Tom Bukovac

There'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.