Posted: 19 Nov 2002 7:42 am
Stephen G-your points are well taken-in rubuttal to your words I feel that his drummer Petey-who usually only uses his snare,sticks and brushes,and a cymbal that he stikes about once a set-is about the greatest example of a "less is more" type of percussionist than I have ever seen-I dont know about you but most of my steel playing career has been in mostly "country" music and when you see the drummer that shows up with the total Slingerland kit with double toms,double bass,six cymbals, and all that stuff-I get worried because they may be able to play everything BUT what is really needed-someone with the temperament to do a bass-hat-rim shot all night! As far as the washboard or whatever you want to call it goes-it is at least 50% STEEL GUITAR-and that is still a hell of alot of exposure that J.B is giving our chosen instrument to the as you say "Lay People"-You are right that somebody who really wants one will build or have built for them-another "guit-steel" type instrument-and others may "play rigs around" J.B. on the guitar-others may "play rings around" him on the steel guitar-I am just doubtful in my humble opinion that in my lifetime-I ain't gonna see anybody who combines the two in performance better than JUNIOR BROWN-some of his songs can be considered "novelties"-But besides that Junior can "Rock Out" with the best of them as demonstrated by touring with such acts as Dave Matthews Band-and recording with Stone Temple Pilots just to name a few 