Homeskoolin’ Volume 115, Tom Bukovac, “An Apple A Day”

A quick thank you to the Homeskoolers for the kind words regarding the Plexi Soul album that was released Oct 28th on Bandcamp.
And…..a quick interview with Bruce Bouton, a dear old friend, who happens to be one of the most legendary pedal steel guitar players on the planet.
Thank you for watching the program friends.

[@501chorusecho]

tombukovac.bandcamp.com/album/plexi-soul

[@fly51256]

Totally expected steel string to play the video out. Still cool.

[@charliejohnson7703]

I was up until midnight playing along with the tracks that I've trying to learn so far. It's SO FUN!

[@RipVDub]

Doctor, "Cop Show Music" takes me back to the crime ridden streets of San Francisco with officer Harry Callihan. Hat tip to the musicians and producers. The album is outstanding!

[@drivenmad7676]

Aaarrgh!!! I was wondering what kind of pickups are in that pedal steal:) LOL Thank you Uncle Larry, i love Home Skoolin.

[@CarstenGoeke]

Great album Tom. Bought it as .wav file and sounds awesome man. Thanks ✌🏼

[@nathanschock4858]

67 yrs old and still practicing. Gold, Bruce!

[@juanblanco3187]

What a trip seeing Gordon passing in the background and actually knowing who He is. I Love this channel Uncle Larry.

[@300atThermopylae]

What I wouldn't give for a chance to sit in the corner of that room and listen to you guys talk all day (not to mention play). As always, thanks for the inside peek!

[@fiddlefolk]

Bruce Bouton and Ray Flacke spun me on my head with Highway 40 blues when I was 12 yrs old.... Seriously, the song that made me want to play! Years later and I can still fuck that song up to the point of almost not recognizing it. Lol

[@pbluuz4509]

It's probably the best collection of music I've listened to in at least a decade. And yes, CDs would be welcome.

[@johnbeckler6027]

"At 65 years..." this is it. Learning every day. Just an incredible sweet soul/musician.

[@johnbeckler6027]

sorry... 67

[@tomcoryell]

@@johnbeckler6027 you can edit. Hit the three dots. KZbin tip from fellow homeskooler! Rock on John!

[@Az_1987]

Can you believe that we live in a time where we can listen to dudes like this just talk about music. May we never take it for granted. This sort of thing is absolute gold and should be treated as such.

[@smittysmith8729]

Hello Tom, and Bruce, Paul Smitty Smith here from just outside of Boston, Ma A quick shoutout to Bruce Bouton, I picked up the pedal steel guitar about 30 yrs ago in my mid 20's and I learned to play by purchasing Bruce Boutons "How to play steel guitar" VHS tape put out by HomeSpun Tapes... remember them? I had no steel players in my area at the time, and that instructional video proved to be invaluable. Bruce Im still working on my 2 string "paradidles" to hone my pick blocking! Im still at it today, playing mostly Lap Steel these days, and enjoying every minute of it. If you could pass this on to Bruce I would appreciate it. Thanks very much Tom for your most excellent channel here which I enjoy very much! Looking forward to purchasing your new record!

[@JonHusiar]

New record rules Tom! Bruce said it best, “Appreciate what you do Tom, inspiring so many people.” 👍🍻

[@japanjay]

Man, talk about humble people. These guys are all legends but are some of the most real, down to earth folks out there.

[@craigthomasson8565]

Man, what a treat to get an inside view into a world most people would otherwise never get to experience in any meaningful way. Thanks so much.

[@cosmonaut9942]

Can't even describe how much I love the new album. So many discoveries since finding this channel. Embarrassed to say that I had never even heard of Tom Bukovac before covid hit. Now, one of my favorite guitar players. No covid doldrums for me, just excited to learn new things on guitar after being stagnant for a decade.

[@Larry-Art179]

Just purchased Tommys wonderful Plexi Soul album from bandcamp. Been there from the start of his Homeskoolin days so I want to encourage another one

[@CollinPeterson615]

I remember one session with Bruce... Simple overdub. He brought a little Peavey amp and I stuck an sm53 on it. Best steel sound I ever captured! Such a cool, nice guy on top of that! I remember thinking "he thinks I don't know what I'm doing" maybe I put the mic in a weird spot or something, but he went with it... he came into the control room and genuinely seemed to love the sound. He asked what I put on it... I said "Nothing!" Just the console eq. Was likely to 2" tape but I don't remember for sure. He came in a few times for sessions I did there over the years. Probably 25 years ago. Creative Caffeine Studio in Berry Hill, also used to be Brock Music. Long gone now.

