Robert Randolph at Red Rocks

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 29 Sep 2010 10:26 am

Here is a little clip of Robert jammin' with Zac Brown at Red Rocks. Check out the crowd reaction. There you have it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQpTUWmQWq0

Anne Giroux · Post by **Anne Giroux** » 29 Sep 2010 11:02 am

Good stuff and thanks for posting. Randolph sure gets around.I even saw him on HGTV designing a bedroom.
Anne

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 29 Sep 2010 11:28 am

Awesome!

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 29 Sep 2010 11:32 am

He's incredible no doubt, and the people eat it up.

Not to hijack the thread but it's interesting to hear a PSG used to get that overdriven guitar sound.
I'll bet the regular guit players would die for that kinda sustain at times.
On the other hand, when I'm using overdrive, I've found that the PSG sustain comes at the cost of some dynamics that a conventional guitar has.
Robert is getting more dynamic some how. It might be his lighter wound pickup.
Maybe someone should make a PSG intentionally without so much sustain in hopes of making a bigger attack amplitude verses the rest of the envelope. This would be more guitar like.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 29 Sep 2010 11:57 am

Use a lighter bar - 3 to 4 oz. does it. You run into the same problem as guitarists though - chords vs. single lines. If you set your solo level at "howl", the chords are mush. Going straight to a tube amp alleviates this somewhat, as tubes are "naturally" compressing. Most big R&R guitarists have gone to a multi-amp setup, or at the very least have two channels set with different drive, compression & effect characteristics. There's a lot of delicate level-balancing involved.

It seems to me like Randolph has taken the B.B. King approach to chords, i.e., hire somebody else to play 'em.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 29 Sep 2010 1:20 pm

You can see him stamping those pedals in that clip.

Gary Newcomb · Post by **Gary Newcomb** » 29 Sep 2010 3:43 pm

Damn, incredible!!
So much soul. Great entertainment too.
Does anyone know what his amp setup is? The last time I saw him it looked like there was a Fender next to some NV400 sized cabinet with no name on stage. He can send shivers when wants too.

Kenny Martin · Post by **Kenny Martin** » 29 Sep 2010 3:58 pm

been doin this for years on guitar with a slide! for me, just a trashy way of playin steel! would be the same if ya took a fiddle and distorted the sound! just wouldn't be right!

John Rickard · Post by **John Rickard** » 29 Sep 2010 10:42 pm

Now That's Funny!!!

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 30 Sep 2010 2:12 am

What he does, he does, well. Give credit where it is due.
It comes to my ears as a Jimi Hendrix type of solo.
Being a 6 string slide rock/blues player,I started PSG 4+ years ago, to get away from that sound, in search of something different, so I can understand both Kenny and John's posts.
Rick

Jerry Tillman · Post by **Jerry Tillman** » 30 Sep 2010 5:25 am

I,m glad to see Robert getting the pedal steel so much air time and I think he is a very good showman.I don,t like what he plays or his tone.If he has something more to say musically I think he needs to get rid of some of that distortion and overdrive.I think there are a lot of pedal steel,guitar,lap,dobro players who can play what he is playing without much trouble.I have not bought any cd,s of Roberts and have not heard anything to make me want to.I also would not seek out any steel guitar or amp or sound effects that he uses.I am however still hurting a little from listening to Mr. Lloyd Green playing live with that Peter Cooper guy on Utube and I,m still trying to find out what amp he was using.I did find one thing out watching the video,he has an extra knee.Thanks lakeshrk

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 30 Sep 2010 11:10 am

Nice clip...not many steel players will ever experience that kind of crowd response, especially at one of the coolest venues in the country..you go, Robert....

David Evans · Post by **David Evans** » 30 Sep 2010 11:57 am

So sad that this is what the steel guitar has come to! So what if there is good crowd response. I know I'm being close minded but how much worse can so called country music get. This crap gets out to the masses and this is what they are going think a pedal steel guitar is. Distorted guitars have already taken over country now it's the steel guitar's turn I guess. Enough is enough, long live "Hillbilliesville", google it and check it out.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 30 Sep 2010 12:12 pm

David Evans wrote:So sad that this is what the steel guitar has come to! So what if there is good crowd response. I know I'm being close minded but how much worse can so called country music get. This crap gets out to the masses and this is what they are going think a pedal steel guitar is. Distorted guitars have already taken over country now it's the steel guitar's turn I guess. Enough is enough, long live "Hillbilliesville", google it and check it out.

