S2E31: Musician Joe Bagale

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

It's kinda fitting that this is the 80th episode overall for this podcast (49 in Season 1; 31 and counting in this current season, Season 2). Through all but one episode so far*, the intro and outro music has been by the subject of this episode.

Joe Bagale moved to San Francisco from New York State in 2003. In Part 1, Joe talks about his life back east, which centered heavily around music. He tells the story of his first band, first show, first time to get paid to play music, and so much more. The podcast ends with Joe's truly unusual premise for moving here.

We're not quite sure how Joe keeps up with all the music he's created or been part of performing or recording. In Part 2, he takes us through his journey after arriving in San Francisco back in 2003. It involves several living situations with in-house studios, his first visit to the Boom Boom Room, a serendipitous date, playing and touring with Mickey Hart, joining Jazz Mafia, and eventually, creating his alter ego--Otis McDonald. Otis's music has been in this podcast since we launched two years ago.

Look for Joe's new record, People Music, coming out this fall.

* Season 1, Ep. 24's Brian Belknap; Season 1, Ep. 11's Lavay Smith and Chris Siebert

We recorded this podcast in Studio D at Hyde Street Studios in June 2019.