Eat the Brick

Ep 32 : 'Pieced Together' w/ Courtney Holder

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.

Ep.31 'Can't Compete with the Coif' w/ Lake Foster

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.

Ep 30 : 'We're not back'

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.

Ep 29 'Eight Gigs a Week'

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

Ep. 28 'Arsonists on Ice' w/Spencer Blake

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