Tom Bukovac: Strings, Stages, and Psychotic Bengal Cats
There's something uniquely captivating about listening to two master musicians simply talk shop. When Nashville session legend Tom Bukovac (affectionately known as "Uncle Larry") sits down with Greg Koch for this episode of Chewing the Gristle, their conversation unfolds like a masterclass.Bukovac pulls back the curtain on the Nashville session scene with refreshing candor. "It doesn't matter if you're playing for a barely signed new artist or Paul McCartney," he explains. "A sideman gig is a sideman gig. The only thing that changes is the dough and the prestige." This hard-earned wisdom comes from decades navigating an industry that demands technical perfection, psychological resilience, and emotional intelligence.The episode weaves through fascinating territory – from Bukovac's journey giving himself just one year to make it in Nashville (spoiler: he was on a tour bus within months), to the psychological challenges of session work. "I've been on sessions when people hated everything I played," he admits. "I remember coming home from sessions crying because I felt like such a failure." Yet this vulnerability transformed into strength, creating an iron-clad professional who now plays alongside artists like Vince Gill.Guitar enthusiasts will appreciate their deep dive into vintage instruments, including Bukovac's prized 1957 Gibson Les Paul Junior. Their shared language of influences – from Hendrix to Albert King to Jerry Reed – reveals how deeply personal guitar playing remains despite its technical dimensions.Perhaps most illuminating is Bukovac's perspective on what truly matters in music: "These are people's dreams you're working on. This is not just a session." That blend of technical mastery and emotional intelligence perfectly captures why some musicians remain eternally in demand.Whether you're a working musician or simply love peeking behind the curtain of the music industry, this conversation delivers honest insights you won't find in guitar magazines or music documentaries. Subscribe now for more unfiltered conversations from the heart of American music.
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Tyler Bryant
Tyler Bryant's musical journey embodies the purest essence of artistic dedication. From the moment he left his tiny Texas town of 1,700 people at age 17, armed with nothing but talent and determination, his singular focus has been creating authentic music that resonates. That unwavering commitment has evolved into a Grammy-winning career spanning performance, songwriting, and production.What strikes you immediately about Bryant is his refreshing perspective on success. Where once it meant packed venues and non-stop touring, he's found deeper fulfillment in creating meaningful music while maintaining balance. His current rhythm of 50-70 shows yearly complemented by studio work represents not a compromise but an evolution—one allowing him to truly savor each creative moment.Bryant's production philosophy is equally enlightening. Rather than imposing his vision, he describes himself as "a professional appreciator" who helps artists recognize their most magical moments. "Hold on, do you realize when you do this, that's super badass? I have goosebumps," he explains. This approach has led to collaborations with artists ranging from Ruthie Foster to Rodney Crowell, culminating in Grammy recognition that Bryant humbly downplays, insisting "the work is the reward."The conversation reveals a musician who's grown not just in skill but wisdom. From building a professional studio from scratch to recovering his beloved pink Stratocaster five years after it was stolen, Bryant approaches each experience with both passion and perspective. Now preparing for fatherhood with a baby due in August, he's entering yet another creative chapter—one where music and family harmonize completely. As he puts it, success today means "getting to make cool music as much as I possibly can and provide for my family." For anyone navigating their own creative path, Tyler Bryant offers the perfect reminder that authentic art happens when you follow what truly moves you.
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Joe Bonamassa Returns
Guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa returns to Chewing the Gristle, bringing his characteristic wit and wisdom as he prepares for an ambitious European tour season. This conversation between two master guitarists reveals the realities of sustaining a music career with both artistic integrity and business savvy.Bonamassa takes us behind the scenes of his upcoming three-month European adventure, which includes solo performances, a Black Country Communion reunion after 14 years, and a special tribute to blues legend Rory Gallagher. The logistics are fascinating – he maintains duplicate touring rigs for Europe and America, a practical response to shipping costs that have nearly tripled since the pandemic.The highlight comes when Bonamassa shares treasures from his 1,200+ instrument collection, including his beloved "Principal Skinner" 1959 Les Paul. Rather than treating these vintage pieces as museum exhibits, he plays them regularly, embracing each new ding and scratch as part of their continuing story. "They're not out here to be preserved," he explains, challenging the collector mentality that prioritizes value over music-making.What truly distinguishes this episode is Bonamassa's candid assessment of music business realities. After discovering early in his career that middlemen were taking substantial portions of his performance fees, he developed a direct-to-consumer approach that has sustained his career. "My motto is I don't need millions, I just need enough," he shares, articulating a philosophy that values artistic fulfillment over commercial peaks.For aspiring musicians, Bonamassa offers both sobering and inspiring advice: "You have to love this thing so much that you're willing to take a vow of poverty, still be happy, and can't live with yourself if you don't play." It's this unwavering passion, combined with business acumen, that has enabled his enduring career in the often unforgiving music industry.Ready to hear more wisdom from one of blues rock's most successful independent artists? Subscribe now and journey through the musical landscape with Joe Bonamassa and your host, Greg Koch.
