September 21st, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “A Small Miracle”

Chapters
00:00 - Session gear and Marshalls


Notes
When something virtually impossible happens to you, you just HAVE to share it with your friends right?

September 18th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “The Birdman”

Chapters
00:00 - Funky little loop play through


Notes
Uncle Larry tries to make contact with all the dead satellites and other junk that travels through space.

September 18th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “B Roll From Giants Show”

Chapters
00:00 - Footage of the rehearsal for "Giants"


Notes
Warning: this one here is ONLY for the real die hard Homeskoolers out there.

Damn near 30 minutes of rehearsal footage....i thought about chopping it up, but then decided to give it all to ya in one big long painful block, so you can feel the slog of a 10 hour rehearsal day just like we do haha.

disclaimer: i clearly realize that there are worse 10 hour work days.....

i'll tell ya' a job that would REALLY suck. top of my list of all-time nightmare jobs....to be the guy that cleans and maintains a busy airport restroom....there's something about "international shit" that's even more horrifying than "domestic shit".... the worst job i ever had in my younger days was doing carpet and flooring with my older brother doug...it was great to hang out with him all day, but the job itself SUCKED.

i also did asphalt with my other brother Mike....a VERY small company in Cleveland called "Perfection Paving"...the only dump truck the company could afford was from the 40's and it wouldn't go over 35 MPH on the highway....which was a problem when you are carrying a hot load of asphalt long distances.

anyhoo....back to today's video...b roll rehearsal footage from the recently aired CMT show called "Giants" honoring Vince Gill.

Starring
Uncle Larry
Jedd Hughes
Paulie Franklin
Chris Stapleton
Jimmie Lee Sloas
Becky Fluke

September 17th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Saturday Night Bonus Jam “Point Of Contact”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing the chopper


Notes
Hello friends…a while back my dear dear friend sweet Greggy Voros gifted me a wonderful old 54 Esquire chopper that i have been slowly but surely trying to turn into the monster that i absolutely know it can be.

From the start this guitar had a hell of a lot going for it (super lightweight and the neck is to die for) but it had a long way to go. It started with refretting, then trying to find the right pickups…i ended up finding some great pickups, an original bridge pickup from a 1960 tele custom was a nice addition.

The original bridge saddles were driving me insane, so i just had my dear old friend Phil Crabtree install a set of Callaham compensated steel saddles. I picked it up from him today, Philly works alongside Tom Murphy at the Gibson custom shop. He is one of the sweetest kindest souls that has ever walked this earth. Thats him pictured at the end of this video.

Lord did these saddles help a lot…a MAJOR step in the right direction. The intonation is sooo good now, the string spacing is perfect, and the thing is just ringing beautifully acoustically, great sustain.

I swear the older i get i am focusing more and more on what i have always called the “point of contact” in guitars.

The purity and trueness of the way fretted and open notes pop out of a guitar, whether its electric or acoustic. The way the notes ring and sustain without an amp.

It’s the first thing i look at when i am checking out any guitar I haven’t seen before. It’s amazing how many guitars there are out there, even “high end” instruments, that just have terrible “point of contact”.

Strangled sounding dead notes all over the guitar, which could be caused by many things….a shitty bridge, bad fretwork, a fingerboard that is separating slightly from the neck, a pinched nut slot, and the worst offender, just plain dead wood.

September 17th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Larry, Jedd and Paul, featuring Sting”

Chapters
00:00 - Footage from Country Music Television's "Giants"


Notes
Hahaaa….just kiddin…i know the real billing order…it should be “Jedd, Paul and Tom, featuring Sting”

Heres an alternate take from the one that actually was on the show.

Hope you enjoy…i had a lonely princeton reverb backstage behind a wall, mic’ed up, and what you are hearing is through the wedge.

When you got your guitar sounding like this through a wedge, you KNOW its gonna be right out front.

September 16th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Target Shooting”

Chapters
00:00 - Session footage


Notes
An excerpt from a little session i did today at Castle studio here in nashville.

It can be tedious at times, but a big part of being a session man is straight up what i’ve always referred to as “target shooting”. You gotta be able to quickly and cleanly execute fairly repetitive parts take after take and be dead in the pocket….and trust me on this friends, if you CAN’T do it, they will find someone who can.

I borrowed this Baxendale Sovereign from my buddy Kris Donegan, absolutely GREAT guitar. This was a double of a 6 string “ganjo” part i had previously played, but ill spare you that carnage haha.

