Coming to you from the studios at the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66, it's the Rock and Roll Chicago podcast. Hey, everybody, it's Ray the Roadie. And this is tardy Hollywood Mike.

Yes, very tardy, very tardy. It's been several weeks, several weeks. Yes.

Our guests today, I stood them up and didn't even realize that I stood them up. I know. And I was so embarrassed if I didn't apologize yet.

I probably won't. Yeah, you better. But no, I'm so sorry for doing that.

Yeah, that was not a good day. When was when was the when was the day? When was it? Six weeks ago. Is that about when it was? A month ago? Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I can't remember.

Because that day does not even exist on my calendar. I caught some kind of stomach bug and I check my phone for the first time and I see all these text messages on my phone from Ray. And I had to go literally look at a calendar and see what day it was.

We were worried about you, actually. Ray wasn't really worried. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, it's nice to know that somebody was looking out for me. No, I slept for like 24 hours straight and then I had that stomach bug for like a week.

And then that all that news came. What was the name of that virus that was going around? There was some stomach virus that was going. Yeah, there was something going on.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, you were just lucky enough to get it.

Yep. I was the guy. So I apologize for that.

It's all good. Yeah. So the group that you stood up is Grace and John.

Welcome to the podcast. Yeah. All right.

Thanks for having us. Yeah. Thank you for having us.

I'm sorry you had to wait in the lobby for four weeks until Mike got here. We've been camping out for a couple of weeks. Yeah.

At least they, well, they hung out at, uh, they hung out next door. So that's, that's, that's right. That's the good thing.

We got really drunk. So yeah. Well, that always makes for, that makes for a better podcast.

So just leave it, keep it going. Today. We're stone sober.

Right. Very sober today. Yeah.

So everything's going to sound kind of like this. Yeah. That's right.

So how'd you come up with this name? Oh, it's real original. Really original. Right.

Actually, my name isn't John. It's something else. That's her stage name.

Oh, okay. I made him change it. I've gone through a few guys, so.

Right. I just gotta find someone with the name John. Yeah.

If I leave someone else named John, I can just step right in. Exactly. So how did this all come together and when? Ooh, it's been five years.

Do you want to answer this? Yeah. I know. It's been almost six, I think.

Yeah. Cause if I answer it, we'll be here for a week. It's true.

Yeah. Grace was an accountant. Singing contest at Bourbon street, a singing contest that needed someone to, uh, what? Make some tracks for you.

Is that right? Yeah. She got my name through a friend and, uh, I started helping her with that. And then, uh, she's like, do you gig at all? And I'm like, sure.

I gig whatever, whatever you want, Grace. I'll, I'll do it. So, uh, we tried it out is, uh, yeah.

Five years later, we've been doing it. Yeah. You made the tracks for her to sing to? Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. So I have a little studio at my house.

Okay. Just making backing tracks for, for her to, yeah. Do her competition.

Yeah. And I wanted certain things. Like everyone was using regular, like karaoke backing tracks and I was like, I want something cool.

I want like, I do pony and I do it differently. So I'm like, I want it to be like this. And so I sent it to him and he's like, I was like, Oh wait, you're the guy that went to my church.

So then I was like, Oh shoot. I sent him pony and I felt bad. He said, I won't tell my mom.

So I'm like, we can work together. We can work together. That's right.

So that was pretty cool. And, uh, yeah, he said I could work with you. Maybe.

Yeah. I got to think about it. It's kind of tentative for awhile.

I wasn't sure I was going to, I think you want to make sure I wasn't a psycho. We're still not sure. We're not sure yet.

We're hoping. Right. Now had either one of you been in a band prior, I'm assuming you were, but was the, was the singing contest like a new thing for you? I was, I was in a duet, uh, similar to what I'm doing, but I was newer to it.

So I had gone through a few partners and didn't really vibe. The last one I had was good, but he wanted to do the same songs. I'm like, I want to be a group that takes requests and people can walk up and request whatever they want.

And on the spot we could be like a jukebox. And John did that for me. Yeah.

Cause you know, musicians absolutely love when their singer just throws them under the bus like that. Right. Yeah.

I know the words of this song. Do you guys know how to play this? Just go for it. Just see what happens.

