- Tama drums

https://www.tama.com/usa/

- Vater sticks

https://www.vater.com
- Evans heads
https://www.daddario.com/products/percussion/evans-drumheads/

“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley. Co-Produced by Konrad
Shine Light Podcasts is Executive-Produced by Chris via biointegrity.net

The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator and executive editor of AllCreation.org, a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation has more than 400 posts exploring sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +150 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info. 

https://allcreation.transistor.fm/
https://biointegrity.transistor.fm/

Part 1 of 2
A note to our listeners: This is an expanded version of this interview. The video version is available at:
https://youtu.be/PkKqM9hVw3I
Come back next week for an in depth interview about Jeff Buckley.

For this season's final episode we have the great drummer himself: Matt Johnson. Matt played drums on Grace and toured with Jeff Buckley all through the world. Many of the guests on Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story have spoken about Matt and have given him substantial credit for the phenomenon that Jeff Buckley is and was. I wanted to find out what his drum influences were and how he got to the place he was in when he joined Jeff's band and recorded an album that Rolling Stone says is the 147th greatest album of all time and David Bowie considered the greatest. We also go into recording, playing with live acoustic instruments, what Matt looks for in a bass player, how he approaches triple meter, what his drum teacher told him when he was 11 years old and how he is still on that first drum lesson.
Thanks Matt. It was an honor to speak with you!
Theme Music "Kanga Roo" from Mystery White Boy
"What Will You Say" and "Mojo Pin" from Glastonbury 1995
Co-edited by Konrad Meissner

Hey! Did you know you can contact Matt for lessons or recordings (what he calls underdubbing)?
Click here to learn how to get in touch with him:

https://soundbetter.com/profiles/182750-matt-johnson

"From recording the seminal cult-creating album Grace with Jeff Buckley to years of touring with the beloved St. Vincent, I've worked with a wide spectrum of artists over the past two decades including Rufus Wainwright, Angus and Julia Stone, and recently Miike Snow.

I'm originally from Texas but living in New York City opened up the most opportunities for developing a drumming career. I've recorded and played with Rhodes, Jade Bird, Teddy Thompson, Jeff Taylor, John Mayer, Dan Mangan, Dean Wareham of Galaxy 500, Tal Wilkenfeld, Will Stratton, Elysian Fields, Cones, Dope Lemon, Martha Wainwright, The Walking Who, Gabriel Kahane, Chris Stills, Anna Calvi, Duncan Sheik, Vivian Bond, Harper Simon, Keren Ann, Gerry Leonard, Reeves Gabrels, Tom Freund, Beth Orton, Suzanne Vega, Rickie Lee Jones and Miirrors.

I have also have worked with great producers such as Marius Devries, Rick Rubin, Simone Felice, Andy Wallace, Eric J, Andrew Wyatt, John Agnello, John Alagia, Thomas Bartlett, Tony Buchen, Tony Visconti, Tony Berg, Ben Harper, Hod David, and Kieran Kelly."

Matt uses:

- Istanbul cymbals 

https://istanbulcymbals.com 

- Tama drums

https://www.tama.com/usa/

- Vater sticks

https://www.vater.com
- Evans heads
https://www.daddario.com/products/percussion/evans-drumheads/

“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley. Co-Produced by Konrad
Shine Light Podcasts is Executive-Produced by Chris via biointegrity.net

The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator and executive editor of AllCreation.org, a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation has more than 400 posts exploring sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +150 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info. 

https://allcreation.transistor.fm/
https://biointegrity.transistor.fm/

Drummer Jeff Lipstein has been around the New York music scene for years and has developed some theories about why Jeff Buckley is so enduring. Listen in as we discuss Buckley's covers, his unique vocalizing style and emotional intensity of lyrics, which perhaps took a toll on him. Additionally, Jeff Lipstein goes into detail about Matt Johnson's undeniable greatness and the special musical connection the he and Buckley had. 
Theme music "Eternal Life" from Mystery White Boy
"Grace"

Jeff Lipstein is a drummer, music producer, mixer and composer currently living in the Hudson Valley of New York State. 
He spent 20 years cutting his teeth in NYC and touring the world performing and/or recording with acts such as David Johansen, Clem Snide, Martha Wainwright, The Mercury Rev, Sandy Bell, Spring Awakening, The Blue Man Group, The East Village Opera Company, David Garrett and others. Since 2020 Jeff has been recording and mixing albums as well as composing music for advertisements from his studio in Woodstock NY. 

http://www.jefflipstein.com

http://www.twitter.com/jefflipstein

http://www.instagram.com/jefflipstein

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-lipstein-962b29236/

“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley. Co-Produced by Konrad
Shine Light Podcasts is Executive-Produced by Chris via biointegrity.net

The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator and executive editor of AllCreation.org, a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation has more than 400 posts exploring sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +150 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info. 

