EPISODE 74 of Z-GR! Radio
February 20, 2026
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Slumming With the Saints – Call It A Draw
Baby Goats – Sing This Song
Los Angeles rock trio ‘The Baby Goats’ are on the show for the first time – apparently, they met through community and school connections just as the pandemic broke in 2022 and have been tearing things up onstage since. I’m glad that they’ve taken the time to record some stuff, and it sounds really good – ‘Sing This Song’ is off of their 2024 release ‘Two Shakes’.
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Wretched Pinhead Puppets – Rough Crowd
The Wretched Pinhead Puppets is Jimmy Holm, a seasoned composer, artist and jingle writer in Phoenix, Arizona – I’ve been a fan since I came across him in 2022, and he’s been on the show multiple times – but one of the best things about the Puppets is that you never know what you’re going to get, but it’s always great and ‘Rough Crowd’ is an excellent example.
Head Fake – I’m Found
Head Fake is a trio of at least Michael Baker and James Cole – they self describe as veteran 80’s performers/producers recapturing the spirit of New Wave. I had them on the show back on Episode 44 and I really have no good excuse for the long delay in bringing them back – I’m a big fan of 2020’s EP2, it’s worth checking out for sure – ‘I’m Found’ is a perfect example of why I like these guys.
Zero-G Racetrack – I Remember
We really don’t focus on ballads at Zero-G Racetrack, but ‘I Remember’ is about as close as we‘ve come. Not every relationship works out, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t great things about each one, so this song reflects on the idea that every relationship, regardless of how it ends, leaves you with positives that should be remembered moving forward.
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Ox – In The Sunshine
Scotland’s J.J. McGowan AKA OX is back with a new release – for his first single of 2026, ‘In the Sunshine’ JJ adds electronic organ and some nice brass to the groove, and I’m digging it – ‘In The Sunshine’ is awesome, JJ just keeps getting better and better and I’m definitely looking forward to whatever he’s bringing next.
Racing – Ooh Yeah
It’s been a minute since I’ve had Auckland- based Racing on the show but Episode 28’s ‘Ooh Yeah’ fits the lineup this week perfectly- for the uninitiated, Racing’s debut record ‘Real Dancing’ was nominated for Best Rock Artist at the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand and they continue to be one of my favorite Z-GR! Radio artists.
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Pennan Brae / Steve Ferrone – It Ain’t Perfect But It’s Free
Vancouver’s Pennan Brae is back on the show for a seventh time – he’s been releasing tracks featuring Tom Petty’s drummer Steve Ferrone lately and they sound great together. ‘It Ain’t Perfect But It’s Free’ brings the horns and a touch of piano to the mix and I’m not mad about it.
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Sulfurized Inhabitants of the Matchbook – Pull My Hair Out
I’ve been a fan of ‘Sulfurized Inhabitants of the Matchbook’ since I first heard them back in 2021 – I’d written them off for gone when they popped up with an album in 2024 – it was really good – and even more pleasantly surprised when their latest, ‘Where’s the Music Gone’ unceremoniously arrived in late January. It is also very, very good, and because I love to share great bands with people, ‘Pull My Hair Out’ is on the show this week. Check these guys out, they really are great.
Heyzues – Hey, Lucy
The UK’s Heyzues is a two-pice rock act made up of Jamie Andrew on vocals and guitars and Jessica Louise on drums – they’ve got a modern Grunge vibe about them, with Andrew bringing a fair comparison to Kurt Cobain. Jessica’s got some great percussive chops and the duo, who are living their best lives as a rock power couple, are well worth spending some time checking out..
Jorn – Killer Queen
This week’s cover is a track by one of my all-time favorites…the song was a breakthrough hit for Queen back in 1974, and is found on their ‘Sheer Heart Attack’ record – the song’s a tongue in cheek take on the life and style of a high-class callgirl…the song hit #2 in the UK and laid the foundations for the mid 70’s glam rock movement.
Working the cover is Norway’s Jorn Lande, who is one of the most respected voices in modern hard rock and power metal and is often compared to legends like Ronnie James Dio and David Coverdale. Now, I don’t know about all that, but I do know that this is a FANTASTIC cover of Queen’s seminal hit ‘Killer Queen’.
Emily Zuzik – Trouble
Emily Zuzik hit my radar back on Episode 44 on her joint with one of my favorite synthwave producers Fulvio Colasanto – What I didn’t know then is that she’s a standout blues rocker – she has a great voice and a very cool musical journey that’s worth reading through on her website. ‘Trouble’ sounds like it’s is straight out of a smokey bar somewhere, and I really dig it.
Mojo Juju – The Only High
Las Vegas rock band Mojo Juju built momentum through live grit and social media – they have a bunch of cool cover tracks including a really great cover of Heart’s Barracuda – look for that to hit show sooner or later – On 2025’s ‘The Only High’, vocalist Lea Maria Capelli does a great great shifting gears between a soft spoken tone in the verses and massive belting in the choruses – the entire band is really tight and really great.
Father of Peace – No Complaints
I was in a cigar lounge in Sacramento over Thanksgiving break when I first tripped over the social media onslaught that launched Father of Peace into the multi-million stream count – ‘No Complaints’ is catchy in a Fruciante Chili Pepper way, and the video snacks are a ton of fun and there’s a ton of them. It’s short, sweet, foul-mouthed and a perfect wrapup for this week’s show.
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