Then give me dirty looks like wrong, wrong. Nah, she's not like that. I think the best part was that like, I think at first you were like, ah, he's a perfectionist I think.

So he was like, I'm not going to do that. And I was like, just have fun. And then, I don't know.

I think now we have a really good thing going. Like if we don't want to do it, we'll both say, we don't know it. So it's not like we're, one time we've had a couple of instances, right? Like gig eight and during the week, we were a little tired.

Yeah. Oh, you remember that? Oh yeah. Holding on to that one time.

I was like, eat your cheeseburger. It's going to be fine. So you, I'm assuming that you have some kind of a set list though.

You're not just doing requests all night, right? We have a very giant set list. So it's just. Just a bank of over a thousand songs probably.

But if we've heard the song even remotely, we will try it. And you're going to give us $20. Yeah.

We will try. I absolutely do the same thing. So yeah, I was making that joke earlier because I front a band and I do it to the guys all the time and I can, you know, I, I feel the stairs in the back of my, my, my head.

But I mean, people love that, you know, especially if they're willing to put, you know, what I, what I call filing the proper paperwork, you know, you know, you make it happen. We, we I, I told this story several times. My band played a gig just a few weeks ago and somebody walks through the front door and they made the mistake of saying that, Hey, I guess one big at the casino and he wants us to play free bird.

Well, yeah, sure. We'll play free bird. Right.

Not a problem. But I, but I told the guy, I said, we don't do it for less than a hundred dollars. And this guy walked up to me and looked me right in the eye and pulled the money out of his pocket like that and dropped it like a Trump card right on the stage.

You know, we played free birds. You'll play it all night long for a hundred dollars. That's right.

That's right. I know who's buying drinks Wednesday. No, you already made use of that though, because I thought that was a few weeks ago.

Yeah. Oh really? That was the last tab. I think.

Yeah. That was the last tab. Proud to be American.

Yeah. Sure. Guy was like, I'll pay you a hundred bucks.

And John looked at me and I was like, let's do it. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Absolutely. You have to do that stuff.

So what, what's the most requested song then? I would say I'm going to answer Tennessee whiskey. I was just about to say I have an answer in my head. But everyone expects John to sing it.

That's right. Yeah. I don't sing it actually.

The chicks would disappoint it. No, they're always happy about it. They're surprised.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. But hold the phone. Cause you guys are going to give me a little of that right now.

I want to hear it. Sure. You got it.

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people like, you know, John singing it.

You know, I'd love to go someplace and have a pretty girl sing it. Yeah. Scottie.

Maybe Scottie. I don't think, I don't think Scott Evans qualifies as a pretty girl. Not even a pretty man.

We'll see. John can impersonate any song, so. Yeah, whatever you need.

Sure. Let's hear it. I don't sing it actually.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. As. Tennessee, whiskey.

As three. Strawberry wine You're as warm as a glass of brandy Honey, I say so On your lovin' all the time Oh, yeah, I say so I can listen to that all night. It's good.

That is probably the most unique version of that song I've heard. Okay, all right. This drum is different.

You add the third chord. Most people don't. Just one and two back and forth.

People forget about it. People forget about the poor third quarter there. And wow.

I mean, that was actually really good. I almost don't know where to go with that. You seem a bit verklempt.

Yes. Because I was expecting the same old Tennessee whiskey that you've heard every single cover band in the Chicagoland area play over and over and over again. And you guys found a way to make it refreshing.

That was great. Yeah, I appreciate that. All right.

Yeah. I'm glad. I'm glad I asked them to do that.

So what was the first gig? First gig was was a Bourbon Street. Yeah. How's your first gig Bourbon Street? Most people's like 30.

That's what I told them. I was like, you should be lucky. And I was like, all right, Bourbon Street sounds great.

I already played in some bathrooms and other really divey places. I jumped in at a good time. So it was good.

Grace had gone through the bathroom circuit. I mean, really, how did that happen? Was it because you were in that competition? Because of the contest, they said whoever was the top five got to play in the beer garden. So it wasn't like.

So I was like, shoot, my partner that I had, really nice gentleman. I was like, he's going to be out of town, but I'm not going to say no because then they're going to forget about you. So I was like, all right.

