Well Fast Anyway

Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

I went to hear another group that plays where we do. For leads, there were two guitars. This was supposed to be a dance but everything was either too slow or too fast. The guitar players were fast. Tried to put in as many notes as possible between chords. I very bored very quick but I stayed out of courtesy for the singer. To me, this is what killed a lot of business.

Terry Kinnear · From: Erie ,Pennsylvania

well ,for starters, no pedal steel guitar? playing for a dance,is different,than playing listening music. My band was playing a dancehall.doing 50-60 country,and some squaredancing.the owner cancelled 3 of our gigs,and gave them to another band.[because they were cheaper]this band played mostly bluegrass, and listening music. no surprise to us.the people wanted us back.We did not go back.we went to his rival.he picked us up. We had played there for 5 years straight,every other friday. tk
_________________
Terry Kinnear [ steel wondering]

Carl Johnson · From: Cortez, CO, USA

I'll agree that it's fun to play the fast stuff but I think too many people think that the guy who plays fastest is always the best picker. My self I think how many notes you play is not as important as the spaces you put between the notes. When I played with Larry Whitmore in the 70's Larry used to quote "THE MOON" saying "simpilcity is genius"
Carl

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Some of these current, so-called 'band leaders' have no concept whatsoever of what makes a dance band; whether in a great hall or small club.

They arrive five or ten minutes late (too rushed to tune up with the rest of the band members) in their 'just changed the oil in my jeep, faded and ripped jeans', jump up onto the stage, ready to impress the world with all of their favorite, memorized Slim Whitman tunes, then they proceed to play them as rapidly and as LOUD as they can, one after another.

It makes no difference to them whether the song fits the crowd, the hour of the day or the mood of the evening. Somewhat like going to a Rock & Roll Awards banquet and tying to be a star playing a square dance or whatever with bagpipes and a tamborene.

They pay little or no attention to what tempo of song the crowd seems to be interested in at the moment. Somehow, they think "Highway 40 Blues" at the fastest possible tempo, is the same as "Waltz Across Texas" might be. ALso, little tho't is given to the fact that many of the singles in the crowd just might be at the point of exchanging phone numbers with each other........except they can't hear the other person talking or even yelling.

When a crowd is slow to start they are oblivious to the fact that the floor is now starting to fill-up and WHAM! THey end the song and immediately go into some other song of a different tempo, 'cause it happens to be their favorite'.

There's so much in the field of country/western swing music that occurrred PRIOR to 1980. If only they'd devote as much time to learning what it is that they're missing....as steel players have devoted to learning how to manage their complex machine.....we all might be able to enjoy it more.

ROME wasn't built in 143 days nor was country music!
One hundred and forty three days does not qualify one to lead an up-tempo country swing band.

I relinquish the floor to the next gentleman.

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

So said the Bard himself (or might have said),"The first thing we do is kill all the (bandleaders)."

. . . or maybe it was "Neither a bandleader nor a bandleader follower be."

Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

Don't get me wrong, at what they did, they were good.
They didn't belong where they were, they would be great in a "Sports Bar" with a postage stamp sized dance floor or maybe on a show. I could tell very quickly they had many hours playing a "Sports Bar".........get fast, get loud and get drunk. This scenario is exactly why I quit for a long time. Neighborhood "pubs" sprang up everywhere in the 70's and that wasn't my bag.

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

If you want to see commotion at a dance, play Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." Very Happy

Roual Ranes · From: Atlanta, Texas, USA

Alan,
I might be able to do Pat Boone's take two and a half..........does that count?

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

I wont work with sloppy players, in a band like that!!
Fast pickin is great, but generally only for the band. It looses the audience real quick, if you tie them together, Ala, COUNTRY BOY, ORANGE BLOSSOM, AND TIGER FOOT RAG.
Give them NEON MOON, unfortunatly, thats what they want and you will save the gig, But god i'm like a 7 year itch for a pickin song, my pants start to bulge, when i look over at the set list and see, Country boy!! Laughing

_________________
A.K.A Chappy.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

It depends on where you are and the venue, I play a local dive every now and then with one of the regular bands I work with, sometimes on Steel sometimes on Telecaster.

They want it LOUD, FAST, SLOW..whatever, they want to see the players working hard ..they want us to play ALL the Tele , Steel and Fiddle licks we can muster up, and they hoot and holler with appreciation!

So it's not the same everywhere .This is not an excessively loud gig but it is a very exhausting gig to say the least !

When was the last time a few gals ( reasonably nice ones too ) pulled up a chair and sat next to you while your were Speed Pickin' or even playing a cryin' tune ? Well they do here...

Paw Creek Tavern, Paw Creek North Carolina ( Charlotte area) Thursday nights..

Forum Index > Steel Players		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: