Eat the Brick

Episode 42 'Glossy Grass' w/ Cuatro Cinco. We talk Chattanooga hip hop, Cuatro’s move from performing with a DJ to bringing out the full Gloss Family Band, and how that opened up a whole different world of gigs and audiences. He talks about supporting other Chattanooga hip hop artists, building the Glossy brand, the idea behind Stay Glossy, and bringing a positive balance into a negative world. We also get into where he sees himself fitting into the music world, where he wants to take his career next, and the big plans he has for the future. This one was a fun conversation. Cuatro’s building something, and it’ll be inspiring to see just how far it goes.

Surrender to the Flow with Maggie O’Connor, Part 2. In the second half of our conversation with Maggie O’Connor, we talk about Chattanooga’s music scene, local venues like Cherry Street Tavern and The Edge, and her work bringing people together through Third Place Productions. Maggie also takes us deep into her love of Phish — how she became a fan, what it’s like trying to bring your friends into the Phish world, and why one band can become such an important part of your life. We also hear about Maggie’s own complicated history as a musician. She talks about growing up learning to perform, the good and bad that came with it, and a difficult experience at 16 that ultimately took her off the stage. It’s a conversation about Chattanooga, live music, fandom, community, and the experiences that shape our relationship with music. Eat the Brick is hosted by Randy Steele

Episode 40: Surrender to the Flow with Maggie O’Connor – Part One Maggie O’Connor joins Randy for a conversation that ended up being too good and too long for one episode. In Part One, Maggie talks about moving from Atlanta to Chattanooga and eventually bringing the Porchfest concept with her. What began with Highland Park Porchfest grew through Third Place Productions into events including Southside Porchfest, Red Bank Porchfest, and other neighborhood festivals around Chattanooga. We get into how the first Porchfest came together, some of the hurdles she had to overcome, how the idea spread, and how putting bands on people’s front porches has helped neighbors, musicians, and music fans meet people they might otherwise never have known. Maggie also talks about Third Place Productions, TEDx Chattanooga, the artist residency program at 50/50 Wine Bar, and some of the other projects she has been involved with around the city. Toward the end of the episode, we begin talking about her newest role as Events Director for IBMA and how much has already happened in the short time she has been there. This is Part One of our two-part conversation with Maggie O’Connor. Part Two continues the story.

Mark Chester joins us for Episode 39, “Sixty-Eight.” Mark came up in the Atlanta music world and knew and played with both Col. Bruce Hampton and percussionist Count M’Butu. Mark brings us some great stories from those years — playing with the Col., the mythology and madness that always seemed to follow Bruce Hampton around, and memories of M’Butu and the Atlanta music scene they were all part of. We also spend a lot of time talking about something we don’t hear enough about: getting older as a musician without becoming finished with music. Mark talks about playing with younger musicians, continuing to learn, and why at this point in his life he’s having more fun playing music than he ever has. Funny stories, music history, Col. Bruce Hampton, Count M’Butu and a pretty great conversation about why you don’t have to age out of doing what you love. Episode 39 of Eat the Brick: “Sixty-Eight” with Mark Chester.

Eat the Brick – Episode 38: The Sand Bar with Mike Dougher Mike Dougher has been booking live music in Chattanooga for more than four decades, and on this episode we get into a whole lot of that history. We start with the early days at The Sand Bar and work our way through years of Chattanooga live music, including Mike’s time booking Rhythm & Brews and his work with Riverfront Nights. Along the way, Mike tells stories about Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews Band, Leftover Salmon, Medeski Martin & Wood, Derek Trucks, North Mississippi Allstars, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Hootie & the Blowfish, Reverend Horton Heat, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and a whole lot more. He even talks about a couple of shows he wishes he’d booked — including turning down The Dixie Chicks and The Mavericks. We also talk about the music business from a booker’s perspective: what musicians get wrong when they email venues, what catches a booker’s attention, and some of the lessons Mike has picked up after 40-plus years of putting bands on stages. We get into the decision to bring tribute bands to Riverfront Nights, why those shows work, and how they can help make room for Chattanooga’s original local music scene. If you remember The Sand Bar or Rhythm & Brews, grew up seeing live music in Chattanooga, or just want to hear some great stories from the road and the other side of the booking desk, this is a good one.

