Robert Randolph on Jay Leno Monday Night

About Steel Guitarists and their Music

Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn

User avatar
Nick Reed
Posts: 4746
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Russellville, KY USA

Robert Randolph on Jay Leno Monday Night

Post by Nick Reed »

Robert Randolph & The Slide Brothers were featured Monday night on NBC's Tonight Show. . . . total of 4 Steels in the band. Robert was playing a red Mullen G2, the others were a Jackson Blackjack, a Jackson custom built standup model with pedals, also what looked to be a MSA SuperSlide Lap on legs. Not exactly my kind of music but they are a very talented bunch of guys.
Last edited by Nick Reed on 1 Mar 2013 7:42 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Brett Lanier
Posts: 1759
Joined: 9 Sep 2009 3:47 pm
Location: Madison, TN

Post by Brett Lanier »

I couldn't hear what they were singing but it sounded like the riff from "stand back" by The Allman Bros. I'll admit I had to switch over to Letterman to hear Emmylou and Rodney Crowell. Larry Campbell was with them and sounded mighty fine on his Sho-Bud.

*edit* It wasn't "Stand Back", but one those Allman Bros. tunes that's not coming to me at the moment.
Larry Lorows
Posts: 748
Joined: 13 Apr 2001 12:01 am
Location: Zephyrhills,Florida, USA

Post by Larry Lorows »

I saw Robert on Jay Leno's show, and was not impressed. Sure wish I had known about Emmylou on Letterman. Larry
U12 Williams keyless 400
Vegas 400, Nashville 112, Line 6 pod xt
User avatar
Jay Ganz
Posts: 2566
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Out Behind The Barn
Contact:

Post by Jay Ganz »

Brett Lanier wrote:
It wasn't "Stand Back", but one those Allman Bros. tunes that's not coming to me at the moment.
"Don't Keep Me Wondering" from the Idlewild South LP
User avatar
chris ivey
Posts: 12703
Joined: 8 Nov 1998 1:01 am
Location: california (deceased)

Post by chris ivey »

zing!!! wheeeeoooow.....wowowowow....boing..clang!!!


whatta buncha crap!


unless you like that kinda thing.

i'm afraid that won't help endear the steel guitar to the world.
User avatar
Bob Simons
Posts: 603
Joined: 18 Feb 2008 11:25 am
Location: Kansas City, Mo, USA

Post by Bob Simons »

It is hard to believe that anybody who likes only classic country music on a pedal steel can use the word "crap" disparagingly about other music. Get a life!
Zumsteel U12 8-5, MSA M3 U12 9-7, MSA SS 10-string, 1930 National Resonophonic, Telonics Combo, Webb 614e, Fender Steel King, Mesa Boogie T-Verb.
User avatar
Curt Trisko
Posts: 913
Joined: 12 Jan 2012 1:32 pm
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Post by Curt Trisko »

Whether you like that kind of music or not, he's definitely an entertainer.
User avatar
David Mason
Posts: 6072
Joined: 6 Oct 2001 12:01 am
Location: Cambridge, MD, USA

Post by David Mason »

They're just pissed that everybody likes Robert Randolph better than they like them. It's pretty easy to find out what most people feel about "classic country." Nothing to be gained from that, here.
User avatar
chris ivey
Posts: 12703
Joined: 8 Nov 1998 1:01 am
Location: california (deceased)

Post by chris ivey »

i'm certainly not a classic country specific fan. i appreciate beautiful music, melody, sensitivity...and don't give a hoot if anyone likes my playing. to my ears this was non-musical noise crap. yes..crap! it was ridiculous and laughable!
Len Ryder
Posts: 264
Joined: 26 Aug 2000 12:01 am
Location: Penticton B.C.

Post by Len Ryder »

If that's an example of expanding the Steel Guitar, Gawwwwwd help the instrument ! ! ! !
User avatar
Steve Branscom
Posts: 347
Joined: 1 Nov 2007 6:38 pm
Location: Pacific NW

Post by Steve Branscom »

I didn't see the show but it probably was "Robert Randolph and the Slide Brothers". Their CD just came out on the 19th. The Slide Brothers are 4 prominent sacred steel performers. There's Aubrey Ghent, Chuck and Darick Campbell and Calvin Cooke. There's a discussion of the work on the New Products section. The music style like Hawaiian, Western Swing, Country and R&B is an acquired taste. That's why there's 42 flavors at Baskin Robbins.
Steve
User avatar
David Mason
Posts: 6072
Joined: 6 Oct 2001 12:01 am
Location: Cambridge, MD, USA

Post by David Mason »

I guess I'm just lucky that I consider I have given RR long enough to prove his musicianship to me - and he hasn't gotten a bit better in a decade, so I avoid listening to him long enough to injure me. I was interested in "The Slide Brothers" enough to peek at them performing "It Hurts Me Too" on YouTube, and I gotta say, the Grateful Dead did it a lot better. But I got out without serious injury.

However, in the lemonade-from-lemons dept, I did like the staging on that song, you could trying poking it up with the sound off. They had a little bitty spotlight on just the head and hands of each steel guitarist as they played, so they were floating like little disembodied "steel beings" above the stage. And the spot guy didn't know who was playing what when, so there was a bit of comic action too.
User avatar
Mark Eaton
Posts: 6047
Joined: 15 Apr 2005 12:01 am
Location: Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California

Post by Mark Eaton »

If you miss it the evening it airs, most of these late night network shows are available to watch on their respective websites for a period of time after the fact, and it's often divided up in segments for reference. Of course, they often end up on YouTube sooner rather than later.

