The revolution has arrived

Mark Tomeo · Post by **Mark Tomeo** » 21 Aug 2001 11:37 am

The September issue of Esquire magazine includes an article called "A Gift from Above," concerning Robert Randolph, pedal steel guitar and salvation through music.
I don't know much about the sacred steel movement beyond what I've read here, but I know when the ground shifts underneath my feet (or underneath my pac-seat) and it's damn well shifting right now.
There've been articles about this guy everywhere lately. While some of the writers call him a lap steel player and describe his instrument variously as peddle steel, petal steel or pedal steep, it's getting a level of attention it hasn't had since the early 70s.
If Bud Issacs kicked off the pedal steel movement in the early 50s, the next shift came in the late 60s - early 70s with country rock music, which introduced pedal steel to urbanites and northerners. Country rock, along with the availability of Winnie Winston's instruction book, are the main reasons there is a second generation of steel players active today.
I think the third wave of steel guitar is striking right now, answering the debate about the future of steel, is steel dying, and where will the next generation of steel players come from.
The train's left the station. Can you imagine what it'll be like if all of a sudden it's cool to be a pedal steel guitarist?

[This message was edited by Mark Tomeo on 21 August 2001 at 12:38 PM.]

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 21 Aug 2001 1:30 pm

Mark, I can imagine it...I was there the last time!

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 21 Aug 2001 11:32 pm

Seems to me that playing the steel isn't going to be any "cooler" than it has been if you don't play the same type music that R.R. is playing. Most of the folks who think Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing was cool, certainly would NOT think Leon Rhodes, Chet Atkins, etc... was cool. Notice I said *MOST* not ALL.

Regards,
Lem

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 21 Aug 2001 11:46 pm

Boy, I love it! The world worships him , and he worships me! Go figure! 'Course he likes Lloyd Too. Nobodys perfect,but there was a guy once,------but thats another story a long time ago, in a land , far, far away.Funny though, this circle of appreciation, it's great! Everybody loves everybody! Maybe he is from above,he sure has a lot of people thinking, most are glad he's doin' it too! He is serving a purpose for all us steelers, lets hang on and go for the ride!
And we lived happily ever after!
(The fairy tale guy!)
Little Bobbe K.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 22 Aug 2001 5:26 am

Let's face it,....anything you do in your 20's IS cool.....after that, you're just faking it....oh, and BTW, it's "kewel"

[This message was edited by HowardR on 22 August 2001 at 06:27 AM.]

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 22 Aug 2001 5:51 am

UGHHH.

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Emmons Push Pull S10 | Peavey Session 400 | '52 Fender Lap Steel | Goodrich L120 & Matchbox

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 22 Aug 2001 6:01 am

HowardR: You're hitting pretty close to home now. I was wishing I could remember what it was like when I was 20 but Bobbe lost the Memory book and I'm struggling with this sometimes empty head. I keep looking in the mirror for STUPID on my forehead but so far it hasn't been showing through my receding hairline. Seems everything I had or got is either fading or receding. What next ??

Regards, Paul

[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 22 August 2001 at 07:02 AM.]

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 22 Aug 2001 6:02 am

So true. If it were not for "Kewl", "you know" and "like", teenagers and most 20 yr olds would not be able to speak.

Would some informed person please tell me what "kewl" really means.

God help us,

carl

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 22 Aug 2001 7:45 am

Would some informed person please tell me what "kewl" really means.

Definition:
cool (kewl) ___meets my approval; but for the life of me, I couldn't tell you why.

Rick

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 22 Aug 2001 8:13 am

Carl
You forgot 'Whatever!'

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 22 Aug 2001 9:40 pm

Carl, The fact that Robert is esposing people to the pedal steel guitar is kewl. The steel guitar extravaganzas were kewl. Your new Excel is kewl. It would be even more kewl if it didn't have any cabinet drop.
This forum is kewl. The Convention is kewl. So is winning the lottery, or falling in love, or going to a great restaurant, or hearing a grezt band.

Breaking your 3rd string in the middle of your solo is not kewl.

bob drawbaugh · Post by **bob drawbaugh** » 25 Aug 2001 1:21 pm

Revolution? Revival maybe.

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 25 Aug 2001 4:39 pm

This week I visited several hip record stores here in Canada (y'know, where the kewl kids work) looking in vain for RR's "The Word". Nobody here seems hip to it yet. I'll have to mail order it, I guess.
An aside: The word "cool" was first given that connotation by Tenor Saxophonist Lester Young, who not only revolutionized jazz through his recordings with Basie, but revolutionized the English Language. It was also Lester that started calling people "man". Some of his phrases are still dredged up and polished up for new use... such as "Let's not go there...."
Sorry to get off topic. Although I haven't heard RR yet, I think all this attention shone on the steel is very kewl.
(man)
-John

Harry Hess · Post by **Harry Hess** » 25 Aug 2001 9:14 pm

Come on, Bobbe! We can always count on you to say it like it is and let the chips fall where they may.

What do you think of this fuzzed out steel playing pentatonic licks and imitating slide guitar and heavy metal tone?

When's the last time you played through a fuzz box?

Back in the 70's when Buddy Emmons and Curly Chalker and almost everybody else did something with it to, right?

I'll bet they all gag when they hear those cuts from the 70's with fuzz. Do you agree?

Regards,
HH

Bob Bowden · Post by **Bob Bowden** » 25 Aug 2001 10:49 pm

John, a little bad news for you. Atlantic has not bothered to release the Word in Canada yet. After a search of all the stores here, only one store had it in stock as a US Import. I was shocked when the store employee I asked actually knew what it was. Out of the 5 copies they ordered, only one is left, so there seems be a few other locals who are aware of the CD.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 26 Aug 2001 10:32 pm

Harry Hess said

What do you think of this fuzzed out steel playing pentatonic licks and imitating slide guitar and heavy metal tone?

I guess ignorance is bliss....

If you were really interested in contributing to this discussion, you would fork out the $14 bucks and buy Robert's record.

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www.tyacktunes.com

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 26 Aug 2001 10:43 pm

Harry,
You need to find a new thing to get upset about . Saying that the reason you play steel is because of Rusty Young and Sneaky Pete on one thread and then bashing a guy you have barely even listened to just because you think he used distortion is a little on the weird side.

Bob

From the Why did you start to play steel thread:

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Harry Hess
Member

From: Blue Bell, PA., USA posted 25 August 2001 10:20 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sweet Heart Of The Rodeo

Rusty Young

Sneaky Pete

Regards,
HH

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 26 August 2001 at 11:45 PM.]