I just asked him, I'm like, Hey, you're doing my tracks. Would you want a gig? And that's kind of how I asked him. So we did our very first gig, but he popped over at the house and he had learned like 60 songs.

And I was like, oh, and I, it was kind of like dating, I guess. I was like, I got to think about it. Okay.

So, which was probably rude. You were dating him? No, no, no. Okay.

Wow. The musical partnership. It was like, I'm going to think about it.

Cause I didn't want him to know. I thought he was that good. I was like, yeah, I'm sorry.

Can we edit that part? I was like, wait, who were you dating at that time, Grace? Yeah, no. I thought you said that there was somebody else. Cause you said you shuffled in.

So my last partner, really nice guy, Dan Lopez, uh, still I'm friends with him, but, uh, he's in a bunch of bands and I was, he was my partner after I had another partner that didn't work out. So I felt bad, but he was like, I'm gigging Indiana and I'm busy. So I'm like, I'm just going to get this guy to do it.

I didn't know we were going to become partners after that. So, and I had a bunch of gigs lined up. So he's like, if you can promise me that much work.

So, yeah. And I like hustling. So, and it was your first, the two of you together, but no one knew that they were all like, you guys are so great.

I was like, yeah, I think we clicked pretty, pretty well. Music. Yeah.

Good chemistry. Definitely. And that was six years ago, you said? Yeah.

August, I think coming up. Yeah. Six years.

Have it in your calendar. I do. Yeah.

We have an anniversary. We do a little party for ourselves. Aw, you sure you guys aren't dating? A little party.

Yeah. Some streamers and stuff. The Grace and John corporate party.

It's just Grace and I. So. Right, right, right. So, um, if, if it was six years ago, the beer garden wasn't quite what it is now, but I remember where it was.

So it's changed. Oh yeah. It absolutely has.

It looks great out there now. Yeah, it really does. Wow.

So then, I mean, are you guys rehearsing a lot because you have all these songs or how does it. Yeah, we rehearse all. We've never, we've rehearsed like once.

If we have a wedding or a very big event, then we're like, Hey, we should probably not ruin someone's wedding. Like let's get this song polished. We kind of rehearse at the gig mostly.

Yeah. Well, you guys were rehearsing something last time you were here when we were waiting for somebody to show up. That's right.

We were up there rehearsing something. That's the most we rehearsed probably this month. Yeah.

So at least you got something, you know, constructive done that night. Yeah. People request stuff.

And like, if I have a rule, cause before I'd be like, learn this, learn this, learn this. If you request at least 10 times, we're going to learn it. So that way we're not overloading.

But true. Yeah. Right.

So when did you start playing guitar? When did you, uh, wow. Uh, junior high, you know, I saved up money and got a hundred dollar guitar and, uh, we're in Brian Adams songs. It was great.

Yeah. Loved it. Yeah.

Seventh grade, I think. Yeah. I got a little amp PV, a little PV amp.

I still have that amp. The guitar is done, but, uh, yeah, it's rocking out to, uh, all the hits. Brian Adams songs.

Wow. Was it really Brian Adams songs? It was. Summer of 69, man.

That was the first song I learned. Yeah. Yeah.

Mine was Every Rose Has Its Thorn. That's a great one. That's good too.

Yeah. That's, um, I mean, do you play, um, I mean, are you in other bands? Do you have other projects going on? You know, this is mostly it. Yeah.

I play with Grace and, um, oh yeah. Right. There are a couple side things, but, uh, I do, I play at church.

I play, uh, electric guitar at couple churches too, but, uh, yeah. Grace is my main source of, uh, yeah. Right.

Right. Yeah. I was just asking, I mean, cause your guitar sounded fantastic.

Thank you. Is that a Martin? It's a Martin. Yeah.

It's a Martin. Um, CEO seven is what it is. Okay.

So yeah, I've had a few years, but, uh, I have one, another one that's the same smaller body style that I played for the first couple of years with Grace and it's all just beat up and like just almost got a hole from straw men. So we just, yeah, definitely. Yeah.

I'll pour it on it and stuff. It seems to be the style that everybody's going to. It's, um, uh, it's a little bit bigger than like a, I guess what they call a cafe style guitar, but it's not quite as big as a regular full size guitar.

