Where do the Sacred Steelers hang-out?

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 22 Apr 2006 2:28 pm

Sharing our music outside of the church walls is indeed a big step for us and changing it to compromise is not an option.

Well said Del Ray. Keep up the high standards my brother.

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 22 Apr 2006 9:08 pm

With due apologies to b0b if I incite a flame war (please, please, may this not), the following is meant to be a message to Mr. Del Ray Grace, and not to divert the discussion to religion, politics, or any other path that leads to uncivilized discussion on the Forum.

With that said...

Our biggest challange as christian musicians is that some secular venues love the music but reject the message that we carry. We have been asked by promoters to play at different functions but asked that we not to mention the name Jesus, Lord etc...

I really dislike double-standards in the US like this. Repressing a Hindi, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Navajo, or Zoroastrian from expressing a message about his or her religion in his or her music would be considered irreverent and grounds for a lawsuit, but doing so to a Christian is somehow passable and not even considered to be vaguely offensive. When UGA invited Anoushka Shankar, they did not ask her to refrain from playing any religious ragas--that would be unthinkable. Yet, I can't figure out why asking Mr. Del Ray Grace to remove spiritual content from his music is viewed as being within reason. I cry foul!

Mr. Del Ray Grace, keep trying to get your music out there. Don't compromise anything about it, and don't apologize for any part of it! Persevere with confident optimism that the stigmas in the US will eventually dissolve and our society will understand that freedom of religion includes respecting your choice to practice Christianity to the same degree as for any other religion or no religion.[This message was edited by Chris Lasher on 22 April 2006 at 10:21 PM.]

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 22 Apr 2006 9:27 pm

"but I've received the impression that if they don't play well, they definitely hear about it."

Whoever thinks churchgoers are more lenient of bad musicianship are not dialed-in to reality.

20 years of playing worship music, and let me tell you - a church crowd is tougher than any bar, club or auditorium audience. You HAVE to be on your game. and amazingly, you find a lot of pro-quality players who play worship music. Probably one of the top electric guitarists in the country plays only in church, because that's his choice. this guy could cut Brent Mason in seconds, but all he wants to do is play worship music in his little church in Utah.

I'd guess it's the same with many of the saced steelers - undoubtedly a lot of unheralded but mind-blowing players that you'll never hear unless you go to church.

Post by **b0b** » 23 Apr 2006 7:57 am

Repressing a Hindi, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Navajo, or Zoroastrian from expressing a message about his or her religion in his or her music would be considered irreverent and grounds for a lawsuit, but doing so to a Christian is somehow passable and not even considered to be vaguely offensive.

I think that most of us here find the idea very offensive. Your straw man is flame bait. Let's not go there, okay?

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
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Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 23 Apr 2006 8:19 am

I was apprehensive about sort-of hijacking Cliff's thread by injecting a side-bar on quality of music, and I'm glad that the discussion is staying subdued.

I saw Robert Randolph, Aubrey Ghent, and Ted Beard on Austin City Limits in 2004, and I was very impressed. Any style of ongoing music is going to generate its super-stars, both on the international level and, as Jim Sliff pointed out, on the local level as well.

Just remember that my comment pertained to audiences, not performers. Now it is up to the performers to exceed the expectations.

Del Ray Grace's response to my comment was interesting. Although I'm not familiar with church under discussion, it would make sense to me that an organization that has been actively pursuing the evolution of this form of praise would have exceptional perfomers involved. With a background and history of outstanding performance levels, the expectations would naturally be higher.

Del Ray's comments about the Living Blues Magazine reviewer are true in my experience as well. The spoken word portions of the service are a part of the overall package, but there are many in the secular audience who want to hear the music, but not the message.[This message was edited by Bryan Bradfield on 23 April 2006 at 05:38 PM.]

Del Ray Grace · Post by **Del Ray Grace** » 23 Apr 2006 12:45 pm

Thanks for the invitation to Alaska Stu Schulman, but being a tropical people, I doubt I can handle the cold weather up there.(smile) www.sacredstrings.com [This message was edited by Del Ray Grace on 23 April 2006 at 01:47 PM.]

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 23 Apr 2006 9:33 pm

Wow! I just checked out the link to MySpace that Donnie Hinson provided in his post above. I've heard Robert Randolph a few times, and he seems to be getting better than ever in leaps and bounds. When I went to MySpace, the tune "Squeeze" came on. It's not only a rave-up, but it's got some pleasing changes, and is played tastefully for the jam band genre. As much as I love country weepers and shuffles, I wish I could also play that hip. Check it out.
Joe

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 24 Apr 2006 3:27 pm

"Yet, I can't figure out why asking Mr. Del Ray Grace to remove spiritual content from his music is viewed as being within reason. I cry foul!"

