September 13th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 164, Tom Bukovac, “With Synchronized Tremolo”

Chapters
00:00 - Boogeying some old school guitar
04:28 - Rollin' Rock slide / Hello, class!
05:18 - Duggie Brown's Jazzmaster
05:43 - Vince Gill backup / Sting / Guitar journey meeting people
07:40 - Chris Stapleton / Earthquaker Dispatch Master
08:40 - Jaco Pastorius
09:20 - Lesson: Appropriate fingering
12:04 - Lesson: Silly, hard lick to use all 4 fingers
14:07 - Lesson: "Tempest Fugit" lick
16:00 - Lesson: Taking apart chords for different voicings
16:50 - Kentucky Thunder Bluegrass bad asses / Bluegrass solos vs Rock
19:23 - Brian Sutton lessons / Holding your body correctly
20:15 - Banjo, tempo, and effortless playing
21:50 - Guitar video jam


Notes
Little Tommy discusses proper fretboard fingering after a nice fall haircut….the little clip at the end is from the rehearsal yesterday when we were learning Sting’s tune that he was singing on the show.

Thanks for watching my little stream of consciousness rants people.

September 13th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus…”The Grass Is Always Bluer On The Other Side”

Chapters
00:00 - Kentucky Thunder warming up some fierce Bluegrass Country


Notes
I played a crazy gig tonite kids….a tv show honoring Vince Gill called “Giants” on CMT network….it’s supposed to air on sept 16.

I was in the house band playing behind some real bad asses….like Sting, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris, Carrie Underwood and many others…got to see a lot of cool people and re-connect with some dear old friends.

One of my very favorite parts of the whole gig was the fact that our band dressing room was right next to the Ricky Skaggs's band Kentucky Thunder's room, and we got to hear them warming up before the show….and they were kind enough to let me film a taste of it. i was quite surprised and honored to hear that a couple of the fellas are Homeskoolers.

Sweet guys and an absolutely INCREDIBLE sounding group of musicians….i sometimes try to imagine what it would be like to pick a banjo like this…must be a whole lotta fun

Personnel:
Jake Workman: acoustic guitar
Russ Carson: banjo
Gavin Kelso: upright bass
Mike Rogers; rhythm guitar
Dennis Parker: arch top guitar
Luke Bulla: fiddle

September 12th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 163, Tom Bukovac, “Charcuterie & Crudite Blues”

Chapters
00:00 - Raw pickin' and chuggin' intro
03:40 - Hello, class! / Being back home / Upcoming gigs and musicians
06:00 - Jim Irsay private plane and hotel
09:10 - Danny Nucci
10:00 - Buddy Guy encounter
12:08 - Harmony Silvertone Jupiter / h47 Stratotone guitar (1423)
15:00 - Lesson: Nastiest G Minor 6th chord (Bluesy Pentatonic)


Notes
A brief discussion on how once you fly private one time, you’re basically ruined for life. And….a look at how nasty a minor 6th can be.

September 12th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “The Choogler”

Chapters
00:00 - The work that goes into a show


Notes
I’ve got hours of this crazy rehearsal shit on my phone….there are some gems hidden within i ain’t gonna lie.

September 9th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Delta Titanic”

Chapters
00:00 - Billy Branch
00:54 - Danny Nucci


Notes
Billy Branch….he does two things, he drinks wine and he kicks ass on the harp…my kinda man.

Danny Nucci….very clean fella…sharp corners….with an absolute lovely warm spirit…and funny as hell….also my kinda man.

September 9th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Life Is Surreal Pt . 211”

Chapters
00:00 - Rehearsal for show


Notes
Just when i thought things couldn’t get any weirder…now there are dancers!!

See y’all tomorrow at Lucas Oil Field in Indy for the big Jimmy Irsay exhibition gig. 60,000 plus tickets already spoken for…

Should be crazy

Starring….
Mikey Mills
Kenny Wayne Sheperd
Jimmy Irsay
John Hiatt
Ann Wilson
Mike Wanchic
Buddy Guy
Kenny Aronoff
Billy Branch
Carmella Ramsey
Danny Nucci
Michael Ramos

Ebo
The singers
The dancers

September 6th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus Jam “75 Out The Door”

Chapters
00:00 - Awesome groovy jam


Notes
Your old buddy Larry got a little bit lucky in a pawn shop down on Charlotte Pike the other day…he happened to notice this sweet old early 70’s Alvarez Model 5001 just hangin there on the wall lookin’ all pretty…

He was smitten by the golden glow that emanated from it …and he couldn't help but notice how effortlessly it seemed to outclass all the ice cold pointy headstock neighbors that surrounded it

Well he picked it up, and sure enough, just as he suspected, it played and sounded every bit as cool as it looked….nice low action and more saddle than a man could ever need… apparently they had just put the thing out the fella said…

Well, ol’ Larry walked out with it for 75 bucks tax and all…WITH a gig bag

September 6th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 162, Tom Bukovac, “You Guys In A Band??”

