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Topic: Saddle Rack: Fremont, CA: Saturday 1-14 |
Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 8 Jan 2012 11:56 am |
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I'll be sitting in with Sandy and the Saddleback Ridge Boys this coming Saturday night at the Saddle Rack in Fremont, CA. We play the early shift, from 7:15 to 9:30. The band plays modern country music. Expect lots of "man hater" and "drinking" songs.
PS: Sandy is young and attractive, and she puts on a good show; not that an old fart would notice. |
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Scott Shewbridge
From:
Bay Area, N. California
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Posted 9 Jan 2012 7:49 pm
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| Super, now I've got a reason to visit the place. Never been before, not quite this old fart's style, but now that I know you're playing.... Glad to see you're getting out and about. |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 10 Jan 2012 12:42 am
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| Scott: I'm not sure what to expect. I've also never been to the Saddle Rack. I'm told its big, both the club and the stage, and they have a professional sound crew. I look forward to seeing at least one friendly face. Paul |
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Scott Shewbridge
From:
Bay Area, N. California
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Posted 10 Jan 2012 6:26 pm
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I think it is more of a Keith Urban hick-rock kind of crowd. I'm more of a George Strait/Bob Wills kinda guy. Hopefully my bald, fat, oldness won't offend too many blond-in-a-bottle 20-somethings. 
I don't mean to offend anyone, I'm just saying Western Swing is more my thing. It's all good. Looking forward to seeing you and the band. |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2012 1:42 pm
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I can hardly believe that club is still going! I saw Bobby Black and Pete Grant gigging there in the late 70's. Same club as before?
_________________
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▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 18 Jan 2012 2:27 pm
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I used to play at the one in San Jose in the 80's. This one is in Fremont, and it's a real piece of crap place now. They are a rock club that the band plays a bad version of some Johnny Cash song, and they call themselves country. $15 a head to enter to hear garbage.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2012 2:50 pm
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I went to the one in San Jose. Long gone?
Is Cowtown still in existence?
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Scott Shewbridge
From:
Bay Area, N. California
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Posted 18 Jan 2012 6:29 pm
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Not total crap; Paul sounded great the other night.
This is the new location and after 9:30 it is basically a Southern Rock with hip hop influences venue. They are making good money. More power to them. That helps them underwrite the cost of having a more traditional group for the dozen or so hard-core country dancer couples that come to the first set (7-9:30). I recognized several of them from two step classes I was taking up in Danville. Some of them are into the competitive dance thing, with some very impressive fancy stuff.
The after 9 crowd is your stand in one place free-style 20 somethings looking for something other than probably you and most certainly me. 
http://www.thesaddlerack.com/ |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 18 Jan 2012 7:32 pm
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Very true Scott. They try to get some real country in there for the early shift on Saturday. Saddleback Ridge is not true (classic)country and just started having Paul join them to the best of my knowledge. I had a friend who's band played in there one time on the early shift, and when they asked them back to play, they wanted them to come without the steel player (too country).
I have not heard the current band. I see they are a 3 piece with girl singer (guitar, bass, drums). But, Jewels Hansen was with Appaloosa before Diablo Road and they played there for quite a while. Outside of some Gretchen Wilson stuff, all I heard from her was Christina Aguilera and Pink (although she did a good job on those). She's about as country as Luciano Pavarotti. Great musicians though, but the closest I heard to country was screaming rock and roll versions of Ring of Fire or some other crap song.
John McClung...
Cowtown has been gone since sometime in the late 80's/early 90's. Sam's (later renamed Cowtown) is gone, South 40 is gone, West 40 is gone, Mustang Club is Gone. About the only one I know of still around is DeMarco's 23 Club in Brisbane.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 18 Jan 2012 7:40 pm
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Well the SaddleRack certainly caters to a younger crowd. It pretty much mirrors the "Country Music" one hears now-a-days on the commercial radio stations. And the place is certainly making lots of money.
After playing our two sets, I listened to one set by the house band, "Diablo Road." They are a very polished and talented band that plays modern country (rock music) to a packed house. They consist of guitar, bass, drums and a female singer. Every member is an experienced pro at their respective craft. If they wanted to add a steel I would be glad to join them. Where else in Northern California can you find a steady three night per week gig that actually pays half-way decent? However, that's not likely to happen.