Thanks for watching guys

September 16th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ PSA, “TV Time”

Chapters
00:00 - Beautiful crunch playing
01:56 - Hello, class!
02:30 - Who carries Duesenberg model
03:55 - Vince Gill CMT Special "Giants"
04:20 - Rickenbacker 360 Bubbletop


Notes
Hi guys.....if you're bored tonite check out the show i played on called "Giants" honoring Vince Gill
on the CMT network
8pm central...y'all better hurry

Stores in the U.S. that carry the Duesenberg Session Man guitar:
The Guitar Sanctuary, TX
Palen Music Center, MO
Sound Pure, NC
N' Stuff Music, PA
Lark Guitars, TX
Huber & Breese Music, MI
Willcutt Guitar, KY
Boston Guitars, MA
Midwood Guitars, NC
Spicer Music, AL
Ye Olde Music, SC
Danville Music, CA
Music Villa. MT

Thank you to all of you guys for believing in the model!

September 15th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus…”The Drum Kit Of The Future?”

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to a good cause


Notes
So, i played this crazy gig tonight for my dear old friend Chris Donahoe (you may remember him from the “Community Of Tenderness” video i did a while back) at the Gibson Garage in Nashville…the local Gibson show room.

All i was told is that it was a charity gig for a foundation that used to be “Little Kids Rock” that has been renamed “Music Will”.

We rehearsed all morning, five songs, and then went to soundcheck... while we were all waiting around and hanging out after the soundcheck, our drummer, my dear old friend and legendary session drummer Chris “Stix” Mchugh (fellow Genesis fan who also happened to be the producer of my “Plexi Soul” record) started talking about this super cool prototype drum kit that he saw backstage…a great sounding little portable kit that you can pick up and carry around with one hand...and it all fits inside the plastic trash bucket that also doubles as the kick drum.

we were all totally blown away by it…especially Stix…. and we were all like “ok, so where can we buy one of these right now?”

but they are only in prototype stages at this point...apparently only 30 in existence at this point, according to the inventor Dave.

All i know is this... it’s a VERY rare moment when a bunch of jaded session players are totally blown away by ANY piece of gear enough to pull out their wallets...it does not happen very often, trust me.

My first thought was “damn, whoever invented this little drum kit is about to make a fucking BOAT LOAD of cash".... But it turns out it’s much different than that....

The guy who invented it, Dave Wish, is somehow amazingly NOT trying to get rich off of this invention, he is actually ONLY interested in furnishing schools with thousands of these kits…and he needs help.

I’m not sure what this all means or how it could all play out, but maybe some of YOU guys will have some ideas

check it out...this is very cool my friends...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhcAj...

September 15th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Bonus “Pulled Into Nazareth”

Chapters
00:00 - Playing a good one


Notes
Ain’t NO damn acoustic guitar is worth 100K right?….until you hear the sound of that open G string…

I literally just pulled this thing outta the case, didn’t even tune it, and this is what it gives up…

Every single time i pick this guitar up i am amazed by it….i am so eternally thankful i found old 70253 in this life.

September 14th, 2022

Homeskoolin’ Volume 165, Tom Bukovac, “Flutter And Wow”

Chapters
00:00 - Hello, class! / Video intro about loop building lesson / '62 Strat
01:17 - Loop: Starting the loop
02:04 - Loop: Changing loops
04:02 - Get the bass / Tuning
05:38 - Lesson: Chords and progression
07:30 - Harmony H22 hollowbody bass
07:56 - Loop: Bass recording and play along
10:49 - Getting ready to solo / Looper
11:40 - Loop: Practice soloing
13:00 - Marshall 50-watt Combo Amp / Cleaning it up
13:45 - Loop: Restarting the loop for solo
16:35 - Tone (pickup, pedals)
17:34 - Loop: Take 1 soloing
20:33 - Summarizing


Notes
Uncle Larry takes the class along on a leisurely stroll to looptown….with a cameo appearance by his son’s old Harmony H-22 hollowbody bass.

Ampluhmicatiun provided by a ‘78 Marshall JMP 50 watt 2x12” combo with master volume.

If you guys are indeed learning and enjoying these meager low cost tutorials…the tip jar is just a click away…and it’s TOTALLY on the honor system.

paypal is tombukovac@gmail.com
venmo is @Tom-Bukovac-1

if you wanna buy some Homeskoolin merch go here...
https://dvg-inc.shoplightspeed.com/me...

if you wanna buy my album "Plexi Soul" go here...
https://tombukovac.bandcamp.com/album...

if you wanna buy the album i made with Dean Deleo go here...
https://tripthewitch.bandcamp.com/alb...

I GREATLY appreciate all the past donations my good people….a couple bucks here and there makes this all make sense, and it keeps the old fridge stocked.

Thank you for watching friends, i mean it

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….