I dont think anyone called this country music did they?

Thats kinda like being mad that the trumpet player in Earth Wind and Fire is ruining jazz.

David Evans · Post by **David Evans** » 30 Sep 2010 12:49 pm

Zac Brown is considered country ,I mean they are played on country radio and on CMT and GAC on tv.Most people don't even know what a pedal steel guitar is and its just sad that this style of playing is going to be or already is more popular than way Emmons or Green played.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 30 Sep 2010 1:12 pm

David Evans wrote:Zac Brown is considered country ,I mean they are played on country radio and on CMT and GAC on tv.Most people don't even know what a pedal steel guitar is and its just sad that this style of playing is going to be or already is more popular than way Emmons or Green played.

oh, I see. i had no idea who Zac Brown is as I dont listen to "country" radio.

I understand what you are saying I think, and why you are concerned. My beleif is that there will always be people wanting to hear and play traditional country steel both young and old. RR is acheiving wide spread popularity, but not amongst country players or lovers of country music so much. I guess what i am tryng to say is they are two different spheres of influence and I dont feel that his playing in other genres detracts from trad country in any way. I dont know enough Zac Brown to know if he qualifies as trad country. My guess is that since he gets play on CMT he does not. But its not like RR is siiting in behind Ray Price and shredding overdriven steel. To me he's a HIGHLY skilled gospel/blues/jam musician and ive only ever heard him playing in those contexts. from the clip its hard to tell what this Zac dude is about.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 30 Sep 2010 1:26 pm

EWWW..i watched a couple of zacs other vids and your right, its that modern country sound. Maybe this song was his token rocker?

i guess im far more offended by the existence of modern country (or bad music in general) than i am about the steel guitars participation in it (which up till now has been extremely rare)

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 30 Sep 2010 6:01 pm

Rick Winfield wrote:...It comes to my ears as a Jimi Hendrix type of solo
...

RR has played like this for years now, and its most likely because he was inspired by Hendrix (who was inspired by Muddy Waters). That, and his gospel roots, are where his style originated. If his dream was to be the Hendrix of steel guitar, he's come a long way! Im sure Jimi had his share of what is this crap!? too.
Even Dylan caught hell at the Folk festival for playing

an electric Telecaster!
Overdriven steel with a wah pedal!? That aint right!

Clete

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 30 Sep 2010 6:50 pm

It's an interesting take on it to view RR as taking country steel in a new (welcome or not) direction, or being responsible for "getting out to the masses and this is what they are going think a pedal steel guitar is" when in reality he's one of the latest in a long line of evolving gospel stylists, who have been around and creating a style and legacy for longer than country steel has been around.
Not so much co-opting pedal steel away from it's roots, as developing along a parallel evolutionary track.

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 30 Sep 2010 7:33 pm

You really do not need a steel to make those sounds..IMHO

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 30 Sep 2010 8:03 pm

Who says you need a steel guitar anyway?

Clete

Gary Newcomb · Post by **Gary Newcomb** » 30 Sep 2010 8:43 pm

"Not so much co-opting pedal steel away from it's roots, as developing along a parallel evolutionary track"
Well said Mark . Thanks
I say live and let live. There wouldn't be anything to keep talking about if he weren't wildly successful and closer than any other pedal steel player to being a mainstream household name.

Still curious about what amp(s) he uses. Anyone?

John Neff · Post by **John Neff** » 1 Oct 2010 4:35 am

Funny - the ones who have a problem with Randolph's...um...tone, would probably really dig Zac Brown's lame songs of regional pride!

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 1 Oct 2010 6:06 am

If this is the future of PSG, I'm going back to my Les Paul,Strat and Marshall. That, comes "easy" to me, and I can get paid for it. (notice the crowd roar)
I think Mr. Randloph is like a Sacred Steel player on steroids !
Great for him, but my steel ideas are different.
No offense intended, just my opnion.
Rick

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 1 Oct 2010 10:15 am

I thought it was a really fine performance for any instrument - technique any of us would be proud to display and a great fluid solo. I remember when I was starting out I was in a band that lacked a good lead player and I was asked to take the "I Love a Rainy Night" solo on steel. A mighty tall order for a novice masher of pedals. I wish I could have played it like this guy would have!

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Robert Randolph at Red Rocks

Robert Randolph at Red Rocks

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A little less distortion?

Robert Randolph

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Robert Randolph

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Why a steel

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