L.A. Steel Jam: April 21 & 22, still some open slots

admin · Post by **b0b** » 25 Apr 2012 11:44 am

Ron Epperson wrote:i say if u dont listen to the great RAY PRICE u probaly shouldnt play steel guitar its like not knowing steelguitar rag if u want to play other styles of music on the steel thats is fine but please know where steelguitar music came from the real country music even toby kieths steel player knows crazy arms common

Who's Toby Kieth?

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 25 Apr 2012 12:31 pm

Here we go again!...

Mike Maddux · Post by **Mike Maddux** » 25 Apr 2012 8:36 pm

b0b wrote:Why does everyone look so miserable?

Ouch....
I think we were just in-between songs. Maybe we needed a lunch break by that point.

John: Agreed on all points. Its a work in progress.

If you played on either day, can you please e-mail me your name and the day you played...thanks mikemaddux@verizon.net

Drew Taubenfeld · Post by **Drew Taubenfeld** » 26 Apr 2012 7:26 am

I had such a great time at the Jam.
It was a great learning experience, and everyone was as nice as can be.

Thanks Mike P and Jim e for running the show.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 26 Apr 2012 12:30 pm

Hey John,We ain't going again.The Steel Guitar is still alive with real country music and Rock N Roll pickers.Even in hard head hammer heads music.If Bob would really let us talk about the real deals of music you would have millions of in house Musicians & non- Musicians jumping in on it,the topic..... Just like the late " Sam Cooke " new Book " One More River To Cross ", The Redemption Of Sam Cooke. So I truly understand the rules of the Forum. God Bless us all,Uncle Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 Apr 2012 6:43 pm

How do you guys like this idea; As you know, I have people notify me in advance to play. Suppose everybody chooses a couple of tunes they want to do, and we have the set lists prepared on the basis of everybody's choices.

Do you think this would be a good idea?

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 26 Apr 2012 7:18 pm

It's a jam; not a concert or an audition. Who wants to have to do homework for a jam?

Mike Maddux · Post by **Mike Maddux** » 26 Apr 2012 8:43 pm

Paul Sutherland wrote:It's a jam; not a concert or an audition. Who wants to have to do homework for a jam?

That's the format that i've always been familiar with when it comes to jams.

It would work out well for the people that want to pick their song or two...but keep in mind ALL JAMMERS would have to commit to learning 15-30 songs.

By no one having preparation, it levels the playing field in a way....

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 Apr 2012 10:33 pm

Paul Sutherland wrote:It's a jam; not a concert or an audition. Who wants to have to do homework for a jam?

See, this is exactly the kind if conflicting opinions I have to put up with in planning this thing. Everybody wants something different. John M wants set lists, others want to keep things spontaneous. I try to accommodate everybody, and wind up pissing everybody off.

So, I'm pulling rank, This is how we're going to do it from now on.

No set lists. We're going to remain spontaneous. But we will continue to take turns kicking off the songs in a round robin, and as it's each player's turn to kick off the song, that player will choose what song we will play.

Does anybody have a problem with that?

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 26 Apr 2012 10:44 pm

Mike:

I'm the outsider from the north. No one needs to listen to me. Take the pulse of the So Cal pickers and then make your decision. You're the man!! Now I'll shut my mouth.

Paul

PS: Thanks for all your work in putting this together. It really was fun.

Ron Epperson · Post by **Ron Epperson** » 27 Apr 2012 12:09 pm

hey mike u r right spontanious is the way to go if the player feels uncomfortable with the song someone picks he or she has the option to not play if u dont feel u can play the song back out. but when it is your turn to play put your heart into it dont worry what you think everybody else is going to think we r there to have fun with the instrument if u have a song in mind tell jimmy E. in advance then he will have it ready for you and away we go just play with your heart

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 29 Apr 2012 7:07 pm

2 more cents:

the downsides to spontaneously called tunes:

• with BIAB tracks, if you've never heard the selected song(s) with a vocal melody, you have no clue how to play with the song, other than root chord noodling, or maybe gleaning some idea of the melody from players before you who DO know the melody.

• the whole format is solo playing; and I feel that playing is more enjoyable, for players AND other listeners (we do have an audience), when players are at least somewhat familiar with material.

• all of us play better when familiar with material.

• no one HAS to prepare, but if material is available, it's an option for eager-to-impress jammers

• there are quite a few new players, any help to them should be welcome, I'm guessing

• I still would love to hear a quick verse & chorus with vocal to refresh my memory; for the life of me I couldn't remember how "Bubbles in My Beer" went, till Groover hummed it to me, after my turn had passed, of course. Not all of us need that, but I'm sure that for every last song, SOMEONE needs or wants that. Otherwise they usually pass, and that lessens their enjoyment of the jam session.

• I envision a short list of pre-determined songs, as well as a set of requested songs, get it both ways.

So there!

I'm tempted to host a jam in this format if life ever slows down. I have many students playing our Perl Jam now, and I know all of them like these ideas to make it a more satisfying, more educational experience for them.

Professor Twang