Joel is back from Alaska for the weekend, so we figured it was a good time to sit down, catch up and find out what he’s been up to. In Episode 37, South Point Higgins Beach, Joel talks about playing music in Alaska and what it’s like working as a musician in a place where so much of the economy revolves around tourism. We get into the good parts, the difficult parts, the shows he’s been playing and some of the things you learn when your job is providing live music for people who are traveling. We’ve both also spent a lot of time on the road lately, which gets us talking about touring, driving across the country, Kansas, heading west, and some of the differences between Western culture and life back home in the Southeast. It’s mostly a good old-fashioned Eat the Brick catch-up episode about playing music, traveling, touring and trying to make a life out of doing creative work. If you’re into bluegrass, jamgrass, Americana, jam bands, live music or the music scenes around Chattanooga, Nashville, Knoxville and Atlanta, this one’s for you. Especially if your playlists tend to wander somewhere between Billy Strings, the Grateful Dead, Phish and the rest of the bluegrass and jam-band world.

Bella Lam joins us for Episode 36 of Eat the Brick 'Clean Start' to talk about the path from local open mics to becoming one of the Southeast's fastest-rising country artists. We discuss how TikTok helped grow her audience, the transition from pop influences into country music, writing songs that feel more like journal entries than performances, and what it's like sharing the stage and the music business with family. Bella also talks about working with a vocal coach, navigating the early years of performing, balancing regional touring around Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, and North Georgia, and why being a positive role model for middle school girls has become one of the biggest motivations behind her music. It's a fun, honest conversation about finding your voice, building a career one show at a time, and staying grounded while things start moving in the right direction.  

This week we're joined by Chattanooga concert photographer Ryan Wildenberg of WildeSide Media, whose work has recently taken him from local venues to photographing artists like Primus, Les Claypool, Kendall Street Company, Little Feat, Eggy, and more. Ryan shares what really happens behind the camera at a live show—from band shot lists and shooting hundreds of photos every set to the importance of backup gear and building relationships with artists and venues. We also talk about how growing up on Frank Zappa led him into the jam band scene, his journey into concert photography, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories from life in the photo pit. Whether you're a musician, photographer, or just a fan of live music, this episode offers a fascinating look at the people working behind the scenes to capture the moments everyone else remembers.

Dan Pinson is back for Episode 34, and this time we break down the evolution of his live rig—from a basic looping setup into the performance system he uses today. We talk about the gear, the lessons learned, and how his setup has changed over the years. Naturally, we also wander into a conversation about Star Wars and a handful of other rabbit trails before finding our way back. It's another laid-back conversation about music, gear, and whatever else comes to mind.

Episode 33 of Eat the Brick is out now: "Gas Station Coffee." We recorded this one before Joel headed to Alaska, knowing we'd need a few episodes in the bank while he was gone. This week's conversation is mostly about life as a road musician—the routines, the miles, the realities, and everything that comes with trying to make music for a living. We also wander into some important topics like Joel's gas station coffee recipe, Skyline Chili, and why failure can sometimes be the best thing that happens to you. If you've ever wondered what touring really looks like behind the Instagram posts, give this one a listen. 🎧 Available now wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. #EatTheBrick #Podcast #RoadMusician #TourLife #Bluegrass #Americana #FolkMusic #Songwriter #Chattanooga #IndependentMusic #GasStationCoffee #BehindTheScenes

Episode 32 — Pieced Together | with Courtney Holder This week we're joined by Chattanooga singer-songwriter Courtney Holder for one of our favorite conversations yet. Courtney talks about what it's been like to spend more than a decade making music—starting as a young artist with a lot of attention, growing into adulthood, starting a family, and learning how to keep creating while life keeps changing around you. It's an honest conversation about ambition, parenthood, songwriting, local music, and what success looks like as an independent musician. The title Pieced Together comes from the episode itself. A perfect storm of technical issues forced us to rebuild the video version in a different order than originally recorded, but the audio you're hearing is exactly how the conversation happened. We had such a great time with Courtney that we're already planning to have her back for another episode. If you love Americana, bluegrass, folk music, songwriting, independent artists, or hearing honest conversations about making a life in music, we think you'll enjoy this one.

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.