As usual, my convention focused less on seeing performances and more on seeing friends old and new. The Rosettas, the Caldwells, Buzz E., Jerry B., Jimbeaux, Greg and Bob from Canada, Neil, Bobbe, hanging out at Wayne's World, the list goes on and on. We have a wonderful family, some of the closest and dearest friends I've had in life. What sets I caught were due to my working the Texas SGA booth, but there were some doozies, fer sure. I'll only comment on what I heard personally...
Herby Wallace is a master of the art, and his opening set was beautifully constructed. We drink from the same well in our approach to ballads on C6. I might be driving along and get an idea for a standard to play on the back neck, thinking I'm gonna record it, then I go to a steel show and Herby leads off his set with the same tune, announcing it's on his new album. Con Hunley has proved to me he's still the most soulful balladeer in recent memory for me, and he had the women swooning. His great respect for Herby showed during their performance as well. The Herby-man is Hall of Fame material, totally.
Tommy White's performances alone and with Lloyd Green blew my mind. After TW's last ride on "Home in San Antone," I turned to Buzz Evans and said "tell me I didn't hear what I just heard." Buzz had a look on his face like he had just witnessed a murder! TW, in my humble opinion, is the main cat to watch for the future of country steel guitar. I mean to offend no one by omission, but that's my feeling currently about TW.
Bud Charleton was the man with the most pent-up consumer demand at the show. People were so intent on having their minds blown by him that he could have gotten a Standing O for breaking a .011! Of course, he was up to the task and totally wore it out. The list of pro players sitting on the floor in front of the stage with their legs crossed like kids in the 3rd grade would have made a great steel show lineup in itself. BC did not disappoint, the man is simply a beautiful player... it looks like he's lost a bunch of weight and the energy shows in his approach. And the interplay with Bobby Caldwell was worth the 18 hour drive from Texas by itself. He was one of the main reasons I play this instrument in the first place, so perhaps I'm slightly biased in his favor.
World-class Weldon played a magnificent set, but having to follow BC was an unfortunate draw of the cards. Much of the audience was simply worn out from the ecstasy of Charleton-overload, like needing a cigarette after wonderful sex. One day, Big E will want to return to the Convention stage and I pity the fool that will have to follow Buddy at that time.
Lloyd Green again proved to me that he's the supreme melodicist, IMHO the Jerry Byrd of E9. I compare them not in terms of playing style so much as in their philosophy of approaching the instrument and communicating with it. And their ability to say more with one or two notes than guys like me TRY to say with one or two choruses.
Is John Hughey getting better and better all the time, or am I suffering from delusions? I believe the former is correct. I only caught part of his Sunday show but it was killer and surpassed his performance in Tulsa this year which had my jaw dropped so far I had to seek a doctor to have it re-set.
Dr. Kathy (the "missus") will be pleased that for once in my life I have shown restraint with equipment. I come back to Texas with only 5 new CD's (and two were "comps"), and an Emmons ballcap and T-shirt. I did get to hug Susan Strull though!
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 04 September 2001 at 08:44 AM.]</p></FONT>
For those of you who are unaware, Gary is a wonderful person and YES, he does have a sense of humor about purple Zums!
