Pedal steel in a different context....

Al Evans · Post by **Al Evans** » 31 Oct 2019 1:09 pm

I bet you never saw a Fessenden pedal steel used like this!

https://vimeo.com/367350121

--Al Evans

Paul Norman · Post by **Paul Norman** » 31 Oct 2019 3:01 pm

It is different. I didn't say I liked it. But cowbells aren't bad in the right place.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 31 Oct 2019 3:26 pm

Interesting. I actually enjoyed it. Wikipedia says it's Ed William's on PSG.

Dennis Brion · Post by **Dennis Brion** » 31 Oct 2019 5:13 pm

Punk steel guitar, I was waiting for him to smash it on the floor at the end very different!

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 31 Oct 2019 6:18 pm

Somebodyâ€™s been watchinâ€™ Rusty Young...

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 31 Oct 2019 7:53 pm

Guys a good player,,, Actually quite a good band all the way around.. The bass player/drummer/ percussionist are really solid.. they lay down a big thick groove that you can walk across... I like them... bob

admin · Post by **b0b** » 31 Oct 2019 10:03 pm

Dennis Brion wrote:Punk steel guitar, I was waiting for him to smash it on the floor at the end very different!

Punk? I don't think so. To my ear it's straight up rock. More echo on the steel than I would ever use - 3 repeats? Still, he's very good and it's great to see steel featured as the lead instrument in a rock song.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 1 Nov 2019 4:27 am

Loved it.

Undoubtedly influenced by Robert Randolph.

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 1 Nov 2019 4:39 am

Even though heâ€™s not doing an Emmons, Chalker or Anderson thing heâ€™s a featured instrument in this pretty modern style song. That is a good thing for pedal steel, showing versatility. I like that it is out in front, too, not placed back behind the keyboards on a riser.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 1 Nov 2019 5:06 am

That's really really good. He is dead-on solid. Nothing 'experimental'. He's put in his experimenting hours so that he can come to the stage and know exactly what he's doing and present it as music.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 1 Nov 2019 5:13 am

b0b wrote:
Dennis Brion wrote:Punk steel guitar, I was waiting for him to smash it on the floor at the end very different!
Punk? I don't think so. To my ear it's straight up rock. More echo on the steel than I would ever use - 3 repeats? Still, he's very good and it's great to see steel featured as the lead instrument in a rock song.

While I am not a big fan of delay, I think his use (or overuse?) was perfect for this song. I plan on checking out some more of their stuff.

Mike Bacciarini · Post by **Mike Bacciarini** » 1 Nov 2019 6:30 am

Does remind me of Rusty Young. What ever fit the song, weather country steel, raging slide, B3, or ? Lots of body English.... wish there were more vids of early Poco with Russ â€œin actionâ€.

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 1 Nov 2019 6:34 am

I believe the music world is looking for more players pushing the instrument forward and staying current with Pop trends....I hear this song as a pop/rock setting. The steel is mimicking the U2 / Coldplay rhythmic delay approach typically heard from guitarists with a little Sacred steel slide style inserted, and his Rusty Young style showmanship sold it visually....What he chose to play was spot on for the gig.

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 1 Nov 2019 6:47 am

...players pushing the instrument forward...

Well, he certainly has that move mastered. He did it quite a few times!

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 1 Nov 2019 11:02 am

Wow! I dig this, and without guys playing like that in other genres, steel guitar is a dead dinosaur. Well, dying a slow death of cultural irrelevancy, at least...

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 1 Nov 2019 2:58 pm

Franklin wrote:I believe the music world is looking for more players pushing the instrument forward and staying current with Pop trends....I hear this song as a pop/rock setting. The steel is mimicking the U2 / Coldplay rhythmic delay approach typically heard from guitarists with a little Sacred steel slide style inserted, and his Rusty Young style showmanship sold it visually....What he chose to play was spot on for the gig.

No arguments there! Pedal steel can do so much stuff that's "out-of-the-box", but the artists and producers rarely give them the chance. Part of this is convention, and part is that most pedal steelers don't really care for it. It does require imagination and a willingness to experiment, though.

Jerry Horch · Post by **Jerry Horch** » 1 Nov 2019 3:58 pm

I do like the song...creative playing

Jim Norman · Post by **Jim Norman** » 1 Nov 2019 7:55 pm

I really enjoyed this. Thanks for posting.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 2 Nov 2019 1:43 am

Love It!!

Dave Hepworth · Post by **Dave Hepworth** » 2 Nov 2019 5:30 am

Brilliant ,really enjoyed this.The steel was right there up in the mix and totally relevant.Thought the use of the delay was really clever and suited the song.We need more of this to maintain and raise the instruments profile .

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 2 Nov 2019 7:32 am

Not my typical kind of music but the guy is inventive and plays what fits the song to a tee. Good work whoever you are.

Mike Daly · Post by **Mike Daly** » 2 Nov 2019 8:38 am

Enjoyed that. Thanks so much for posting. So much music, so little time..

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Nov 2019 12:51 pm

this was really good, I really enjoyed it, thank you for posting ...

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 2 Nov 2019 1:27 pm

This band, The Revivalists, is scheduled for airing tonight 1:00 am on Austin City Limits on my local PBS station. You might check your local station for times if interested.

Maybe get to see more of Ed on pedal steel in this rock setting.

If I read the listing correctly, this video in Al's link was a bonus and will not be seen in the PBS ACL airing in that time frame.

I long for the day that pedal steel in this style won't be considered by many as unusual, rather as being accepted as a part of the music just like any other instrument.

Players like Ed and bands like this utilizing it, go a long way to making that happen.

David Mitchell · Post by **David Mitchell** » 3 Nov 2019 12:52 am

I think it is pure genius. A pedal steel is a musical instrument. It doesn't necessarily have to whine and cry all the time. Healthy for steel guitar sales too and keeping the instrument alive and on stage.

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