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Topic: Some music for ya |
Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Roman Sonnleitner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Posted 31 Jan 2006 5:14 am |
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Hi,
very nice songs, with a definite '60s/70s feel.
I'm still a newbie myself at playing the lap steel (though I'm kinda surprised myself about the progress I'm making - learning 'regular' guitar or accordion was much more difficult for me...), so take my tips accordingly...
I'm thinking that in your songs the lap steel might be used like usually a pedal steel or maybe a keyboard would be - adding texture by playing long, sustained chords in the background, with some nice slow slides on the changes. And you might try adding single-note solos that are modelled after the singer's melody, maybe on a bridge part in a song, or maybe in a kind of call-and-response - with the singer doing a line, the steel repeating that melody after him, the singer coming back, etc.
You might want to listen to some of these bands (if you aren't already): Calexico, Midnight Choir, Friends of Dean Martinez (mostly instrumental music, but listen how the lap steel is used both as a 'texture' and lead instrument), and Loudon Wainwright's last album 'Here Come The Choppers!' - all of those feature either pedal or lap steel in the roles I described, and while all of them have some country influences, they are more like singer/songwriter- 60s-pop type music that you are making.
Roman |
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George Rout
From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 31 Jan 2006 8:42 am
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Hey Fred, that's good stuff. It's not something I COULD play, but it reminds me of my two sons (in their late 30's) as both of their music genures are different from mine and different from each other. My older son was influenced by Kraftwerk. He just brought out a new vinyl record, YES VINYL. He was here the other day and proudly showed it to me. He's been on tour in the UK, Germany, and Scandinavia.
The younger guy is a metalhead and plays a screamin' bass, and a bit of lap steel!!!!
Keep up the good work. George |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 31 Jan 2006 1:25 pm
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I'll agree with Roman, and add to the suggested listening list (for inspiration):
Bill Frisell "Good dog, Happy man" and "Blues Dream" Greg Leisz on lap steel. dobro, pedal steel. Inside and outside of the box, just like Frisell's playing. Look in the jazz section. |
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Roman Sonnleitner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Posted 31 Jan 2006 2:54 pm
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Chris, the lap steel player on Loudon Wainwright's album that I mentioned is Greg Leisz, as well! 
Oh, and BTW, another listening tip: Ryan Adams' 'Jacksonville City Nights' also has some nice steel background work.
Roman |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Posted 2 Feb 2006 1:48 am
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Thanks folks! My coming projects will for sure feature both electric and acoustic lap steel. We have a Frock album to record this spring (our drummer is on tour with another band until April, so recordings have been postsponed until his return) and it will feature some slide. But I have other plans as well, that will incorporate steel guitar in a more prominent way.
Cheers,
Fred |
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