https://allcreation.transistor.fm/
https://biointegrity.transistor.fm/

Roxanne tells us about the very first time she heard Jeff Buckley on the car radio, the first time she saw him play live and later, when she moved to New York and actually played at Cafe Sin-E where Buckley made a name for himself. Interspersed are relationships and how Buckley was almost a shadowy figure thorough-out that time in her personal and professional life.
Explicit content.
Theme music "Last Goodbye"
"Je n'en connais pas le fin"
"So Real"
"Everybody Here Wants You"

Roxanne Drolet is a writer, audio producer, musician and actress. She is the writer and producer of the short film Seaside, the one-act play Coney Island, and the soon-to-debut 29 Paintings, a series of theatrical vignettes bringing to life fictional characters inspired by well-known painted portraits. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, her compositions include music for NBC’s network TV show The Black Donnellys, the independent film Anything Once, and Off-Broadway theater productions including Love's Labour's Lost, The Star Play, and a series of Miami Addy Award-winning Heineken commercials airing in seven countries.

 www.29paintings.com

“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley. Co-Produced by Konrad

Shine Light Podcasts is Executive-Produced by Chris via biointegrity.net

The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator and executive editor of AllCreation.org, a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation has more than 400 posts exploring sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +150 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info. 

https://allcreation.transistor.fm/

https://biointegrity.transistor.fm/

Host Jeff Haley has known Chris Garrigues since the 1990's. Their bands Doghouse and Twang Twang Shock A Boom played many of the same venues. In 1993 ( or maybe February 1994?) Doghouse performed at the Chicago House in support of Jeff Buckley. The evening transpired in a highly unusual way and Chris tells the story as a hilarious slacker/noir monologue. You will not forget the final encore that Jeff Buckley and Doghouse performed together. Chris is philosophical as he looks back on the not yet famous Buckley,  his reactions and those of the audience.
Theme music "I Shall Be Released" from Live at Sin-E

Doghouse music can be heard here: http://soundcloud.com/chrisgarrigues/sets/doghouse

“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley. Co-Produced by Konrad

Shine Light Podcasts is Executive-Produced by Chris via biointegrity.net

The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator and executive editor of AllCreation.org, a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation has more than 400 posts exploring sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +150 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info. 

https://allcreation.transistor.fm/

https://biointegrity.transistor.fm/

I’m your host Jeff Haley and this is a special episode of Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story. Today we will be looking at Hallelujah, a Leonard Cohen composition, crafted by John Cale, and perfected by Jeff Buckley

I asked some friends to tell me where they heard Hallelujah and what the song meant to them. And why it has become so famous

Grammy nominated keyboardist, singer and songwriter Rachel Eckroth  talked to me about the first time she heard Hallelujah

Django Haskins is a North Carolina native who cut his teeth writing songs in New York City during the 90s and aughts. He delivers cutting observations into Hallelujah's power

Kristina Vallejo has been a fan of Jeff Buckley as long as I can remember . I’ve always looked to her for answers to all things Buckley

Internationally Acclaimed Soprano, Arts Activist and Co-Founder of Sing For Hope Camille Zamora has insights into what made Buckley's voice so vulnerable and soaring
When I spoke with Johnny Goudie on episode 2, he also mentioned the differences between Jeff’s version, and Leonard Cohen’s
He returns…

As authors Alan Light and Malcolm Gladwell have  already demonstrated, the song has a twisted, if not miraculous lineage. 

Buckley got his reduced amount of song stanzas from John Cale, who had lowered it from 50. Cale was doing his friend Leonard Cohen a big favor by pruning his expansive Canadian ballad into a  trim masterpiece. 

It has been sung by:

Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson,  Justin Timberlake, Kate McKinnon,

Rufus Wainwright, KD Lang and countless other Canadians

But Buckley surpasses them all. He is like David with his Lyre singing at Sin-E on the lower east side, using Hallelujah as his closing number.  Right from the beginning it must have been  his most popular number

And that voice!

Rachel Eckroth has toured with Rufus Wainwright, who’s 2001 Shrek movie rendition pushed Hallelujah further into the stratosphere of classic songs

At what point did Hallelujah become the go-to number for large social gatherings? Kristina thinks it was Justin Timberlake 

Hallelujah,  a word  the whole world knows

Kristina brings up an important point. Is the song about love or is it about God? 

Could it be about both? Look how it ties Jeff Buckley’s whole album together . 

It is called Grace and Hallelujah with its slow heartbeat and holy cry correlates with the spiritual, religious side of the album. It even sounds like it was recorded in a cathedral. 

Yet it’s also a song about love, which would align it with the album’s relationship songs like Last Goodbye and Lover, You Should’ve Come Over, which often have that “maximalist” sound. 

Simone Weil says there are two things that pierce the heart: beauty ….and affliction.

