Is this country music? re:Will Van Horn

R. E. Miller · Post by **R. E. Miller** » 19 Oct 2018 2:38 pm

What we really ought to be asking isn't, "Is it country?" but, "Is it even Steel Guitar?" Shhhh...I think I heard pedals...

I mean, "What would Kayton Roberts do?"

WWKRD TM

Dan Kelly · Post by **Dan Kelly** » 19 Oct 2018 3:43 pm

Good music! I like it; creative, consonant, honest and original. Nice touch, good tone; good use of effects and the recordings and YouTube vids are well done. What's not to like?

BTW, people with tattoos should NEVER be allowed to play the PSG, or ANY musical instrument, for that matter. It is just not Country, I mean REAL Country. Did Brother Oswald have a bunch of tattoos? Did either Don Helms or Earl "Joaquin" Murphy or even Paul Bigsby have a bunch of tattoos? AND, What about Kayton Roberts... HMMMM???? NO! I rest my case.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 19 Oct 2018 7:12 pm

Jonathan Lam wrote:How do I make a poll?

The instructions for how to make a poll are in the FAQ, under the heading â€œPosting Issuesâ€, subheading â€œHow do I create a Poll?â€

Shocking lack of irony in that FAQ.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 19 Oct 2018 9:58 pm

How do I make a Pole?

For starters, it would help to be on very good terms with a Polish girl.
___

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 20 Oct 2018 8:34 am

The topic needs a poll. Or aserb--just not too aserbic.

Bishop Ronnie P Hall · Post by **Bishop Ronnie P Hall** » 20 Oct 2018 9:22 am

They have a new fan!
Bishop Ron Hall

Jonathan Lam · Post by **Jonathan Lam** » 20 Oct 2018 12:31 pm

Keep listening to this, and you will see what happens.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 20 Oct 2018 5:03 pm

Jonathan Lam wrote:Keep listening to this, and you will see what happens.

Aliens have already landed, the reptilians are still in charge, the coral reefs are dying...will listening to this stop the asteroid from striking?

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 21 Oct 2018 2:25 am

I think its good. The first track "Lost My Mind" kind of feels more like easy listening so definitely not country but I like all types of music so that doesn't bother me. Definitely something I'd listen to many times over. I know that the steel guitar kind of gets labeled as country but its just like any instrument and can be used in a number of various settings.

Roger Dillingham · Post by **Roger Dillingham** » 21 Oct 2018 5:22 am

I have aged enough now to consider myself a very conservative old fogey in most of my musical interests, but in my opinion this music is GREAT!I certainly have no problem with the direction of music in this expressive venture. I was prepared for some wild, almost psychedelic banter of loud shrieking bar slants and slides to achieve some adulterous attempt at music....but what did I find? I found beautiful and almost peaceful precision glides and staccato notes which enhance the rest of the background lines being played and establish a delightful composition of enjoyment and entertainment! I say, GO FOR IT Will Van Horn! You are wonderfully talented indeed! I have always appreciated beautiful music of any style, tastefully done. I have not given up country & western by any means; but I don't feel that the steel guitar community should make any attempt to limit someone's ability to "think out of the box" when it comes to musical expression of the wonderful instrument we cherish on this forum! JMHO, Roger

Charles Dulaney · Post by **Charles Dulaney** » 17 Dec 2019 7:01 pm

I disagree. Just because you don't like liquorish shouldn't make it unavailable to everyone else. I love Buck Owens, but why would THIS be country? What are you talking about? If an instrument can only sound correct being played in the context/genre of what you're use to hearing it in, how would anything in music or culture ever progress?

I'm sure he could play 'Heartbreak By The Numbers' in all twelve keys but am so glad he opted for this instead. He's clearly done his homework and 1959 was 60 years ago. YMMV; peace

James Kerr · Post by **James Kerr** » 19 Dec 2019 12:26 pm

Here is an even bigger Sacrilege committed by me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsPQxc59ric&t=202s

JK.

Joseph Napolitano · Post by **Joseph Napolitano** » 19 Dec 2019 7:18 pm

Nice.Just bought it. Support the arts! Word.

David Mitchell · Post by **David Mitchell** » 19 Dec 2019 9:25 pm

I once used my car to pull a small tree out of the ground. Does that make me any less a motorist on the highway?

Jeff Peterson · Post by **Jeff Peterson** » 20 Dec 2019 12:13 pm

The execution, tonality and all was good...would defend to the death his right to play it. I like seeing anyone taking the pedal steel anywhere. Had a student a very long time ago who I wondered where steel would take them......Susan Alcorn. She landed on her feet.

