All song considered

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 21 Sep 2004 2:44 pm

The forthcoming CD by my band Hem is featured on NPR at the moment. There is a mp3 of "Jackson" on the site.
Thats me playing the dog whistle harmonics on the tune.

http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/

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Bob
intonation help

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 21 Sep 2004 2:57 pm

I love it! Kinda reminiscent of early Linda Ronstadt, her best stuff, from the early '70's. My kind of music, and your steel sounds great. I sure never expected this song done this way, but it's really nice. And this great sound coming out of Brooklyn...Nashville, Schmashville. If I could've found a band like that, I might've stayed in the states for a bit longer.

Man, two clips I like in one day, yours and Aarons. Proves there are still some real bands out there making real music, that's good to know. Best of luck with it, hope you guys have great success. Bring back real music. If you guys aren't a huge success, it'll just be a very sad example of the unfairness of the business. [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 21 September 2004 at 05:09 PM.]

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 21 Sep 2004 3:54 pm

Absolutely exquisite rendition. The steel complements the tune perfectly. Just great Bob.

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Jeff's Jazz

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 21 Sep 2004 4:03 pm

I've played this song about 7 times already, I really love it. If the rest of the CD is as good, I'll buy it.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 21 September 2004 at 05:18 PM.]

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 21 Sep 2004 4:37 pm

Jim,
Here is the website :
http://www.rabbitsongs.com/

There are a bunch of little samples of tunes and some extra tracks for hardcore fans that pre order the CD.

I'm glad you guys like it.

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Bob
intonation help

P Gleespen · Post by **P Gleespen** » 21 Sep 2004 4:40 pm

I can't speak for the new record, since I don't have it yet, but the older cd "Rabbit Songs" and the ep "I'm Talking with My Mouth" are both GREAT cds with a lot a really nice steel from Bob.

I'd probably like Hem even without the steel, so having the supra-cool steel-parts is like gravy!

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 21 Sep 2004 5:45 pm

Hem 's new cd also got a favorable mention in the national magazine "Entertainment Weekly" in a section about downloadable music

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 22 Sep 2004 12:52 am

Franklin?

Lawrence Lupkin · Post by **Lawrence Lupkin** » 22 Sep 2004 4:51 am

No, Jackson.

Truly superb, Bob.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 22 Sep 2004 5:19 am

Great take on an old favorite!

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 22 Sep 2004 6:14 am

Thanks guys !
Yea, Dan its my Franklin on that track. Its my Emmons PP on a few of the others on the CD.

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Bob
intonation help

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Sep 2004 6:24 am

Is the follow up album for Hem going to be
N' Haw

Greg Vincent · Post by **Greg Vincent** » 22 Sep 2004 6:40 am

Nice!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Sep 2004 7:27 am

Merci.

Sort of NYC does a Nashville Boyband thing.

N'Haw
Bluegrass harmonies, semi-hiphop with banjo tracks, and clean cut dudes.

Where's Malcolm McClaren when we need him.

Either that it's from the fashion institute / garment district HEM.. hmmm,
I always prefered it when Hem lines were rising!

Unfortunately I can't hear the Hem track "incompatible transport".
Though I am the owner of a DoDars CD.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 22 September 2004 at 08:31 AM.]

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 22 Sep 2004 9:15 am

Very nice Bob! I never woulda thought of "Jackson" as a ballad, but it works very well indeed!

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 22 Sep 2004 9:18 am

I liked it Bob. And I e-mailed it to my daughter who liked it as well. Thanks.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 22 Sep 2004 9:28 am

I'll keep you guys posted on tour dates. We are doing an east coast/southern swing next month and an extensive UK tour this winter. I'm really proud of this band.

Donald,
It is such an honor to have a thread about my band elevated by your clever puns and cutting wit. I can only imagine what deep irony and fantastic humour you would have come up with if you actually had any familiarity at all with the music !

Bob[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 22 September 2004 at 10:33 AM.]

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 22 Sep 2004 10:16 am

Great work, Bob!

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 22 Sep 2004 12:49 pm

To me the singer's voice is highly suggestive of a slightly processed Karla Bonoff (now playing with "Bryndle" out of Santa Barbara)

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 22 Sep 2004 9:44 pm

Jim,
I gotta check out Karla Bonoff. No processing on Sally's voice except a little reverb. As a matter of fact there is hardly any processing anywhere on the CD. Completely analog recording. The producers recorded my parts barely using compression. It was one of the most difficult CDs I have ever taken part in. I had to keep my dynamics and intonation together playing along with a full orchestra. Plus there was a documentary film crew in my face the whole time while I'm trying to come up with parts and solos. All in all I feel really lucky to have gotten to work on such a cool project.

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Bob
intonation help

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 23 Sep 2004 4:17 am

Bob, will you guys be playing at Hank's? <pre>more clever humor, but I know the music</pre>

Seriously, please keep us local guys posted for your local gigs.

I've seen Bob in a variety of groups & gigs over the last two years. His playing encompasses a wide variety of syles, from Alt. country/country, swing/jazz, experimental, & whatever else may be difficult to put a label on.

Bob is not your garden variety steel player. He' a musician who happens to play pedal steel.

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 23 Sep 2004 4:59 am

Another brooklynite here, really fond of the Rabbitsongs disc...

Bob, super happy to hear you guys got this one out of limbo, I assume it's the record you had mentioned a little while back.

Looking forward to hearing it... are you guys going to be playing locally anytime soon?

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 23 Sep 2004 6:41 am

We are playing the Bowery Ballroom NYC on Nov 9th. Monday we are doing something for ABC digital which is some sort of mystery cable network and then on oct 8th, in the morning, we are down in Phila for a World Cafe broadcast.

Howard, I've been gigging pretty regular at Hank's these days. I get that "what has my life come to" crushing depression feeling coming around like an old friend every time. I heard that Emmons you sold to Lawrence there the other night. That guitar is unbelievable sounding ! Lawrence was playing real well also.

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Bob
intonation help

Greg Vincent · Post by **Greg Vincent** » 23 Sep 2004 8:00 am

that "what has my life come to" crushing depression feeling

Bob that phrase made me laugh out loud when I read it!

I've experienced that feeling many times since taking up the steel!

-GV

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 23 Sep 2004 8:36 am

Bob, I like Hank's and even though I playingly knock it, I feel at home there when I swing by on a Sunday night. Even the guy who talks to himself all evening gives me a wave hello.

Yes, the Emmons has "that" tone, and I'm glad it's in the hands of someone (Lawrence) who is out and playing it. I know he really appreciates it and I'm happy. Everyone wins.