Grace the album has both and this Hallelujah definitely does

To me Hallelujah is really a song about how the pain of love is the thing that will bring you closest to God 

Theme music "Hallelujah" Live at Sin-E
Thanks to editors Vanessa Haley and Catherine Cuellar

Johnny Goudie, Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo on Definitive Songs:
https://howdidigethere.podbean.com/e/tony-scalzo-and-miles-zuniga-from-fastball-discuss-definitive-versions-of-songs/

“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley. Co-Produced by Konrad

Shine Light Podcasts is Executive-Produced by Chris via biointegrity.net

The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator and executive editor of AllCreation.org, a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation has more than 400 posts exploring sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +150 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info. 

https://allcreation.transistor.fm/

https://biointegrity.transistor.fm/

Author Rose Smith tells host Jeff Haley about when she saw Jeff Buckley and his band at Liberty Lunch in Austin, Texas in 1995. Rose went with their mutual friend Lisa Hargus. Rose talks about a typical female response to Buckley's performance. Rose and Lisa saw Buckley backstage and Rose imagines what it would have been like if she had spoken with him. They try to identify what made Buckley shy. Also, they discuss what makes Jeff Buckley and his album Grace such a powerful artistic experience. The episode ends with a recording of Jeff Buckley singing Van Morrison's "Sweet Thing" from Live at Sin-E. Rose tells us why Buckley's guitar playing is almost as important as his singing. Rose muses on Buckley's untimely death.
Theme Music "The Way Young Lovers Do" "Sweet Thing" from Live at Sin-E
"So Real" from Liberty Lunch (thanks Mercedes Beene)
"Kick Out The Jams" from Live at Cabaret Metro

Rose Smith’s fiction and nonfiction can be found in The Missouri Review, Five Points and Narrative Magazine. She was the winner of The Missouri Review's 27th Annual Editors’ Prize and was named a finalist for Narrative's 2018 Story Contest. Her films have aired on PBS and Sundance Channel among others, and have screened at various festivals, including Sundance, SXSW and MoMA Documentary Fortnight. She received her MFA from the Warren Wilson Program for Writers, and teaches workshops and classes at Austin Bat Cave, an independent creative writing center. Rose lives in Austin, Texas with her husband. She is currently at work on a novel.

“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley. Co-Produced by Konrad
Shine Light Podcasts is Executive-Produced by Chris via biointegrity.net

The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator and executive editor of AllCreation.org, a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation has more than 400 posts exploring sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +150 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info. 

https://allcreation.transistor.fm/
https://biointegrity.transistor.fm/

Drummer JJ Johnson tells host Jeff Haley about the first time he heard Grace at friend Billy White's house. The album changed the way JJ looked at what rock music was capable of. JJ was at several Austin, Texas performances in 1994 and 1995 and talks about how he and many others were transfixed by Buckley and his band. Additionally, JJ discusses some of drummer Matt Johnsons' outstanding qualities. Overall, the mood is that of being grateful for having been able to witness music making that elevated the whole experience of listening to the highest, "grand" level. 
Throughout the interview JJ interacts with his dogs. 🐶 🐕 
Theme music "Mojo Pin" and "Dream Brother" from Grace
"Lover, You Should've Come Over" from Waterloo Records
"Mojo Pin" live at Electric Lounge
"Mojo Pin" live at Glastonbury

Special thanks to Mercedes Beene for providing me with archival recordings and photographs. Check out her blog at: 
https://dreamsister81.tumblr.com

JJ Johnson grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He came of age musically in Austin, Texas and skyrocketed to national prominence by playing with John Mayer, Tedeschi/Trucks Band, Lenny Kravitz, Elias Haslanger and currently: Gary Clark Clark Jr. 
He is a Gretsch drums artist.
https://www.gretschdrums.com/artists/jj-johnson
"Always stay humble, keep your ears open, and hang with the veteran musicians and absorb all they have to say. They have invaluable lessons in many areas such as professionalism, listening to the music, and having a positive attitude. " JJ Johnson 
Thanks JJ!
 
“Everyone Has A Jeff Buckley Story” is created, recorded, edited and produced by Jeff Haley. Co-Produced by Konrad
Shine Light Podcasts is Executive-Produced by Chris via biointegrity.net

The BioIntegrity community has helped fund protection of more than 320,000 acres of old growth tropical forests since 2014. Those efforts are helping to save thousands of species from extinction, keep more than 85 million tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere (enough to offset Austin, TX's community carbon footprint for 5+ years), institute land occupation rights for more than 400 Indigenous communities around the world, keep the planet cool, and more. Chris is also co-founder, creator and executive editor of AllCreation.org, a living archive of faith and spiritual practice views on human relationships with Earth's other species and environment. AllCreation has more than 400 posts exploring sacred texts and contemporary views, and is currently read in +150 countries. Visit biointegrity.net and allcreation.org for more info. 

https://allcreation.transistor.fm/
https://biointegrity.transistor.fm/