Dave Hill - Feral Men with Guitars: Why Dave Will Never Get a "Real Job"

Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch

Dave Hill seamlessly blends virtuosic guitar playing with razor-sharp comedy, creating an entirely unique performance experience that defies categorization. In this captivating conversation with Greg Koch, Dave reveals the unexpected path that led him from his Cleveland roots as a rock musician to becoming a multifaceted comedian, author, and performer in New York City.
The heart of Dave's artistic evolution came when he discovered audiences found genuine humor in his guitar prowess. "When I realized that people were laughing at guitar solos—not in a mocking way—I started doing things like tapping," Dave explains. This revelation transformed his approach, allowing him to stretch 10 minutes of material into 20 while "getting laughs in different ways" and developing his signature style of berating his backing musicians between impressive solos.
What makes Dave's performances particularly fascinating is his "Chuck Berry style" approach to working with local musicians. Often meeting his backing band just hours (or sometimes minutes) before showtime, he transforms this unpredictability into comedic gold. Whether performing with legendary musicians like Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers or with drummers who "own drums at best," Dave embraces the chaos as part of his art form.
The conversation drifts through numerous fascinating detours, from their shared Catholic upbringings to the unpredictable nature of social media virality. Dave shares stories about opening for Tenacious D in arenas, writing four books, and crafting the theme song for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver with his band Valley Lodge. Through it all, his creative philosophy remains refreshingly simple: "You really can only entertain yourself... anytime you're thinking 'what do people want,' that's not part of the equation."
Follow Dave on social media for his hilarious "fake commercials" and check out his band Valley Lodge for a taste of his musical side. As Dave puts it: "I'm feral, this is what I do... now I just have to ride it out until I die, because that's the only option really."

Chapters

1. Introducing Season Six of Chewing the Gristle (00:00:00)

2. Meet Dave Hill: Comedian & Musician (00:00:59)

3. From Cleveland Bands to NYC Comedy (00:05:15)

4. Mixing Music and Comedy (00:10:40)

5. Working with Pickup Bands (00:17:55)

6. The New York Experience (00:24:40)

7. Comedy vs. Music: Different Audiences (00:35:45)

8. The Cameo Hustle and Social Media (00:43:45)

9. Going Feral: No Going Back (00:56:35)

10. Closing Thoughts and Milwaukee Visit (01:00:17)