That's a, that's a nice, right. They might call it a parlor. I'm not positive.

Yeah. I was trying to figure out what it was. I think it's a triple zero size or double zero.

Yeah. Yeah. Something like that.

Yeah. You can tell I don't play guitar, you know, all the time. So yeah, no, that's nice.

It's nice. Yeah. Thanks.

So what, uh, bands did you, you have a history with before you? Wow. It's a high school, had my own band and, um, you know, mostly covers a lot of U2 background, stuff like that. And, uh, went to college at Champaign and U of I and was in a band, um, original band there.

We played, uh, the Metro a couple of times. Uh, and, uh, yeah. And, uh, after that, my wife and I actually moved to Nashville and, um, for a few years to try to try to do it.

And, uh, you know, didn't have any money, give it a shot, but, uh, came back and, uh, spent some time, uh, uh, at a church, actually working at church for several years. And then, uh, yeah, after that, hooking up with Grace, you know, musically speaking. She's awesome.

Is your wife also a musician? She is. She sings, plays piano. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. We were in a band, um, for a few years together writing and stuff.

So we gave it a good shot. I think we were both burned out on doing that, but, uh, together, but, uh, yeah. I'm sensing like a little Fleetwood Mac story coming up.

I'm still trying to get him to watch Daisy Jones on the six. Yeah, that's right. So what did, when did you get the bug? And when was the moment you decided, Hey, you know what? I can sing.

I'm going to try and do this. I did kids choir at church and I always loved that my mom was really strict. So I was like, I could do that, but I was not allowed to listen to any other music except for Christian music.

Wow. So even when people would be like, Hey, can you play Led Zeppelin? I'm like, who's that? Yeah. It was that bad.

Um, but yeah, I loved singing and a lot of people in my family are musicians. Um, my mom taught piano growing up. Uh, I played clarinet, but, uh, I definitely always wanted to sing.

So I did high school choir and I'm trying to think of what else. So, yeah. And then I wound up, I was always so nervous to like do stuff.

And then finally I got out there after I had kids and stuff. I'm like, I'm going to do this. Yeah.

Why not? Yeah. And I love it. It makes me happy.

It's therapeutic. It's awesome. Was that contest the first time you were out in public? No.

So that was probably the biggest thing I've ever done. So that was nerve wracking every week, picking a song and like thinking, did someone pick a better song than me? Cause it was really like, people are judging you. Right.

So yeah, it was honestly one of the coolest experiences. So, um, where'd you grow up? I grew up in Orland park. Okay.

Yeah. So relatively close. Yeah, for sure.

Excellent. Where'd you go to high school? Out to Sandburg. Okay.

Yeah. So I did choir there, some theater stuff. I mean, so you've always had a little bit of, you know, you always knew you wanted.

Yeah. And then I will say like, um, so my uncle played with Buddy Guy. He was his keyboardist.

He just passed away not too long ago, but he let me do some of his blues things, which were phenomenal. Marty is your uncle? Basically. Yeah.

Him and my, my cousin is his daughter, Katie. So, um, I, I also know Marty. Yeah.

I sing at his funeral, which was, was nerve wracking too. Cause Buddy Guy was right there. I'm like, everybody in everybody in my band knows Marty.

And when we heard we were all, we had a gig that night and we were just all devastated because everybody in my band has played with Marty. I've known him since 1998. Wow.

Yeah. I didn't know that. So, yeah.

So that was, that was pretty cool that he allowed me to do his blues things and I was new. So I was like, wow, all these really cool people. And that was before I knew John, but, uh, cause otherwise I would've had him come on board and I was kind of excited.

Like eventually John's going to play with that. And then obviously he passed, but yeah. Oh man.

That's I'm so sorry. But, but, you know, I'll tell you what, that's one of the reasons why I, you know, one of the reasons why I enjoy doing this podcast is we find out how, how small the musical community in the Chicagoland area is. It's almost inevitable that, you know, during these interviews, we find out that, you know, we all know common people, the last, last interview that, that we had, um, um, we, we came up with about 10 different people that I've played with and she knew, and she knew as well.

