Eat the Brick

Episode 31 – Can't Compete with the Coif This week Randy sits down with Lake Foster, venue manager and talent buyer for Barrelhouse Ballroom, for a behind-the-scenes look at how one of Chattanooga's busiest music venues puts together its calendar. We talk about what catches his attention when booking bands, how he discovers new artists, why the venue has expanded into more hardcore and country shows, and what audiences can expect from the rest of the year's lineup. Along the way, we dive into the realities of live music, independent venues, and what makes a band stand out in today's scene. If you've ever wondered how booking actually works—or you're just interested in the Chattanooga music community—this is a fun conversation with one of the people helping shape it. New episodes of Eat the Brick every week featuring conversations about music, creativity, touring, songwriting, and the people behind the scenes who keep live music alive.

This was pre-recorded when the fellas knew they would be away.  We may say we're back but currently Joel is back in Alaska and Randy is somewhere in midwest America coming home from the Telluride Bluegrass Festival But for this ep, Joel had just gotten back from Alaska. Randy had just gotten back from an East Coast run with Nick Lutsko and the 100k Band. We sat down to talk about touring and mostly ended up talking about the ins and outs of life on the road and how it affects us. Money, burnout, relationships, long drives, great gigs, and the strange feeling of spending weeks trying to get home only to realize you may have left part of yourself out there. Episode 30: We're Not Back.

Episode 29: 8 Gigs a Week with Dan Pinson How many shows should a musician be playing? This week, Randy Steele sits down with Chattanooga musician Dan Pinson to talk about finding the right balance between performing, creating, and promoting. The conversation explores the realities of booking gigs, staying active on social media, overcoming the fear of self-promotion, and keeping momentum going as an independent artist. Dan also shares what he has coming up, thoughts on the Chattanooga music scene, and lessons learned from playing regularly around town. A candid conversation about music, motivation, and making it work as a working musician in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Eat the Brick is a podcast about music, creativity, culture, and the people building communities around them. 🎙️ Hosted by Randy Steele 📍 Chattanooga, Tennessee

Eat the Brick Podcast Episode 28: Arsonists on Ice with Spencer Blake This week, Randy Steele sits down one-on-one with musician, educator, and mentor Spencer Blake for a conversation about learning music, starting bands, and helping the next generation of musicians find their footing. Spencer shares stories from his first bands, what it was like learning music as a young player, and how those experiences led him to create a summer rock camp designed for musicians under 18. The camp goes far beyond learning songs—it teaches young musicians how to play with other people, work as a band, prepare for a live performance, and experience everything that goes into putting on a real show. If you're a musician, a parent, a music educator, or someone who remembers the excitement of starting your first band, this episode is packed with stories, lessons, and insight from someone passionate about growing the local music community. Topics include: • Spencer Blake's musical beginnings • First bands and early gigs • Learning to play with other musicians • Building confidence as a young performer • The importance of live music education • Summer Rock Camp for musicians under 18 • What it takes to prepare for a live show • Chattanooga music community Subscribe for more conversations about music, creativity, bluegrass, rock, songwriting, festivals, touring, and life in the Southeast. #EatTheBrick #SpencerBlake #ChattanoogaMusic #MusicEducation #RockCamp #Podcast #RandySteele #Songwriting #LiveMusic #MusicLessons

Episode 27 of the Eat the Brick podcast is here: Shawkra Pt 2 with Jakey Lutsko. This episode turned into something we honestly weren’t planning to release. This was supposed to be the 2nd part of Joel’s goodbye as he left for Alaska. We talked about what was happening and what Joel has coming up over the next few months. I really thought that what this episode would be but after the response to the clips and social media videos from Jakey last week and after getting a flood of messages, comments, and emails, we decided it was important to put everything on the table and clear the air. Bad news : Joel will be gone for a few months. Good news : we had already been pre-recording episodes for my upcoming touring schedule so we have a ton to get us through until he returns! In the second half of the episode, Jakey Lutsko joins the conversation as Joel and Randy talk openly about his massive head wound and how he needs to get it check out. Jakey goes on multiple weird rampages about obvious falsehoods and Joel inexplicably follows him right down the rabbit hole. This is also part of Joel’s final run of episodes before heading to Alaska, making this one feel especially raw, reflective, and honest. If you like gaping head wounds, conspiracy theories about nothing in particular, or if you’ve been following the Eat the Brick podcast, the Chattanooga music scene, southeastern jam culture, bluegrass, Americana, folk music, or independent artists trying to navigate creative life, this episode is for you. 🎙️ Eat the Brick Podcast 📍 Chattanooga, Tennessee 🎶 Music • Conversation • Culture • Storytelling #EatTheBrick #Chattanooga #Podcast #AmericanaMusic #Bluegrass

Episode 26 of Eat the Brick Podcast — “Shawkra” (Part 1)   Joel and Randy explore the connections between music, rivers, creativity, and culture in this wide-ranging conversation centered around Joel’s ambient music project inspired by the chakras of the body.   The episode dives deep into the influence of the Ocoee River on Chattanooga and the Southeast — from rafting and kayaking culture to the musicians, artists, and wandering personalities that have helped shape the region’s creative identity.   They talk about how rivers influence rhythm, community, and musical journeys, while also touching on jam bands, bluegrass, folk traditions, Appalachian culture, and ambient composition.   Joel also discusses his upcoming temporary move to Alaska and what that season of life means creatively, though plenty more episodes featuring Joel are still on the way.   A conversation about sound, movement, nature, and the Southeast.

On episode 25 of Joel and Randy Eat the Brick, we sit down with special guest Austin Otis, mayor of Ketchikan, Alaska, to talk about small towns, local politics, music scenes, and what life is really like in southeast Alaska as Joel gets ready to spend a few months living there. We get into Chattanooga culture, Tennessee music communities, road stories, local food, bluegrass and Americana scenes, and the differences between life in Alaska and the Southeast. If you’re into podcasts about music, local culture, live events, small-town stories, or just hearing good conversation between friends, this one’s for you. Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Joel and Randy Eat the Brick covers music, food, touring, live shows, and the people that make local communities interesting. If you’re watching from Chattanooga, Cleveland, Athens, Knoxville, Dalton, North Georgia, or anywhere nearby, make sure to subscribe and leave a comment.

Episode 24 of Joel & Randy Eat the Brick features Mike Monen from Barrelhouse Ballroom. Mike joins the show to talk about the vision behind Barrelhouse Ballroom, what it’s really like opening and running a live music venue, and the challenges that come with trying to build something meaningful for Chattanooga’s music community. Along the way, we get into pizza, jam bands, bluegrass, touring culture, and some hilarious Phish stories from years of going to shows. If you’re into live music, local venues, jam bands, bluegrass, Americana, or Chattanooga culture, this episode’s for you.