You need to read the review of the CD in Living Blues Magazine. I don't have it in front of me, but I read it the other day.

The reviewer's opinion was that the if I remember correctly, he used the word "stilted" in reference to the spoken word portions within the songs.
When used as an adjective, "stilted" is defined as "Stiffly or artificially formal; stiff."

My recollection was that the reviewer made no comment about the religious nature of the spoken word portions-he apparently felt that they didn't "flow" with the music.

I haven't heard the CD yet-and since I play in a worship band for my church-I would probably like it just fine-but I just wanted to clarify this point for those that have not read the article before this topic spirals downward into a heated religious rights discussion.

Other than that, the review of Del Ray's new album was very favorable.

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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 24 April 2006 at 05:48 PM.]

Wade Tackett · Post by **Wade Tackett** » 24 Apr 2006 4:31 pm

Lots and lots of good coments guys. i will say I have had the oppertunity to hear the Sacred Steel players. It is worship and the churches love it. I play southern gospel and the sounds are exact with the country steel players and that is where we get our styles. However, we play for the same purpose and that is to give glory and praise to God.

Matt Lange · Post by **Matt Lange** » 25 Apr 2006 10:03 am

i love having a post about Sacred Steel!
I've got a question for Del Ray: You talked about not separating the music and the message, that the music is Christian and that's how it is. How do Sacred Steeler's such as yourself view Robert Randolph, who seemingly secularized the music for a larger audience? Do you see him as a way to get more attention to the music and the message of sacred steel, or is he viewed as an outsider?
Sorry guys, i know we've had a lot of RR posts, but i'm curious as to what someone inside the sacred steel community thinks.

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my music: www.myspace.com/mattlangemusic

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 25 Apr 2006 11:14 am

"i'm curious as to what someone inside the sacred steel community thinks"

Well, here's a quote from Chuck Campbell of the Campbell brothers on this forum from 2002:

"I want to personally say thanks to Robert & the family band, as they are the first
Sacred Steel band to go for it full time. As many know the rewards could be great or less than desirable over time. It is most likely many other younger Steelers from the church will follow Robert & the Family in making music a full time career because of Robert's bold step.
I see nothing wrong with Harry's taste, and definately nothing racist in not liking what he heard or thank he will hear. The fact of the matter is, playing for church services 2 to 5 hours in length we come from an enviroment where 80 percent or more of what you play may be rejected. BTW many in the church don't like what Robert, Campbell Brothers or many other players styles; in fact many of the negative comments of the forum about Robert & Sacred Steel we've heard a million times from church members. Too Loud, Fast, Out of tune, Not mellow, Not like a steel should sound. I've been asked by many why you can't play like those country steel players. I hope everyone continues to express there true feelings as the forum is the greatest thing since sliced bread for me (it's hard finding steel players to talk shop with). I'd like to close by saying thanks to those on the forum who have supported Robert & Sacred Steelers at shows, Jam sessions & with referrals as I would use names but there's too many to name. We try to turn people on to all steelers. If I can be racist; most of you all sound alike to Sacred Steelers. Only after recording with Dan & jamming with Bob, Bruce & Jim for hours did I notice maybe they're not Buddy, Lloyd, Tommy or Paul, Ha!
ps. How can you use a spell check on the forum?
Chuck"

Del Ray Grace · Post by **Del Ray Grace** » 25 Apr 2006 2:35 pm

Mark, thanks for the english lesson (smile)but this was my comment about the Living Blues article.

RE "the reviewer praised our music but kind of dissed the spoken word parts"

The word Stilted also carry with it the words Artificial(not natural)and Pompous (self important).The tune in question never broke the flow of the music as he suggested.The story line was the primary focus on this track and the song and music secondary.My wife and I read scriptural references to the Last Supper throughout the whole track.I'm not really sure what he is trying to imply but you are right we don't need a heated religious discussion.

Mat Lang. I consider Robert to be an awesome talent in my opinion. I've never met him but I have met and talked with his dad, we even took a few pictures together in Detroit. No, I don't consider Robert an outsider at all because I don't know what God's plan is for the young mans future.I can't speak for the sacred steel community but I do wish Robert Randolph God's speed.[This message was edited by Del Ray Grace on 25 April 2006 at 04:07 PM.]