[@guitartuber]

“You never stop practicing” - maybe my favorite line from the whole thing. After 25 years, I’m still trying to master the fretboard and recently picked up spider exercises again. Homeskoolin channel has been a huge inspiration! Love the album(s), Tom. I was doinkin’ around with Power of the Minor 5 play along last night. Grateful for such an inspiring practice tool!

[@garyj6006]

Very good interview! Made me think of my old Roy Smeck Harmony steel that I (tried to) play for a couple years in the 1970s and still have down in the basement.

[@tomcoryell]

Roy Smeck- Wizard of the strings!

[@leewarren]

Tom! Thanks so much for this video with Bruce. What a treat to listen to you two discuss pedal steel. btw, I never knew you played! Sending much love, my friend.

[@laufonseca4444]

Great conversation. Thank you very much for all the great advices and knowledge in general.

[@joshellyson]

Ah Uncle Larry, what a gift you and all your mates are. Hearing real musicians talk about music is so wonderful. And so impressed with the genuine affection shared between all you cats. Who knows, maybe i am getting a little closer to being a real musician....cause i am hankering to play pedal steel..., but may need to rethink that craziness. What a treasure you are!

[@telecasteroil]

I'm practicing and praying everyday!!!!

[@boastatron3148]

Tom Plexi soul is so so good. Thanks

[@paulmckeown5672]

Just bought it Tom. Thanks for recording it!

[@niguel4438]

Just seen this. Brilliant episode. I learned so much. Thanks all

[@richsadowsky8580]

Fantastic episode Tommy. Love it when you give us a glimpse into the life of studio musicians. Above all else, I love the way you interact with people and call them sweet and given them mucho respect. You get what you give. Loved Bruce's joke about Macca providing the advice to not drop names! I truly feel that discovering your channel has been the best thing to come out of the pandemic.

[@thisistheshortestid]

Uncle Larry...that is an amazing record you made sir!

[@weschilton]

Really dig these impromptu interviews with your cohorts. Really cool guy that Bruce!

[@Seneca419]

Your Record is medicinal, I love it! I would prepay and wait as long as it took for Vinyl.

[@gwbuilder5779]

Bruce Bouton, Thank You for your wisdom.👌 Tom, superb interview!🤙

[@MrStropparo]

Cop show is my favorite. TV dinner is vibin too. Love love the album brother. Thanks. I’ve been hoping for cop show since that live show, so I can jam it in my truck at night. Cheers man.

[@justinguitarcia]

record rules Tom, downloaded it as a wav. file, super high quality, thanks for the music!

[@mlefev]

Hey Tommy, So cool you mentioned Lance (your German Shepherd). I hadn't thought of that wonderful beast in soooo long. I remember he had a very distinctive white spot on the back of his neck. Such a cool dog. Was pretty awesome you could use your backyard and your neighbor's back yard for him to run around in. Wow... memory lane...

[@501chorusecho]

mikey!!!

[@acousticmountains7948]

Good dudes all around! Love these insightful videos. Thanks, Tom

[@steveperez1178]

Thanks Bruce! Thanks Uncle Larry for inviting us in and sharing.

[@mgbasinski]

"you never stop practicing... the key is finding inspiration"

[@roverer109]

Like he said, "...you inspire so many people." Another great look behind the scenes. Thanks!

[@WalterDruce]

Love me some Friday Tom Skoolin’!

[@gnawbabygnaw]

You, my friend, are a joy. 🤙

[@skeenj]

I love the album, man! I keep listening!

[@williambarnes3727]

just want to tell that the album is just awesome!!! keep it up

[@MichaelWilson-ri9pn]

Man. Honestly. Thank you for this. Warms the heart ❤

[@1drumm]

Really nice! 🎸❤‍🔥✍🏻

[@moshezarviv1252]

Tom , you grab such love from your buddy musicians . not surprised though because you feel just the same for them !

[@abradfordajb]

Fantastic video. I love the longer ones.

[@callehammar9339]

Daaaamn I wish we got to hear the amp..beautiful playing

[@alstiver]

Uncle Larry! Love the content and music as always. Thank you!