Chapters
00:00 - Beautiful playing
01:43 - Hello, lads and lasses / Back home / Thanks
02:29 - Acoustic guitar Martin D-28
03:00 - Maton acoustic guitar
04:45 - Amazing Dawgs, bandmates, and being in a band
08:40 - Gambling / Spam and YouTube filters
09:54 - Bonus footage


Notes
Television's own Uncle Larry, absolutely exuberant about finally being home and being reunited with his trusty old '38 bone…waxes rhapsodic about that one thing we have ALL thought about since we were little kids….what it's like to really be in a band.

(and now, shift to "first person")

Now that touring is finally calming down and fall is on the way (praise God) it's time to put some focus on some projects that i started on a while back, such as this little instrumental EP that dear Guthrie Trapp and myself are putting together…it's so much fun.....here’s a little snippet from one of the three tracks we already have "in the can"....gonna go back in soon and do some more.

Also, I couldn’t help but add in a few other crazy things at the end of this vid...a dumb meme that cracks me up... " I AM THE JUAN PERCENT"....oh and my alltime favorite thing that my sweet little boy Leo ever drew for his dear old dad….a totally random partial list he made at school one day of some of our favorite songs we like to jam in the car…precious keepsake.

"you got another thing comin"
"black sabbath"
"hot rod lincoln"
"iron man"
"rock and roll music"
"yellow submarine"
"starship trooper"
"hard day's nite"
"breakin' the law"
"don't stand so close to me"
"behind my camel" (instrumental by the police off zenyatta mondatta)
and one more i could never read

Thanks again for supporting the channel folks….i am doing everything legally allowed to show you guys whatever i can…absolutely free of charge of course. Why am i doing it? Because music has been really good to me in this life, and i feel like it’s the right thing to do to give it all back to a bunch of total strangers...

i hope you guys know how much i sincerely appreciate the little community we have built here …. ya’ know, except for a few kids in the back of the room that get a little too excited at times (like Brock Thomas....man what a tool) we got something very real going here….i for one do not take it for granted.

Rock on cats

September 4th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Dust Storm”

Chapters
00:00 - Soundcheck


Notes
As a wild rain and dust storm rolls in right before our gig tonite in Laughlin NV…you get a little slice of the usual backstage/soundcheck madness that accompanies the Amazing Dawgs gigs.

Dear Rob Olsen of Maton guitars was kind enough to furnish us with this lovely Maton Messiah acoustic guitar to use on this tour….definitely a step up from what we WERE doing….the pickup sounds wonderful.

More than anything, this captures the gigantic soul of our dear band photographer Criss Cain, who is kind enough to stand in for Ann and sing for her at soundchecks….one of the coolest, most genuine people i have ever known.

September 4th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Desert Vignette”

Chapters
00:00 - Montage of pics from tour


Notes
Today is one of those days…you know the ones…those days when you question your entire existence? Take me home….country roads….to the place….i belong….

September 2nd, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus Jam “Pioneer Square Dance”

Chapters
00:00 - Nice, deep rooted  playing


Notes
Cooked this little thing up for you guys in about 45 minutes today and was lucky to actually play it right.

Had a good time checkin out the shops in Seattle yesterday….spirits were high…so were prices.

All i found worth having shipped home was a half functioning 60s ampeg super echo twin like frampton used to use…but had a blast riding the light rail and lookin around.
Nice folks

September 1st, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Pike’s Peak”

Chapters
00:00 - Deep melodic plucking
02:08 - Hello, class! / Seattle hello
02:44 - Coasta Mesa, CA show / Pat Benatar & Neil Geraldo (Timeless Guitars)
03:50 - BC Rich Eagle / Neil brings guitar out
04:39 - Puyallop, WA show
05:18 - Lesson: Chord voicing concept


Notes
Larry….he just woke up in a weird hotel…but thank The Lord he’s got his cheapo martin to plunk on….

August 30th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus Jam “OK Card Pt. 2”

Chapters
00:00 - 1962 Gretsch playing


Notes
A brief foray on a cadillac green 62 country club….complete with some phantom bigsby.

PayPal tip jar is tombukovac@gmail.com
Venmo tip jar is @Tom-Bukovac-1

August 29th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Monday Night Cool Lyrics Party”

Chapters
00:00 - Ian Hunter - Irene Wilde
04:38 - Hello, class! / Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Irene Wilde discussion
05:32 - Lesson: Mick Ronson licks
06:41 - Lesson: B-section
07:06 - Lesson: Bridge
07:55 - Lesson: Solo appreciation


Notes
A look at one of my alltime favorite tunes. “Irene Wilde” by Ian Hunter off the 1980 live album “Welcome To The Club” featuring the genius lyrics of Ian Hunter and the absolutely perfect guitar playing of Mick Ronson.

