Eat the Brick

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.

East Coast Tour Stories (Part 2) | Eat the Brick Podcast w/ Nick Lutsko In this episode of the Eat the Brick Podcast, Randy sits down with songwriter, philosopher, and touring artist Nick Lutsko to break down his recent East Coast tour. Nick is now a multiple award-winning commercial songwriter with a growing reputation as a unique voice in independent music and comedy. After wrapping a run of shows up and down the East Coast, joined by Randy, the conversation dives into what really happens on the road, well not everything but a lot! This is Part 2 of a two-part series covering the full east coast tour. Nick Lutsko and the 100k Band’s West coast Tour begins in July, you can keep up with him at www.nicklutsko.com

2026 Lutsko Dates 5/30 - Gainesville, FL 7/9- San Diego, CA 7/10 - Hollywood, CA 7/11 - Berkeley, CA 7/12 - Felton, CA 7/14 - Sacramento, CA 7/16 - Bend, OR 7/17 - Seattle, WA 7/18 - Portland, OR If you’re into songwriting, touring life, indie artists, or the behind-the-scenes reality of live music, Eat The Brick is for you.

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of the Eat the Brick Podcast.

East Coast Tour Stories (Part 1) | Eat the Brick Podcast w/ Nick Lutsko

 

Description:

In this episode of the Eat the Brick Podcast, Randy sits down with songwriter and touring artist Nick Lutsko to break down his recent East Coast tour.

 

Nick is now a multiple award-winning commercial songwriter with a growing reputation as a unique voice in independent music and comedy. After wrapping a run of shows up and down the East Coast, joined by Randy, the conversation dives into what really happens on the road: the highs, the crowds, and the moments you don’t see on stage.

 

This is Part 1 of a two-part series covering the full east coast tour.

 

Nick Lutsko and the 100k Band’s West coast Tour begins in July, you can keep up with him at www.nicklutsko.com

 

2026 Lutsko Dates

5/30 - Gainesville, FL

7/9- San Diego, CA

7/10 - Hollywood, CA

7/11 - Berkeley, CA

7/12 - Felton, CA

7/14 - Sacramento, CA

7/16 - Bend, OR

7/17 - Seattle, WA

7/18 - Portland, OR

 

 

If you’re into songwriting, touring life, indie artists, or the behind-the-scenes reality of live music, Eat The Brick is for you.

 

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of the Eat the Brick Podcast.

This was a pretty fun day, we’d recorded a Podcast with Tyler earlier in the day and then he came along with Joel and I as we did an Interview

 

What’s it like to go from the local scene to playing packed rooms with one of the fastest-rising indie bands?

 

On this episode of Eat the Brick, we sit down with guitarist Tyler Martelli, who’s been on the road with Monrovia as their momentum has exploded over the last two years.

 

Tyler shares what it’s really like behind the scenes—touring, leveling up as a musician, and playing bigger stages night after night. We get into the growth of Monrovia, what separates bands that make it from those that don’t, and how the grind of the road shapes you as a player.

 

If you’re a fan of jam bands, indie rock, bluegrass, or the Chattanooga music scene, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it takes to break through—and what happens after you do.

 

🎧 Whether you’re here for insider info on Monrovia, discovering new music podcasts, or just love hearing real stories from working musicians, you’re in the right place.

 

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with artists, musicians, and scene builders

👉 Drop a comment if you’ve seen Monrovia live or caught Tyler on the road