[@jimwishart3728]

Great to hear Bruce point out that knowing when to play, and when not to play, are equally important. Love the interview. Great job.

[@jamesgrobertson8024]

Just bought the Album & it’s superb, a great early Xmas gift. Would love a CD 💿 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@haydenrab]

What a great episode. I want country music to start changing keys again every two seconds like it did in the late 90s !

[@johncastelletti5489]

Thanks for spotlighting Bruce! Total hero of mine.

[@kengoodman7719]

Thanks Tom for bringing us behind the scenes once again - ALWAYS AWESOME! God Bless!

[@Deliquescentinsight]

I love your album Tom, this is my kind of music and it is wonderful to listen to these soulful, thoughtful pieces. Ben Keith is one of my all time favorite pedal steel players

[@ronkresch9228]

That was awesome…..what an inspiring conversation! You sir are a lucky man to be surrounded by such quality people!

[@h.i.5333]

It’s such a great record, I’ve listened to it about a hundred times already!✌️

[@JeremyZilar]

What a gem 💎 this episode was great! And big thanks to Bruce for opening up about his practice

[@davidt9841]

Love what you do, Tommy! I’ll never get tired of it! Keep On, brother! 👍🎸✌️😎

[@timchalmers1700]

Hey Uncle Larry, thanks for the cool interview with Bruce. I've never bought anything on Bandcamp before, but I'll see if I can get it figured out this weekend. CDs would be cool.

[@stephenmunns4205]

Thanks for the reminder Tom. My old man's memory wasn't up to remembering about the album. Just bought the digital version - will be listening in the car forthwith. Stay cool!

[@DanielMcCann54]

For all of us steel players who love Uncle Larry, thanks for featuring Bruce on this episode!

[@jonnybeck6723]

Love this sort of thing so I can experience things vicariously...

[@bwall615]

I love these. Bruce is amazing. Stix is one of the best around.

[@chrisbrowning6102]

I love the album, Uncle Larry. "Blues and Dank Nugs", "Fall is Here", and "Just Cream Please" are all in heavy rotation in my world and "The Power of the 5 Minor" is just on another level for me. Thanks to you, your fellow session men, and production team for making such a great album.

[@davidmchenry922]

Power of the 5 minor has been my JAM all week, I love it!!

[@dwaynejessome1728]

Thanks for taking us behind the scenes!! Can't get enough pearls of wisdom from the giants that you hang with Tom.

[@jseptoski]

Album keeps getting better and better, I don't remember the last time I've listened to an all instrumental album this much.

[@afarrar3]

Here I am, 31, been playing guitar about 15 years now, and have been hit by the pedal steel bug this last year, so the age is completely accurate, lol. I just bought a lap steel to hold me over and get started until i can find a good pedal steel. Definitely is an expensive instrument to get into! Love the content and all the insight into the lives of working musicians. Thank you for taking us along with you!

[@Sammywhat]

Thank you, Tom! I always appreciate these behind the scenes moments. Absolutely pure gold!! Like your Plexi Soul!! 🙏🙏🙏

[@west4coast77]

Love the humility you guys show. Super talented musicians with skills for days but most importantly, quality people with a desire to work together as a team, both on the floor and behind the glass. So great to meet your pal Bruce in this clip!

[@kayakttt]

Got the downloads and digging it , will buy the CD,s

[@davidpepper442]

Bruce summed it up at the end Tom. You inspire so many people. If I'm not listening to Plexi Soul right now I'm listening to Trip The Witch. Have a great weekend Homeskoolers!

[@russellpowell5767]

Hey Tom Thanks for the interview with Bruce. That first Skaggs record came out at the height of my steel guitar obsession. That was a perfect album and a big part was Bruce. I have a black Emmons, the twin to his. These days I split my time between your lessons and that old double neck. I’m a lucky guy Thanks again, Russ

[@jkisler2801]

Thanks for this. Bruce Bouton is a bad man. Love that guy’s playing.

[@chrislestermusic]

At the risk of being verbose, thank you soooo much for these videos. To be able to see behind the scenes of session life is a dream for me. If only someone had documented the Motown sessions and the Lukather era (any session era actually) like you are with your channel it would be gold. You guys bring songs to life, even when you probably don’t necessarily even like them. It’s wonderful to see the humans behind the instruments. Thank you.

[@thmmke6926]

dang, thanks tom for showing us how all that works,

[@bobmoire5676]

Great channel. Great content and great guests.