If this video gets pulled for copyright reasons i totally get it…my only intentions are to turn you Homeskoolers on to a cool old song they may not have heard. "When I was just sixteen - I stood waiting for a dream - At barker street bus station every night When I tried to get it on - she just looked at me with scorn - my courage Turned to fear and I took flight

For those looks they seemed to say You ain't nuthin' - go away You're just some face in some crowd so I walked home and I vowed I'm gonna be somebody - someday

Her name was irene wilde - oh such beauty for a child When she started dating boys - I nearly died For I could not barely stand seeing anyone hold her hand I though I had to crawl away and hide In my mother's Sunday room I composed so many tunes They were all the same - just a frame - for her name, and just to say I'm gonna be somebody - someday

Wild as your name I soon left that country town I been around, I've seen some fame, seen some ups and I seen some downs Smile through your shock as you hear your name out loud It's that face in the crowd - i didn't dig it - i'm much too proud...

When I was just sixteen I stood waiting for a dream A barker street bus station non affair At the time it seemed so sad, but it didn't turn out bad If she hadn't turned me down I'd still be there You know I think most folks agree, a little put-down makes them see They ain't no chain - they're just a link and that's why she made me think I'm gonna be somebody - be somebody - be somebody - someday"

August 26th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “How To Put A String On A Guitar”

Chapters
00:00 - How to string a guitar


Notes
Well kids, i said i was done with all this horseshit, but then THIS comment came in on the “boys in the back room” video.

“Show us how it’s done then. Lots of talk no walk”

Ok f**kface here ya go…

August 26th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 161, Tom Bukovac, “Rainbow Blues”

Chapters
00:00 - Song playthrough
03:25 - Hello, class! / Uncle Larry
04:00 - VCB (Viewer Comment Bin) / Thanks
05:15 - James Honeyman Scott & episode
06:02 - "Good tone is heavy and hard to carry."  -Tom Bukovac (Amps)
06:24 - Stringing guitar
07:29 - What was your first pedal? DOD Flanger
08:01 - Chrissy Hines and James Honeyman Scott appreciation
08:25 - Any advice? Don't end up in jail or killing yourself, you're good
09:30 - Steve Hackett - The Battle of Epping Forest (echo)
12:05 - Pet peeves / Gruhn's Guitars / Original guitars (Beato & Rhett)


Notes
This one goes out to one of the baddest motherfuckers that ever roamed this earth….Joey D

RIP brother

and...the echo guitar that kicks in at :51 on this....come on man
https://youtu.be/S3V2Ctw3XNU

and....if i ever heard a pedal that can create the effect that happens at 3:16 of my pitiful video today when both guitars play the same thing. that would be cool

August 25th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “The Boys In The Back Room”

Chapters
00:00 - Locking strings...just don't


Notes
Hey kids…the whole “right way to put strings on a guitar” thing has been a hot topic of debate on the Homeskoolin’ channel.

I thought i would run it by the boys in the back room of the repair department of the most venerable, respected vintage guitar shop in North America…Gruhn Guitars in Nashville tn….here's what they said…thought you guys might find it interesting. starring....

1) Greg Voros
2) Tony Nagy
3) Lin Crowson

August 24th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Bridge Over Troubled Junior” (Music City Bridge Stud Finder)

Chapters
00:00 - Intro and basic install of new bridge
15:53 - Intonating the new bridge
22:39 - Demonstation of what the old original bridge sounded like for comparison


Notes
Ok guys, this video could conceivably be extremely boring to some "casual viewers", so it comes with a warning.

Unless you are interested in a 23 minute video of what a DRASTIC improvement swapping out the original bridge of an old 50s Les Paul Junior with a new Music City Bridge Stud Finder bridge makes, do NOT watch this.

This video is ONLY intended for the truly hardcore vintage guitar nerds out there…i repeat…DO NOT watch this unless you are a total vintage guitar nerd.

There are 3 segments…
1) intro and basic install of new bridge (0:00 to 15:52)
2) intonating the new bridge (15:53 to 22:38)
3) demonstation of what the old original bridge sounded like for comparison (22:39 to end)

if you want one of these check these bad boys out for yourself click here https://musiccitybridge.com

Thanks for watching guys

August 24th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus , “The Most Wonderful Time…Of The Year”

Chapters
00:00 - Electric football game


Notes
You know summer is almost over when Marsh and Leo wanna bust out the vibrating football game before school.

August 23rd, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 160, Tom Bukovac, “The Honey Man”

Chapters
00:00 - The Pretenders - Kid play through
01:20 - Hello / Analog Man
02:52 - Genesis and challenge
03:50 - MXR Dyna Comp / Foam turns to glue tip
05:45 - The Pretenders history and talk / Lesson: Chord
08:38 - Lesson: The Kid bridge lesson
10:12 - Lesson: The Kid solo lesson
13:00 - VCB
13:20 - Amp-like pedals / Modeling
15:56 - Epiphone Casino / Choppers and modifying guitars / Tremolo vs. Vibrato
19:00 - David Gilmour / Variation of out of tune makes it real
21:33 - Apple products
22:04 - Musical memory and ear training
24:39 - Hanging out with Ann Wilson


Notes
A brief look at some genius shit from 1980…and a gaze into the vast crevasse (i like to say it like kruh-vaaaaahhhhzzzz) that is the VCB

Paypal tip jar is tombukovac@gmail.com
Venmo tip jar is @Tom-Bukovac-1