For what it's worth, I'll playing the club again with the Saddleback Ridge band on February 11th & 25th, March 10th and 31st, April 14th, May 5th, and June 16th. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 2:33 am
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I'm glad to see steel guitar back in the club. Congrats on the gig Paul. Are you doing all the Saddleback Ridge gigs now?
Gary Tackett is a great guitar player. I don't know the drummer or bass player in Diablo Road.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 5:29 am
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| John McClung wrote: |
I went to the one in San Jose. Long gone?
Is Cowtown still in existence? |
John,back in 86 the last time I saw Paris,er' eh' San Jose they had built a new "Cow Town",I don't remember where it is located but when I went inside it was dead,as in nobody in the place cept' for a couple of waitress's & the barkeep.I was looking for Bobby Black,found him at a place on Stevens Creek Blvd.at a place called "The Nightcap" in Cupertino,small but nice.
I guess most of the "Hot Spots" are gone now like The Corral Club or Bill Testers 1440 Club,The Red Barn etc., changed owners & genres of music,I left there in 1970 & made the trip back in 86 for a visit,sure was disappointing too. |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 8:18 am
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| Richard: I have made it very clear to the Saddleback Ridge folks that my first priority is The Stardust Cowboys, but when I'm available I'll gladly play with Saddleback Ridge. So far no one is too upset with me, although there have been some scheduling conflicts. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 10:52 am
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Paul...
If you need any help with someone to cover, let me know.
Ransom...
The original Cowtown was on Almaden and was still operating as of late '83. It closed down in '84 or maybe '85. Don Cox who owned Cowtown, also owned half of Sam's Club on Monterey Rd. When Cowtown closed up, they changed the name of Sam's Club to Cowtown. Not sure when that Cowtown shut down. If that was the one you saw, it was a huge place with the stage about 5 or 6 feet high. Barry Blackwood could probably nail down the exact dates as I think he was still Don's steel player up until it closed, but possibly Don left before the club died.. I remember playing there towards the middle late 80's as the 2nd band one weekend, and it was still going strong. And, ahhh... The Red Barn. Haven't heard that name in years.
There used to be a great country music scene in the Bay Area, now it's really bad.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 11:33 am
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Where then, Brad?
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 12:01 pm
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| Yeah I had some good times around that area,from San Jose to Santa Cruz & all points in between.Richard,did you know Sonny DeJersy(steel)(sp),Chuck West(Bass),Chuck James(Lead Guitar),Al Garcia(Drums)they were the house band(1440 Club) when I was there 1963 -1970.Sonny DeJersy lost his battle with the demons,good steel player.Bill & Shirley Tester had a going place back in tha day.Went in there one Sunday & asked Bill what was on the spit out back,he said buffalo,sure enough,a half buffalo was turning on the spit.Good times,sorry they're all gone.I got a lot of stories but I'll just let sleeping dogs lie as it were. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 12:15 pm
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Ransom, I didn't know any of those players. I didn't start playing until '71 and those places may have been gone by the time I started playing the south bay (around 78 or so).
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 12:27 pm
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| Yeah most likely,most of those places don't last.I used to hang out at The Jamaica Inn on El Camino Real in Sunnyvale but when I was there in 86 there was a bank building on the site,ah the good times have gone the way of the dinosaur I guess,at least for some of us.Jerry Clark is another name that comes to mind,Rusty Bryan was the drummer for him,Jimmy Nichols & a coupla others.Too much time has passed. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 4:38 pm
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| Where then, Brad? |
Click the link I posted in my response or go here:
http://www.hickswithsticks.com
Agreed, it's not as large a scene as it once was, but it's still there.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 4:59 pm
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Sorry Brad. Didn't realize your post was a link.
I have seen that site many times. Hasn't been real helpful in the past, but I'm sure sometimes a good place to go pops up. Will bookmark it and check often. Of course, I am not looking for places to see others play much these days as I am usually gigging.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Scott Shewbridge
From:
Bay Area, N. California
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 8:31 pm
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I check Hicks with Sticks regularly to find out what's happening. My experience is if it twangs, they know about it. I think they do an excellent job trying to keep the fire burning. Unfortunately our excitement might be limited by the offerings of the area, not the quality of the website.  |
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