David Mitchell · Post by **David Mitchell** » 20 Dec 2019 1:05 pm

Steel guitars are just now coming of age like a Spanish electric guitar and drums. Les Paul, James Burton, Jimi Hendrix and Angus Young all had a different idea of what an electric guitar should sound like. They were all successful and that's why it's such a popular instrument today. Take the modern drum set, Buddy Rich, Ringo Star and John Bonham all had a different idea of how a trap set should sound. They all were successful and it's one of the most popular instruments. If pedal steel mania is to grow and flourish it must have players with new ideas of how one should sound. The steel guitar is a musical instrument and not like a religious book where you wouldn't dare change a single word in it. I think what Will, Susan Alcorn and Robert Randolph play is pure genius and I can play the most traditional Nashville steel you ever heard. Let the pedal steel take us to unknown places. That's what art is all about.

Jon Doutt · Post by **Jon Doutt** » 7 Jan 2020 6:32 pm

It is a form of what RAP did to the music industry .
Turned it to CRAP that the younger people think is music .
It is Steel Guitar CRAP with no respect for music and the artist's that made it grate . The same thing that was the down fall of good old country music .
Call it what you want i call it crap .

Steven Hicken Jr. · Post by **Steven Hicken Jr.** » 8 Jan 2020 4:00 am

Jon Doutt wrote:It is a form of what RAP did to the music industry .
Turned it to CRAP that the younger people think is music .
It is Steel Guitar CRAP with no respect for music and the artist's that made it grate . The same thing that was the down fall of good old country music .
Call it what you want i call it crap .

I think it is very harsh to call it crap.

I have just listened to all the album to form a fair opinion.

The backing music is great and although a lot of effects are used in places (for the right reasons), the pedal steel sounds lovely. It really reminds me of a dream pop band called "Cigarettes After Sex" who are really big with American teens/coeds and are hitting my airwaves over in England too. People can't complain that the youth aren't inspired by steel and then shoot them down when they try something more contemporary...especially when this isn't actually much different to traditional steel.

This is coming from somebody who always gets told I'm a boring purist by modern country fans because I tell them modern country isn't country but hey, different topic altogether.

This is much different from a lot of the more unorthodox efforts I see and hear. This has more melody, cleaner technique and nods to the past innovators.

Parts of track 1 reminds me of Buddy Emmons' Wichita Lineman in both the steel and the band. That kind of retro thump followed by 6 stuff. The other parts of the song remind me of the tappy delay stuff Russ Pahl does in the modern era.

Track 4 on the other hand sounds much more traditional, not country but less effects and more pedal squeezes.

It might not be to everyone's taste but this certainly takes a lot more skill than some of the Pink Floyd "slide guitar" covers I've seen on YouTube... guys playing skateboards with whisky flasks miles out of tune, full of reverb and drive. People absolutely cream over them though???

I might buy a physical copy after hearing this.

Larry Carlson · Post by **Larry Carlson** » 8 Jan 2020 3:00 pm

I may be way out of touch but I don't understand why an instrument
should be constrained by being limited to a particular genre of music.
In my opinion, which is the only valid one I am aware of..

, the moment
musicians stop exercising their imagination and skills
in exploring new ground with any instrument, that will be the day music dies.

Adam Tracksler · Post by **Adam Tracksler** » 9 Jan 2020 9:22 am

I thought it was awesome. Just my cup of tea.

If you didnt like that, i bet you wont like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYTR3wReXc

And vice versa.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 9 Jan 2020 12:54 pm

Jon Doutt wrote: It is Steel Guitar CRAP with no respect for music and the artist's that made it grate .

What a cheesy response. Artists donâ€™t use the old cheese slicer the way they used to,

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 9 Jan 2020 12:55 pm

Make steel guitar grate again.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=352520

Thomas Sabatini · Post by **Thomas Sabatini** » 9 Jan 2020 5:53 pm

Adam Tracksler wrote:I thought it was awesome. Just my cup of tea.

If you didnt like that, i bet you wont like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYTR3wReXc

And vice versa.

Groovy stuff, man. You just won a fan.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 10 Jan 2020 3:50 am

Ken Pippus wrote:Make steel guitar grate again.

There are moments that the world passes by and I find myself grateful to hang on this forum.

colin mcintosh · Post by **colin mcintosh** » 12 Jan 2020 3:39 pm

Well played Will. I bought the digital album, burning it and going straight into my car's CD player.

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Is this country music? re:Will Van Horn

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