The Steel Guitar Forum

I'd say you're lucky (TP) to have found such a great place.... a couple years ago I played both types of places, with the same band, back in Kansas and around the midwest.

Mostly we played fairs, dinner clubs and opened concerts and had great crowds, they'd eat up everything we did.

One of the few clubs we'd play, supposed to be a Country Dance Hall, there were some nights we'd have a real young crowd that just stood there no matter what we played, with their beer in one hand and cigarette in the other. Then on the break when the typically obnoxious and loud DJ played some discofied version of Cotton-Eyed Joe or some such thing, they'd scream and yell and fill the floor (still with their beers and cigarettes). This was a VERY GOOD band, too.... I think this is what Bob C's talking about.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 06 February 2006 at 04:42 AM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>Not everyone can live in Texas...</SMALL>

Thank the Lord for that!



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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

I prefer to play for dancers. We have a dance band and play music to dance to. If the tune's not danceable, then we don't learn it. We only play one song that is suitable for line-dancing, though (thank goodness). For the kids we will play The Bunny Hop and The Chicken Dance.

Lee

Gordon,Yes I played a couple of them. We played at Quihi on New Years Eve. That is a wooden dance hall up on wood peers about 100 years old. We are getting ready to reopen the old Luxcello hall. I think it is the oldest one in Texas. I've played Twin Sisters,Anhalt and most of them in 150 miles but never played at Gruene. People here love to dance and most of these places are all ages.

Big Bob has NAILED it... years back, I was in a GREAT band based in central NJ.
Suffice it to say, most of the other local bands came out to see us when we were in the area.. truly excellent band... Most of our material was good contemporary and classic country w/ some classic rock,oldies,rockabilly mixed in.. In any case, I can't begin to tell you how amany times we would get glared at by the decked out Yankee "two stepper".. who would NOT ask for a song, but would come and request specific dances THEY wanted to do, and expect us to know what to play to accomodate them.. hell, we were players not dancers... the floors were ALWAYS MUCH more crowded during the DJ time during breaks,, REGARDLESS of which band was playing.. today, I play in a rock band and my steel work is very limited, but the floor is PACKED with pretty young girls dancing, and thier boyfriends listening... NOT a perfect solution, but I DO NOT miss the "yuppie cowpokes" I used to play for... NEVER met a more unappreciate group of snobs...

" You don't know how to play a Thunderfoot?"... what kind of band ARE you??"... "maybe next we'll we'll have a GOOD band here".... ad nauseum/ad infinitum... two words kept flashing in my head during those days at the " "two step taverns" .... STICK IT....... I like the rockers MUCH better.... bob

Yup, we play the chicken dance too!! The little kids have a ball with it.

We try to play at as many schools as we can so we can expose the next generation to live country music.

I think having a list of dance halls around
this area and the set list of the different bands that are accepted in those halls could give an insight to some bar bands that would like to crack that market.

I also think there are some bar bands that I hope would not be able to book some of those dance halls.

IMHO I think the Bobby Flores Band has the ideal set list for Country dance halls.

Lets face it. Some of the best money comes from taking a percent of the gate at a big dance hall.


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Gordon Borland
MSA D10,FENDER STEEL KING, <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Gordon Borland on 06 February 2006 at 08:21 AM.]</p></FONT>

Yes Gordon,,we are very fortunate to have many of those old "halls" all over this part of the country,,,thanks to the old German settlers who built them as a family communal week-end get together place. Most are well over 100 years old,,and most still echo the performancies of the greats. I live about a mile from gruene hall and am there most every week end,,,when I look around and realize that hank, lefty, merle and george have played there,,as well as bo diddly, jerry lee etc,,,just blows you away,,,I mean this is where it happened,,!!!

Sonny,
You might remember I bought buy MSA from you but I never thought I would be in a band with it.
What band do you play with so I can come see you guys?


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Gordon Borland
MSA D10,FENDER STEEL KING,

,,,,can't mention gruene hall without mentioning a regular there named Brett Graham,,he's there once a month and he IS a "country" singer,,,no steel guitar,,,but a great tele played by Boomer Norman,,,this band is TIGHT!! Brett has a reportoire that is unbelieveable,,,and they don't take breaks, or have a set list, or stop and try to think of which song to do next,,,,it is one song after another for 4 hours. everything from willie,,to hank,,to bob wills,,,just fantastic,,,

Maybe I am missing the point in all this because I tend to separate playing for dances from playing a stage show.

