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Topic: Played my first Hawaiian gig with an old pro yesterday |
Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 21 Oct 2001 9:22 am |
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Hey there, folks -- WOW! I'm excited. About a month and a half ago, I played my Triple-8 Stringmaster on a 3-hour wedding gig with a guy named Charlie who plays rhythm guitar, and does a variety of standards and Hawaiian music. Charlie usually plays solo, but hires extra players as needed for a gig. For this wedding reception, he hired me, and a woman named Kalina, who did Tahitian and Hula dancing for a small part of the gig. She also teaches dance (polynesian and belly dancing) at a studio here in the St. Pete area.
In any case, the following week, she called me and asked if I'd head up a trio for a five hour October 20 corporate job (I sing lead too, but like being a sideman). It would be 3-4 sets, plus two 1/2 hour "shows" with the dancers and fire juggler/eater. It paid $300/musician, and to be honest, although the dough was good, I was reluctant to take it, as I didn't really know ANY of those Hawaiian songs, nor did I speak any Hawaiian. I would also need to put together a 50-60 song book of old standards, too.
Charlie couldn't do it, and she needed someone to sing the tunes, and lead the gig. I would play the rhythm guitar, and a Hawaiian gentleman by the name of Richard Sanft would play steel. We would also have a drummer. Oh yes -- we would also need to learn to play Tahitian percussion for that portion of the show! Fortunately, I played percussion in high school too, so that didn't concern me as much as being the band leader on the gig. I personally LIKE playing sideman.
Dick was employed by Disney, and worked at the Polynesian villiage at Disneyworld for 20 years playing steel in a trio in the restaurant He is now retired, and living here in the Tampa/St.Pete area.
Well, I'm now REALLY glad I accepted the challenge. We did the Hawaiian job yesterday (large corporate affair, complete with Tahitian drums, fire juggler/eater, and hula dancers). It was a total BLAST! Dick played my '56 T-8 and sounded FANTASTIC on it. He really swings. We did lots of Hawaiian standards, old 50's era country, big band swing tunes, etc., and the people loved it. I played alternating bass/rhythm guitar through my bass amp, and it did a very passable job of sounding like a bass player with rhythm guitar on the upbeats. Dick just wailed on my steel, and the drummer made it swing with a lot of great brush work.
Anyway, just wanted to share. The lesson I learned most of all from this is, even when the new musical chanllenge looks HUGE, and maybe even insurmountable, do yourself a favor and TAKE IT ON. I now have about 50 new tunes in my book, a WAAAAY better understanding of singing in Hawaiian, and many more networking connections. To top it off, the event coordinator was THRILLED with us, and has many more bookings to talk with us about, for more BUCKS! 
Like they say, NO PAIN, NO GAIN!
TJW
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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (Amaj9, C6, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6) through an old Super Reverb or Deluxe; Melobar SLS lapsteel (open G); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (A6)
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Doug Seymour
From:
Jamestown NY USA (deceased)
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Posted 21 Oct 2001 2:16 pm
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Way to go! What a nice challenge & what a great expeririece/opportunity!! I used to have a 15 min program of Hawiian & steel tunes on KMA Shenandoah IA in 1950. Ike Everly was one of the staff guitarists there
then. I saw his sons this summer @ Chautauqua
NY with some very famous steel guitarist! I think his name began w/a B...Bud...Buddy Emmons....that's who it was! Just kidding, he's the best! and I've never forgotten his name! I think Steve Porter & were very fortunate, 'cause I think that was one of the last Everly Bro/Buddy Emmons gigs for a while?? Oh, yes forumite Joe Miraglia was there & my buddy Phil Griffin! Did I leave out anyone?? |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 21 Oct 2001 8:02 pm
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| I'll bet you had fun especially with Dick Sanft on the gig, Todd. I had the pleasure of playing with Dick in Waikiki a few years ago with him on steel and myself on r/guitar. He is one super guy and when you do your next gig, please tell him I said so! |
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Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 22 Oct 2001 4:21 am
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Hey George -- I will do that! Dick said that he gets back to Hawaii fairly often. He told me he was a HSGA member, too, and that I might want to consider joining up (which I believe I will).
Yeah, Dick's a great guy. He also plays great guitar, ukulele, and is a great Tahitian-style drummer, to boot. I sure hope I can get some pointers from him on playing Hawaiian steel in the coming months. I was so busy with concentrating on the lyrics, etc., that while I could enjoy the sounds coming from his steel playing, I really couldn't watch his techique closely enough.
One of these days, I really hope my wife and I can make it over to the islands. Florida's nice, but it's SOOOO muggy. Not much in the way of mountains, either!
I'll be sure to say hello for you. Take care,
TJW
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Todd James Weger/RD/RTD
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (Amaj9, C6, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6) through an old Super Reverb or Deluxe; Melobar SLS lapsteel (open G); Chandler RH-4 Koa semi-hollow lapsteel (A6)
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 22 Oct 2001 8:26 pm
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I agree, regarding the muggy of Ft.
Lauderdale...it was just too darned hot for me! Hawai'i has those tropic trade winds and 22 visits only make me yearn for more. [This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 24 October 2001 at 08:54 PM.] |
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c c johnson
From:
killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.
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Posted 23 Oct 2001 3:26 am
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| If Hawaii keeps improving, in about 30 yrs or so it will be comparable to Texas. CC |
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