And it, you know, when things like that happen, you all feel it, you know, it, it, it, it absolutely resonates. I mean, Ray is wearing a t-shirt here tonight. Uh, the guy on the t-shirt is a guy we all referred to as spin daddy.

He was the bass player in my band and he was the first person that I knew that passed away from COVID. And when, when, when he passed away, um, we had a memorial service for him at the church that he went to regularly. It was overwhelming how many people from the community showed up, you know, just so many musicians showed up.

I mean, there were so many people, um, we had to, you know, we had to put chairs out on the front lawn of the church. It was, it was, it was just unbelievable. And I tell people all the time that one of the greatest things about being a musician in Chicago is that sense of family and community.

Like you, I've been to Nashville, you've been I've been to LA. A lot of people have been to LA. You don't get that in those, in those other cities.

I haven't been to Nashville. You haven't yet. We had that conversation.

I can't believe he's never been to Nashville. I think we need to take you there. Let's go.

That's right. I go every year. We'll just add you to our suitcase.

Wow. That's uh, yeah, we, we've got to remedy that, uh, here soon. So what was the, um, what's the best gig? What's your favorite gig? Probably one we don't have anymore.

Not in a bad way. No, we, we used to play like some hotels in the city and that was just, that's true. Yeah.

I thought you were going to say that. Really? No, no, no, no. You got to tell the story.

Oh, oh, you know, we, we used to play like pre COVID and I probably always add a gig cause I feel like it's so much more, but we do like almost like seven gigs, eight gigs. We do like doubles on Saturday, doubles on Sunday and, uh, by Sunday night we were having too much fun. Um, don't give grace tequila.

I don't drink that much anymore. Thanks to that. I think that's the title of your first original song.

Don't give grace tequila. That would work. I'm going to speak my truth.

Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Please don't give her that.

I swear if that gets recorded and that comes out, I hear that. I'm going to give you partial credit for you. Yeah.

There you go. So what's coming up next for you guys? Yeah. We're going on vacation.

We're going on vacation next year. Not together. Now we're not together.

Yeah. We have to always say that. Right.

We're not together. People like text in the request. Are you guys a couple or are you guys together? No, we would kill each other.

Grace's boyfriend's right over here next to her. Yeah. So what's your favorite, what's your favorite song? It changes.

I'd say. Right. Definitely.

Cause it's like, Ooh, I really like, I love Janis Joplin, but then it's like, okay, this week someone requested Miley Cyrus flowers. I'm like, Oh, I like this. So it's hard to, we play something for two years straight.

It's like, okay, not as much. Yeah. But probably fresher songs that we kind of cling to.

Yeah. Newer stuff. Yeah.

Whatever that would be. Well, pick it and play it. All right.

We'll try this one. Yeah. All right.

I may not do both verses. We'll see. I got turned around some little town never been to before working my way through the middle of June and midnight on the stone.

There was something in the headlights. It stopped me on a dime. She was scared to death.

So I said, climb in there. And she climbed. I don't know if he's an angel.

He was helping to find the man behind all the whiskey scars. I had never thought my day of justice come from George under the sea, but I knew right then I'd never get hit again. When he said this to me, wait in the truck, just wait in the truck.

Have mercy, have mercy, have mercy on me. I wish we had a door slamming sound effect. Oh, yeah.

Who recorded that song as a hardy, hardy and Laney country artist, Hardy and Laney Wilson. Yeah. OK.

Yeah. It's very country. Very Nashville.

Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And when I met John, he wasn't the hugest lover of country.

And I'm like, right. I had to get educated. Honestly, for he actually told me he didn't sing, too.

Yeah. Right. So he's like, I'm just going to back you up.

I'll harmonize with you. I'm like, OK. And gig for someone asked for a song that him and his wife had done at a wedding.

Yeah. And he sang it. And I literally dropped the mic.

I was like, wait, you said you don't sing. Hold on a minute. So now I feel like, yeah, he's stuck with that syndrome where, like, I convince you to play country.

Right. Right. Right.

So he's got a lot of bribery. Yes. Tips and money.

Right. Well, I think you're on your way. Yeah.

Appreciate it. You're doing pretty good. Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you so much. Yeah.

