John Gallagher, Jr. is a true 21st century, multi-hyphenate. Cinephiles and television aficionados will recognize him from his various screen roles that include The Newsroom, Short Term 12, and Westworld. Those more familiar with the world of Broadway probably know Gallagher from his work in the hit musical Spring Awakening, for which he won a Tony. Folks with their ear tuned toward the indie rock underworld can also find John hard at work as an excellent singer and songwriter.

Gallagher grew up the son of musicians who opened up a whole world of creativity and expression early in their son’s life. As a child, John fell in love with acting. He quickly found himself booking paying gigs, eventually landing in New York where he connected with the creators of a new musical called Spring Awakening that would eventually go on to win a trio of Tony Awards, and take Broadway by storm. This critical and commercial success on Broadway led to a host of on-screen opportunities for Gallagher, including the role of Jim Harper on HBO’s The Newsroom.

Despite all of his acting success, John continued to hone his chops as a songwriter and singer. In 2016, he released his debut album Six Day Hurricane under the moniker Johnny Gallagher. While maintaining a very busy day job on set, Gallagher released two more full length albums, 8th and Jane in 2021 and Goodbye or Something in 2024.

As his third LP was set to enter the world, Gallagher also found himself hard at work on Swept Away, a new musical built around the songs of The Avett Brothers. The production was set to open in November of 2024 and it seemed poised for a massive run. With a new album in hand, and a soon to be hit show on the horizon, John Gallagher, Jr. was riding high. Sadly, things don’t always go according to plan. Despite critical acclaim, Swept Away failed to move enough tickets and its run was cut short after just a few weeks in production. Meanwhile, John’s new album Goodbye or Something had also failed to make much of a mark on the cultural landscape.

Two years later, things have brightened significantly for Gallagher. His new EP, Almost OK began as an imagined two song 7-inch, but has blossomed into something more significant. With notes of wrecked romances, paranoia, depression, and seismic life changes, Almost OK plays like a shimmering diary filled with regret, hope, and vulnerability. There are notes of power pop, Laurel Canyon folk, and even a dash of Dad Rock all lending these five songs a sense of playfulness that belies many of its heavier lyrical themes. This is a fascinating conversation that not only hits upon John’s journey in acting and music, it covers the magical power of live performance, and so much more.

Let’s get into it.

Cheers,

Matty C

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End Credits

Thanks so much to John for joining me. You can find his new EP, Almost OK wherever you get your music. 

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.

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