Podcast
Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch
Hosted by Greg Koch · EN
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
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Amani Burnham On Building A Blues Rock Life Online
Apr 3001:02:12Tap to summarizeWe hang with guitar phenom Amani Burnham and trace his road from early influences and a drummer-first start to building a working band and releasing music with Blind Pig Records. We go full Hendrix-nerd on live takes, tone, and rhythm feel, then zoom out to what it takes to make real live guitar matter in an algorithm-heavy world.
Transcribe →Brett Papa on Building A Guitar Career Online
Apr 201:02:10Tap to summarizeWe sit down with Brett Papa to trace how a working guitarist turns teaching, tone chasing, and collaboration into a sustainable online career. We get real about touring life, the business side of YouTube, and why owning your audience can beat chasing the algorithm. FEAST!
Transcribe →From Jingles To Judd Apatow - Lyle Workman Talks Shop and Guitars
Mar 1901:00:53Tap to summarizeWe sit down with guitarist and composer Lyle Workman to trace the real-life path from Bay Area bands to major film soundtracks and global stages. We talk craft, money, gear, and the unlikely chain of moments that turns a working player into the go-to sound behind hit movies and tours. FEAST!
Transcribe →From Mississippi Bars To Rice University: Chapman Welch On Guitar, Grit, And Growth
Mar 501:05:43Tap to summarizeWe swap stories with Chapman Welch about building reactive music systems at Rice University and burning through Tele licks onstage. Chapman details his journey tracing a path from Mississippi studios and lessons with the almight Johnny Sandlin to slanging licks at bluegrass contests. We chat about Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan, compare jam-bands with the Allman Brothers, and talk about how to make art, make rent, and keep your right hand honest.FEAST
Transcribe →From Luthier’s Bench To Blazing Solos - Seth Lee Jones
Feb 1201:00:06Tap to summarizeWe trace how a wrecked Tele neck and a stack of MI lessons led Seth Lee Jones to a singular slide-and-bender voice, anchored by years at the repair bench. Tulsa’s lineage, reclaimed wood builds, factory reality, and the myth of “expensive equals better” all get a fearless airing. Come and feast!
Transcribe →From Shenandoah Roots To Nashville Stages: Mike Seal On Craft, Tone, And A Life In Music
Jan 2901:03:40Tap to summarizeA wide-ranging conversation with guitarist and composer Mike Seal on the making of his newest album, the craft of touring, and why human connection still matters for music. We swap road stories, gear notes, and honest takes on streaming, AI, and what it takes to last.Go pick up Mike’s new record, Danger Ranger, at MikeSealmusic.com
Transcribe →Tracii Guns on Sound, Survival, and Staying Power
Aug 1401:07:12Tap to summarizeTracii Guns of LA Guns joins Greg Koch for a refreshingly honest exploration of what makes rock and roll endure through decades of industry upheaval. Their conversation weaves through Tracii's musical awakening at age five—hearing Led Zeppelin's theremin breakdown in "Whole Lotta Love" from the backseat of a car—to building and maintaining LA Guns through countless lineup changes and industry shifts.With remarkable candor, Tracii takes us behind the scenes of his evolution as a guitarist, from his early days playing "Scorpion-style heavy metal with a little Jimmy Page thrown in" to his current approach. Guitar aficionados will delight in their deep dive into equipment - Tracii's journey from traditional JCM 800 Marshalls to embracing digital technology while maintaining his signature sound. "You keep changing stuff but you keep getting the same sound," his tech once observed.The pair unpack the mystique of legendary guitarists like Jimmy Page, revealing that greatness often comes from simplicity rather than complexity. "For all the magic that he is, he bought his main guitar for 500 bucks from Joe Walsh," Tracii notes, suggesting that true mastery comes from dedication to playing, not gear acquisition.Perhaps most valuable is Tracii's hard-earned wisdom about music industry survival: "You don't need a million people, you just need enough people to support you. You get 10,000 people buying everything you do, you're done." In an age of algorithm-chasing and viral fame, Tracii and Greg remind us that authentic connection through live performance remains the beating heart of rock and roll.Want to see these two legends join forces? Catch Tracii Guns and Greg Koch performing together at the Basement East on August 27th—a rare opportunity to witness their musical chemistry in person.
Transcribe →Dweezil Zappa
Jul 2401:19:16Tap to summarizeGreg Koch sits down with guitar virtuoso Dweezil Zappa for a fascinating deep dive into musical authenticity, technical mastery, and the challenge of preserving a legendary legacy. Their conversation reveals the extraordinary dedication required to perform Frank Zappa's intricate compositions, with Dweezil candidly sharing his 14-year journey to truly internalize his father's musical vocabulary.What begins as a discussion about guitar techniques evolves into profound insights about musical connection. Dweezil explains why, despite growing up as Frank Zappa's son, he initially gravitated toward more guitar-centric players, such as Eddie Van Halen, before tackling his father's complex work. He compares performing Frank's arrangements to an "orchestral mindset" where precision and teamwork are paramount, revealing that despite years of touring, he must essentially relearn most pieces before each performance.The conversation takes unexpected turns through musical philosophy, modern guitar culture, and the realities of today's music industry. Dweezil offers a valuable perspective for independent musicians, suggesting that cultivating meaningful relationships with a dedicated fanbase is far more sustainable than chasing mainstream success: "Instead of trying to get a dollar from a million people, what if you cultivated a relationship with 10,000 people who want to spend a hundred dollars every year?" Throughout their exchange, both guitarists reflect on finding balance between technical skill and emotional connection, agreeing that the ability to move an audience often transcends pure virtuosity.
Transcribe →Tom Bukovac
Jul 1701:41:50Tap to summarizeThere'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.
Transcribe →Tyler Bryant
Jul 1001:04:34Tap to summarizeTyler 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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