No, that was very. That was that was. Yeah.

Check him out. They're great. Hardy.

Yeah. He's a great writer. Yeah.

Good artist. OK. So I was looking at your website and stuff.

And you guys got a lot of gigs. Yes. Holy cow.

I have a problem with not saying no. No, I'm just kidding. Wow.

But I think like when we started with John, he's like, how busy will you keep me? And I was like, as busy as I can, cause I, you're a great musician and I want to be your partner. So I kept us busy, I think. Yeah, definitely.

I do have a little side project, but he's doing the church thing. So I was like, Hey, that's good. Are you guys predominantly around the South side? Pretty much.

Yeah. Unless we're doing a wedding or some bigger event. So, yeah.

Where are you going to be in about two weeks from now? Let some of these folks listening know. All right. This is where John's in charge.

I give him the dates and he puts them in. Let's see. All right.

When's this podcast come out? It'll be in two weeks. Okay. Yeah.

So pick a few two weeks from now. We got, um, wow. Okay.

So we, uh, we're going to play a girl in the park, um, April 22nd on a Saturday night. Um, that's an, yeah, pretty close. We're playing real close to my house the following week at a Jimmy O's in Frankfurt.

Uh, we play most Friday nights at a place in downtown Lamont called Digs on Canal. Oh yeah. Okay.

So that's a kind of our, yeah, most Fridays we're there. Um, there's probably a few others I'm missing right now. Yeah, we do Wednesday gigs, Thursday gigs.

We used to do Tuesdays. Right. Yeah.

But, uh, yeah. Tell everybody how, uh, they can find you because after they hear this and after they've heard you sing those, uh, those songs, I'm sure we're going to have some people that want to go on and see you. Sure.

Yeah. We're on Facebook, Instagram. We have a Twitter, but I never update it so I wouldn't even bother.

Also our phone number is plastered all over the internet. So you can also text and find out where we're at. Right.

Our website is, uh, graceandjohn.net. Yeah. We didn't, we didn't get.com. It was too expensive. We tried.

We tried our best. Yeah. It was like a thousand dollars compared to $2.

John J O H N, not just J O N. J O H N. Yeah. Graceandjohn.net. Yep. You guys want to take us out with one last one? You got it.

Yeah. Sure. What do you want to do? Where is it? Oh yeah, let's do it.

Okay. To waste your life on that guitar. Make it go.

You won't get far. You're not the first. Won't be the last.

You could tell us all about it. You come crawling back. Road to home.

Just winds and winds. Spinning your wheels. Wasting your time.

When the lights come up. I hear the band. Where they say we'd never be is exactly where I am.

Hear the crowd. I look around. Can't find one empty chair.

Not bad for a girl going nowhere. Beautiful song. Very nice.

Beautiful song. Well, thanks for coming out guys. It was great meeting with you.

Talking with you. Mike's not sick. That's great.

We're not using his mic, right? Speaking of mics. Thank you so much. That's such a great time.

I was really cold at the beginning, so it looked like I was nervous, but I was just cold. It can get chilly sometime in here. It can get chilly in this building.

Yes. And the sun went down. Yeah.

But no, thank you. This was so awesome. Yeah.

I appreciate you guys. And thanks for showing us around last time. Thanks a lot.

Thanks. All right. That was Grace and John, who we've been patiently waiting for, for a long time.

You know, and they were worth the wait. They were worth the wait. I knew they'd be worth the wait.

Spectacular. I mean, their own spin on some cover songs and fantastic harmonies and man, her voice. Yes.

And his voice. He can sing too. Yeah.

But apparently he couldn't at some point in time. Yeah. Might've been some kind of melody or something that he couldn't sing and she brought it out of him.

Yeah. I think she kind of beat on him a little bit. Yeah.

Yeah. Now he's singing. So, all right, everybody, make sure you get out there.

Check out Grace and John. They're all over the place. I checked out their schedule.

Literally, they are everywhere. If you're looking for somewhere, they're going to be somewhere for any Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Thursday. There's no more Tuesdays.

No more Tuesdays. Yeah. No more.

But they're out there, so go check them out. I know you're going to enjoy them. And until next week, we'll catch you later.

See you.