The Steel Guitar Forum

July 18

5 times in 2020, all on steel-only,all cowboy church services with The No Hat Praise Band.Feb 2 (2 services),July 12(also 2 Services), and Oct 21st. No commercial gigs. Glad to have gotten out as much as I have.....

Played a gig last week.

Last night and again tomorrow. 11/06 and 11/08.

I think this is a short clip from our last indoor gig in late February or early March - https://www.facebook.com/melanie.brockw ... 616592469/ - it seems like a bloody eternity ago. This was just a month (and my second gig) after prostate surgery - ouch. Then, slam-bang-shut-down.

Doug Beaumier wrote:Three weeks ago. No more gigs until spring. Indoor gatherings are now limited to 10 people, and outdoor: 25 people.

Geez, Doug - I saw the clip, and your bass player is a doppelganger for our guitar player. I mean, I literally did a double-take:

I drove through Iowa City on my way home an hour ago. It's Hawkeye game day and several groups of students partying in the neighborhoods and downtown. No masks and no social distancing. Makes me wonder if brains and high I.Q's got them into college?

Yeah, Maryland was here today. But there's no tailgating and only a very small number of people are allowed in the stadium. But it is crowded in town.

Students are definitely getting sick in large numbers, but largely are recovering. The hospitals numbers are going up some with mostly older people - most of the deaths here are from nursing homes. So the key for me is to stay the hell away from them! It's a drag, but I don't see any alternative.

I can't remember??

My last was in Mesa, AZ in March. Be glad when we get a handle on this virus problem and back to playing out again.
Geo

First time since ‘72 without playing a single gig. About 80 dates canceled including some European dates. Sessions have been way up, though.

I played yesterday, Saturday, on the guitar player's sidewalk on a quiet street. Beautiful weather here in Southern New England.

About 40 people passed by, watched from their porches, or brought chairs to sit on. Yes: an actual audience!

And Friday I played (indoors) at The Parlour, but without an audience. It was lived streamed on Facebook, part of an effort to keep this wonderful bar/performance space open amidst the pandemic

In general, it was great to play again.

Chris

I am lucky, been playing almost every weekend since June. Of course that is down from before COVID of two to three times a week. Looks pretty slim through December, this second wave is hurting.

I’ve played 13 times since the beginning of March , a lot outside with social distancing. Normally I play Saturday nights , so it would have been around 36 times under normal conditions. Played last night and booked through the month , baring no more shut downs.

Played Back in March at Dallas show. Probably slow way up now that mask man Biden may take over virus control and stop all steel conventions.

Yesterday. Outside. Luckily temp was in the seventies. Last weekend outside at a winery, temps were high 40s/low 50s, it was brutal.

Played last night & Friday night in St. Pete, with my new band "Cruise Control". We do classic country, 50s, 60s, including British Invasion, blues, rockabilly & surf. Played last Saturday, too, and we have a few gigs coming up, but still looking to fill NYE.
Only problem was drunk people wanting to talk close to you & come up on stage. We tell 'em to "Get back". Don't care if they think I'm being rude.

The last show I played was March 12, 2020.

"Touch of Country" my band, Played a house band gig every Friday night. One Saturday night a month we was the closing act at Sage Brush Roundup.

Went from monthly string changes, To once in a while. Last change was Aug 15, 2020. My ears say it is string change time. Plan is tomorrow is the day.

Dave Mudgett wrote:Geez, Doug - I saw the clip, and your bass player is a doppelganger for our guitar player. I mean, I literally did a double-take...

Yes, I see the resemblance!

Dave, I was surprised to read about your recent surgery. I had the same surgery at about the same time! Mine was January 10, and I too played a couple of gigs in late Feb, early March and then the shut down happened. Our summer calendar was full... fairs, town concerts, casinos, breweries, all cancelled.

For me, not since last Feb.
I miss the “flesh and blood.”

I'm feeling the hit in string sales from steelguitarshopper.com. People are playing out less so they aren't changing their strings as often.

Been playing out on the street at night a number of times with my resonator...When I get tips, I give em to the guys on the streets who really need it(can't say I couldn't use an extra buck or two though!)

I don't know what I'm doing most of the time, but having fun!

I played Friday and Sunday, twice.

I took a 2 week trip to Europe to hear Django music mostly. I sat in for a few songs at a show. It was really nice. First time really playing in Europe. Got back in early March and straight into the lockdown. I'm sort of an apprentice musician so playing out isn't something I do a lot of other than jam sessions. I've practiced about 1000 hours since March and not going out and not feeling pressure to perform had been overall a good thing for me. Very sad not to go to a bar and see my friends tear it up though. I miss that a lot. The whole thing blows and I'm not a fan of it but I accept why it is what it is.

So weird to be in Paris getting tipsy on amazing belgian beer and walling along the Seine at night and then to get off the plane to a nightmare. I think about that trip daily.

I wonder if everyone else gets a flood of pleasant pre Covid memories, I find with the downtime and the monotony I am all day experiencing memories. I'm glad they are pleasant. For various reasons I've managed to keep my mood up through this but I know I'm really fortunate in that regard. Also it probably helps that I have a lot of practicing to do. I can imagine if you have your chops together and just love to play out this would be hell.

All the best to everyone and good luck through the winter.

i played in Albany Western Australia on Sunday night with The Human Highway, a Neil Young tribute band

(i do need to put in a new string order, Bob)

we havent had any COVID to speak of here for the last 6 months. Gigging life is more or less getting back ti normal (with 3/4 capacity in large venues like this one)

November 6th Plano American Legion.

August 30th outside gig in a park.