[@ryanjohnson985]

This insider content is priceless! Can’t thank you enough, Uncle Larry!

[@josephcorcoran8714]

This was one of the best episodes.

[@lesbguitar2393]

Awesome! What an inspiration you and your friends are to all of us. My favorite channel......

[@ksine84]

I keep hearing of people talk about listening to an album and how it made their hair stand on end, or just couldn't stop listening to it and this was the album that changed their music life. I never understood that and wondered why I never connected to an album like this...Until now. Plexi Soul has become that album for me. It is absolutely amazing and speaks to my soul. Thank you so much for putting this into the universe.

[@spl67g]

Got both albums. Just listened to Plexi Soul 3x. Great feel and sound tone and quality. And excellent wide diversity - shades of Jeff Beck and then almost Jayhawks. Thanks

[@westoned666]

Awesome, thanks Tom and congratulations on the album!

[@Jonsvintagetoycave]

Can’t thank you enough Tom for making this album! It is amazing! bought both versions! And another awesome video in studio with your buds😊

[@christophersambuco9414]

You guys seem to have a real nice thing going...Good friends having good times making great music. It's good to see

[@Bobby_Digital37]

Album is a masterpiece! I’ve been listening to it everyday since it was released. Amazing songs and amazing tone!!,

[@wrekkingcru]

Uncle Larry casually invents the "Tom-u-mentary" genre :) This was very cool and casual, Tommy - without trying deliberately to be cool and casual. Very natural. Thanks for sharing your Studio Cat moments with us!

[@williamriggin2803]

Beautiful! Homeskoolin' is and American treasure.

[@peterpolfeldt3083]

I enjoyed this, inspiring..

[@stephencook4577]

I’m more than happy to support you Tom by buying your records. I think I’ve learned more as a professional musician from you than any other single player I’ve worked with. And they’re not just for guitarists. I love working your ideas on mando and fiddle just as much. Thanks mate.

[@VictorRochaGaming]

Great interview, Buk. Thanks for sharing. Much appreciated, brother.

[@SealedOrPorted]

I love country from the beginning of the genre on up to present day so it’s great to hear Bruce talk about his career and setup. Nothing like twin fiddles and the cry of a steel guitar on an album, but I reckon it’s as tough to find a touring steel player as it is to grab one in sessions. Dwight Yoakum does great work putting different song styles on his records. You do a great job interviewing your fellow session friends.

[@robinho1978.]

Brilliant look behind the scenes as always! Now I’m off to listen to this album of yours.

[@guitarsbbq33]

Uncle Larry, Being a musician I am sometimes bothered by music. I will love one song, tolerate a few, hate a few and skip a few. I don't have a favorite on your album because every song captures something different. You have been a huge inspiration! I absolutely love this album. The melodies are so familiar and at the same time unique and the tones are so sweet. I absolutely love this album and excellent production as well! Thank you for sharing your ideas and time! It was an awesome experience to watch this album home grow through the different lessons. What you have done is absolutely a blessing. Many Thanks to you Tom!

[@jonnybeck6723]

"You're my soul and my heart's inspiration... You're all I need, to get me by"

[@Grant_Ferstat]

That was just fantastic.

[@gregmock6808]

Tom ...you must be the nicest monster guitarist on the planet...I swear you always keep it real and humble...loved hearing this interview about the steel guitar...I remember seeing Steve Howe play one everytime I saw Yes live....first time I'd thought of it as a rock instrument.. great video!

[@lukecyrus]

Thank you for this one Tom! Steel has been a big part of my playing and it's so cool to get to see and hear this!

[@belo1971]

Love those « inside studio » video !!!! Cheers from France 🇫🇷

[@matthewchristianson96]

love the new record Tom!

[@wrightackle1]

This is pure gold! I love how you shine the light on these remarkable musicians. The steel guitar is such a wonderful instrument. Paul Franklin lifted Dire Straight to another level with his playing.

[@gbarge4]

Uncle Larry! It's so heart warming to see you react to all the positivity out here for your record. I got both versions, just because. I hope you can bring yourself to realize the enthusiasm out here isn't just for the music. It's a reflection of the love for you. I mean that. Just pause a moment and feel it from all of us. Thank you, brother. G

[@RollieFingers59]

Great stuff Tom, love meeting all these fine artists and getting the behind the scenes glimpses