Here's the Slide Brothers segment from last night:

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/mus ... ndex.shtml
Mark
User avatar
John McClung
Posts: 5106
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Olympia WA, USA
Contact:

Post by John McClung »

Thanks for posting the video link, Mark!

I really enjoyed the performance, for these reasons:

• very high energy show
• the audience dug it
• it showcased FOUR steelers
• it showcased 3 kinds of steels: 2 sit down pedal steels; 1 stand up pedal steel; and 1 lap steel (on legs)
• with that range of steels being played, it's bound to inspire some teenage guys and girls to look into playing a steel guitar; isn't that what our instrument needs to continue staying alive and relevant?

I'm starting to realize, from comments here, that a lot of steel players don't love the instrument as much as they love its typical musical genre homes: old school country, Hawaiian, and Western swing; maybe a little melodic jazz as well.

If the steel guitar isn't used in more contemporary musical settings, it WILL become an antiquated, irrelevant instrument limited to a dwindling audience. The steel could become a throwback like the frailing banjo. But with its huge sonic range, and ability to use modern effects, it has far more potential to grow into music of the future.

You don't have to personally love the styles it's playing, but I would hope all steelers would root for the steel to grow and expand anyway.
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
User avatar
Jamie Lennon
Posts: 1822
Joined: 30 Sep 1998 12:01 am
Location: Nashville, TN

Post by Jamie Lennon »

Robert is a great player......his style is different from what people expect the steel guitar to sound like. I enjoy him. Steel guitar can be used in all types of music....not just country. ......hence paul Franklin with dire straits. I know its not everyones cup of tea and people like different things. I think its great he is exposing our instrument to the world
Mullen Guitars, Little Walter Amps, Benado Effects, D'Addario Strings

www.georgettejones.net
User avatar
Tom Mossburg
Posts: 335
Joined: 27 Sep 2006 12:01 am
Location: AZ,

Emylou

Post by Tom Mossburg »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rim4NzPmhOA

for those that wanted to see Emylou and Rodney.
User avatar
Jack Hanson
Posts: 5024
Joined: 19 Jun 2012 3:42 pm
Location: San Luis Valley, USA

Post by Jack Hanson »

I thought it was awesome. I see little distinction between Randolph and Co. paying tribute to Duane Allman circa 1970, Mike Johnson paying tribute to Lloyd or Buddy or Jimmy circa 1960, or Bob Brozman paying tribute to Sol Hoopii circa 1930. It's all great. And it's all valid.
User avatar
Nick Reed
Posts: 4746
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Russellville, KY USA

Post by Nick Reed »

I got to see both performances last night while at work. I'm a on-air Engineer for 2 TV Stations carrying both NBC & CBS networks. Anyway, I did notice that most of them were using Fender Amps, especially Twin Reverbs. For about the past 8 months a Twin Reverb has become my personal Steel amp choice. My old Webb & Peavey N-1000 haven't got out much lately.

Image
Dan Tyack
Posts: 5090
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Olympia, WA USA
Contact:

Post by Dan Tyack »

Nick,

The reason they were using twins is probably because that's what SIR (or whatever rental company NBC uses) supplies.
User avatar
chris ivey
Posts: 12703
Joined: 8 Nov 1998 1:01 am
Location: california (deceased)

Post by chris ivey »

i've enjoyed some performance of robert and the cambell bros. that were more bluesy and melodic, so it's not the players or the genre i dislike. it was this song....zingy wingy wooo screech...
that i didn't care for. i never cared much for the allman bros. either, so shoot me!
User avatar
Mike Neer
Posts: 10990
Joined: 9 Dec 2002 1:01 am
Location: NJ
Contact:

Post by Mike Neer »

I would like to congratulate Robert, Chuck, Aubrey, Calvin and Darick for the new record and for the national network TV appearance. Keep it up!
Tim Heidner
Posts: 776
Joined: 9 Jan 2010 7:07 pm
Location: Groves, TX

Post by Tim Heidner »

too many guitars for my ears.
Keith Hilton
Posts: 3730
Joined: 1 May 1999 12:01 am
Location: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
Contact:

Post by Keith Hilton »

I enjoy Robert Randolph and his band. I would like to Jam with Robert's band.
User avatar
Bud Angelotti
Posts: 1363
Joined: 6 Oct 1999 12:01 am
Location: Larryville, NJ, USA
Contact:

Post by Bud Angelotti »

Sounds really loud. Like they are stepping all over each other. Like a conversation where nobody is listening to anybody else. Just all talking at the same time. I don't personally like loud music unless I'm the one making the noise. But thats just me. To each his/her own. ;-)
Just 'cause I look stupid, don't mean I'm not.
User avatar
Craig Stock
Posts: 3575
Joined: 24 Nov 1999 1:01 am
Location: Westfield, NJ USA
Contact:

Post by Craig Stock »

Funny thing is that the Campbells played on both broadcasts, Larry on Letterman, and Chuck and Darick on Leno :)
Regards, Craig

I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.

Today is tomorrow's Good ol' days
Post Reply