There’s always a buzz around The SoCal Sound studios on days when we host a SoCal Sound Session, however when Jack Johnson came onto our calendar you could grip the excitement from the air! To make it even more exciting, Johnson was joined by his long time collaborator and friend G. Love, and recent collaborators, Hermanos Gutiérrez. To make it even even more exciting, we decided it should be LIVE ON-AIR, because this is history in the making!
At the core of the visit was something brand new: the debut of the Jack Johnson/Hermanos Gutiérrez collaboration single “Hold On To The Light”, written for his upcoming SURFILMUSIC documentary.
A Reunion 22 Years in the Making
Host Nic Harcourt opened the broadcast with a moment of shock—realizing it had been 22 years since he last saw Jack Johnson face to face. Their on-air reunion moved quickly from nostalgia into admiration, with Jack joking that Nic must have “a Dorian Gray picture hidden somewhere,” and Nic returning the compliment.
From the first exchange, this session felt less like a radio show and more like a gathering of old friends reconnecting right where they left off.
The Power Trio: Jack Johnson, Hermanos Gutiérrez & G. Love
Jack arrived not alone, but with a brand-new collaborative “power group,” as he joked:
- Esteban & Alejandro Gutiérrez — the Swiss-Ecuadorian guitar duo known for their atmospheric, reverb-drenched sound
- G. Love (Garrett Dutton) — Jack’s longtime friend who helped usher him into the music world in the early 2000s
The dynamic was instant and alive. Jack shared that the group had only just begun playing together the day before the session, yet the chemistry made it feel like years.
And for longtime SoCal Sound listeners, this was especially meaningful — because Hermanos Gutiérrez last visited our studios in 2022. [watch Hermanos Gutiérrez with Byon Gonazlez in 2022 here] Seeing them return to collaborate with one of their childhood heroes was nothing short of full-circle magic.
And even longer-time SoCal Sound listeners might remember G. Love’s visit in very early 2016. [listen to G. Love session from 2016 here]
Beyond the Music: The Surg Connection Behind “Hold On To The Light”
This whole visit centers around the new single, “Hold On To The Light,” created for the upcoming documentary SURFILMUSIC.
The film revisits Jack’s early surf films—Thicker Than Water and September Sessions—which helped launch his musical career. As Jack sifted through years of archival footage, he also revisited memories of his close friend, the late Tamayo Perry, whose presence in the old surf films shaped the song’s heartfelt lyrics.
What began as a guitar sketch sent by Alejandro evolved into a deeply personal piece—one that Jack quietly wrote lyrics to, recorded “phone-memo style,” and then turned into a full song with the Gutiérrez brothers.
Part of this documentary will include footage from Thicker Than Water and September Sessions, restored from the original 16mm film, transferred into 4k resolution. For Johnson, this is the birthplace of many of the songs that defined his earliest albums, revisiting them was a chance to rediscover not only the footage, but memories, friends, and part of the creative spark that set everything in motion.
A Live On-Air Moment to Remember: “Hold On To The Light”
The session closed with the first-ever live performance of “Hold On To The Light,” with Hermanos Gutiérrez’s intertwined guitar lines and G. Love’s harmonica filling the studio with a warm, hopeful glow. Jack described it as a song meant to be played “with whoever’s around,” and that spirit was tangible in this intimate performance.
It was the kind of session The SoCal Sound exists for — a moment of creativity made from history, friendship, and the shared love of making something that didn’t exist before.
As the song wrapped up, Estavan Gutiérrez held out his point and shoot film camera and snapped a flash photo of everyone playing this session, printing this moment to save in history.
This session also included performances of Rodeo Clowns, Hermanos Guitiérrez's Cerca De Ti, and Johnson's #1 Sitting, Waiting, Wishing.
The 2025 Tour: 43 Dates and a Hollywood Bowl Double-Header
Looking ahead, Jack Johnson is gearing up for a massive 43-date tour beginning in June 2026. The run includes a two-night return to the Hollywood Bowl in October, with Hermanos Gutiérrez joining the shows and G. Love appearing on select dates across the east and west coasts.
The collaborative spirit from this on-air session is only just beginning — and fans can expect more shared songs, improvised moments, and perhaps even a Hermanos Gutiérrez x Jack Johnson record, which all three artists openly hinted at during the broadcast.
“Hold On To The Light” is released on Brushfire Records and able to be streamed everywhere music is found. For more info on the SURFILMUSIC documentary and tour visit: https://jackjohnsonmusic.com/
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- · Filmed & Edited & Photographed by Matt Blake
- · Audio by Tristan Dolce
- · Host: Nic Harcourt
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