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Ben Eller
Greg Koch welcomes YouTube guitar sensation and touring musician Ben Eller (Uncle Ben) to the Gristle fire for a conversation that meanders from lighthearted Waffle House tales to profound insights about musical authenticity.Ben shares how his guitar journey and popular YouTube channel were born from simple boredom - first as a homeschooled kid with time to kill, later as a guitar teacher with creative energy to burn. His candid "This is Why You Suck at Guitar" series emerged from the thoughts he couldn't express to frustrating students who never practiced. That unfiltered honesty resonated with viewers, launching an Internet teaching career that complements his diverse performing life.The conversation takes a fascinating turn when they explore how our earliest musical influences create the foundation for our tastes. From Ben's childhood memories of Van Halen's "Eruption" to Greg's transformative experience with Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland," they agree that understanding "where your clock starts" is essential to respecting diverse musical perspectives.Perhaps most compelling is their mutual admiration for guitarists who communicate mastery without technical flash. "The hardest thing in the world," Ben notes, "is proving you're a supreme sorcerer without even breaching 16th notes" - a pointed commentary on today's "Instagram shred post era" where technical fireworks often overshadow musical substance.Ben offers golden wisdom for creators navigating online criticism: "Don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from." His ability to maintain positivity while acknowledging the gifts and challenges of internet fame reveals why his teaching connects so deeply.The episode concludes with Ben sharing exciting upcoming projects, including a riff-focused solo album, potential metal ventures inspired by his recent stint with Mastodon, and comprehensive instructional courses revealing his "hidden Guitar Illuminati wisdom."Â Ready to chew some genuine musical gristle with two authentic guitar voices? This conversation delivers wisdom, laughs, and inspiration in equal measure.
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Mike Irish
What happens when two guitar virtuosos reunite after years apart? Greg Koch welcomes his former mentor Mike Irish to Chewing the Gristle for a masterclass in musical wisdom that spans far beyond technique.Mike Irish, who taught at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point when Greg was a student, shares his refreshingly inclusive teaching philosophy that embraced students' existing musical interests instead of forcing them into traditional jazz molds. "I really had no desire to make more Joe Passes and Pat Martinos," Irish explains. "I just wanted to take the talent that was there and nudge them in directions they might be interested in." This approach proved transformative for many students, including Koch, who found validation for his genre-blending musical vision.The conversation explores the practical realities of sustaining a music career through what Howard Roberts called "industrial guitar" – the bread-and-butter gigs that keep musicians afloat. Both men share stories from their journeys, from Irish's innovative approach to building jazz programs by focusing on small combos rather than big bands, to Koch's revelation about the creative and financial benefits of mastering solo guitar performance.With warmth and humor, they discuss their musical influences, from Chet Atkins to James Brown, and reflect on how technology has transformed music education. "There's really no reason to suck at this point," Koch quips about the wealth of instructional content available online today – though both agree that motivation and thousands of practice hours remain irreplaceable.Whether you're a guitarist, music educator, or simply appreciate heartfelt conversations between passionate creators, this episode offers insights into not just how to play, but how to build a sustainable, joyful musical life. Drop in on this reunion between two masters and hear how their musical paths have woven together across decades.
Listen in on Greg Koch's conversations with his guitar-hero friends. Every episode Greg unleashes his fiendish humor and unique perspective as "one of the most famous unknown guitar players in the world", asking his often-famous musical friends the questions that we all want to know the answers to! Each episode is brought to you by Fishman and Wildwood Guitars
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