Midwest Country

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 6 Aug 2013 1:17 pm

Saw an episode of Midwest Country last night with Bobby Flores and Leona, Ron Williamsand Jade Jacks. Enjoyed the show. They need a better camera, difinitly not high def but good never the less. Who plays steel on the show and where does it originate from?

Dennis Atkins · Post by **Dennis Atkins** » 6 Aug 2013 1:29 pm

The show comes from Sandstone, Minnesota, and the steel player is Joe Savage. I was at that show, and it was real good.

Given the cost of modern technology, I think that Joe and Kathy do a pretty good job with what they have. It is held in an old movie theater, so the cost has to remain affordable.

As you can tell by the age of the audience, that it is only old traditional country that is featured. Some younger people do attend, but the age factor is above 65, and not over 90 as one person posted on another thread.

Keep watching, Joe and Kathy try to please as many people as they can with the talent that they present.

Dennis

Dennis Atkins · Post by **Dennis Atkins** » 6 Aug 2013 1:32 pm

As a side note, Henry, I used to live in Texarkana, TX and went to Benjamin Pierce High School, not once, but twice.

If I had a choice of living anywhere but Minnesota, it would be Texas, as my Dad was from that area.

Keep steeling.

Dennis

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 6 Aug 2013 4:15 pm

yeah Kathy & Joe are nice people I go up twice a year and record with David Church headed up there again in October.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 6 Aug 2013 5:38 pm

Thanks very much Dennis
Who was the first group on the show on tv? Thet had a fiddle but no steel. Even though the band was good, they just a little to showy for me. I did enjoy
Devil Went Down to Georgia. They did a good job on it.

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 6 Aug 2013 5:41 pm

they have a different house band steel player now plays a old fender sounds great but I dont have a clue what his name is. hard to tell who you might see on there and also hard to tell how old the shows are they show a lot of older shows as well. some 5 or 6 years back but still overall a great classic country program

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 6 Aug 2013 5:50 pm

I have seen John Ely playing steel on a couple Midwest Country shows. He was the recent guest at the AISGC Convention in Winchester IN. John had previously played with Asleep At The Wheel and spent some time in Hawaii playing at luaus and shows. He is a fine steel player.
Wally Pfeifer

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 6 Aug 2013 5:51 pm

thats his name. he is the full time player for Midwest Country Show at this time

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 6 Aug 2013 5:55 pm

last time we played there the whole town lost power right after the first set, David ended up doing a acoustic show with flash lights upon him and of course none of it got or could not get recorded.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 7 Aug 2013 5:01 am

I have watched the show and whoever does the sound. I don't know. If it is the auditorium or how they mix it. But it is a good show. I saw it when they did in Branson. It was clean.
Tommy Shown
SMFTBL

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 7 Aug 2013 6:32 am

I guess it's just a coincidence but the last time John Ely was our special guest at the HSGA Hawaiian Music Festival in Joliet IL,- he was "tearing up" on Under The Double Eagle" when all the power went out. We always blamed John but actually I believe there was a storm in the area.
See John's website at
www.hawaiiansteel.com

Mike Randolph · Post by **Mike Randolph** » 13 Aug 2013 7:19 am

John is a great guy and glad to call him a friend! He can surely burn that guitar up!