My take on it is that when one is hired to play for a “dance” it is the dancing that is the predominate factor. A musician who wants the world to come and “listen to me play” is not a good dance band member. He/she is too concerned about not being recognized for his/her talent. If the band is asked to play a particular dance beat then so be it. That’s what the band was hired to do and, is also why the people are there. They came to dance, not idolize the musicians; plain and simple.

A “stage” musician plays in shows where the music and the musicians are the primary denominator. People come to the establishment, take their seat and listen and tune into the music and the musicians playing the music. They are expected to entertain the audience with their music and their talents.

I really do feel that if you want to be in the “Look at me class” -don’t play at dances-!


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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)


<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 06 February 2006 at 09:26 AM.]</p></FONT>

Yes Gordon,,I definitely remember you,,,that must have been 16-18 years ago!!! I have a Kline universal and play in a band called "BIAB",,,LOL,,,when I play. I would like to start playing out again,,,especially bass (I consider myself a bass player first).
Are you going to Dallas??? I'd sure like to see you,,,,

Years ago we used to play dances in an old community hall with a creaky hardwood floor. In winter they heated part of it with a woodstove. We always got a gig for the local winter carnival and a lot of people would arrive on snowmobiles and park them on the snowbanks right outside the windows. I figure a quarter of the crowd were dressed in 'ski-doo' suits. Things used to get pretty rowdy at times but all in all the parties we played in that old place we the most fun I've had playing music. It had atmosphere.

Sonny,
I would like to see you again as well and thank you again for the deal on my axe!
I would like to go to Dallas but I am afraid I would end up buying a steel guitar. The steel guitar makers
of the real good kind did not build any planed obsolesces like the car makers did. Thus I want one but I dont
need one. I have four grown kids and seven grand kids and would feel guilty if I spent money on somthing
I really dont need but just want. And then there would be the problem of which one would I get!
Should I get a famous push and pull or a beautiful old Show Bud? Should I talk up Maurice Anderson or
Bud Carter for a good deal on a brand new axe? Should I find out what Bobby Seymour has in inventory?
Not only that Sonny but then there would hearing all of these folks who can really play a steel guitar knowing
that on my best day I would not have the right to stand in the same room with them.
It might be that all of the above is B.S. and I just dont want to spend money. Maybe some of both.
I play steel just good enough to get to play in a country dance band in country dance halls.
How you use what you already have to me is one key to having a good day.
Sorry, I doth ramble me thinkth!

Gordon,,,I'm subject to all those things too,,,but I'm weak,,,LOL. Let me know when ya'll are playing around here,,,

Re: Texas Dance Halls....Roger mentioned Quihi, Tx but what he failed to say is that he is with a top swing band headed up by Billy Mata. Absolutely no one plays a better mix of material than Texas Tradition. Billy was named entertainer of the year this past July at the show in Plano. I would not begin to take anything away from Bobby Flores.....he is a real talent and I'm a serious fan of both guys.

Back to the subject though...only in that south Texas area have I seen these venues where families can bring their kids. Those kids learn to dance at an early age and never stand in front of the bandstand yelling Freebird.

Billy Mata a great dance band indeed!
I got a call form John one time to go sub in the band but turned it down. I did not have the confidence.
Roger, now I know where to go see you!!!


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Gordon Borland
MSA D10,FENDER STEEL KING,

Gordon, Larry King and his bud Steve Matlock have been known to drive to South Texas dancehalls all the way from Northern Oklahoma. Steve is a monster steeler and plays sock footed. Steve and Larry sat in with us last summer. The band calls Larry my illigitimate son.

I always wondered if these kinds of dance halls were all over the country. These halls are where many stars paid their dues.
Crash Stewart would book Hank Williams in this area in the fiftys. If Hanks agent would book him somewhere in South Texas he always tried to pick up a few gigs on the side so his agent would not know about them.
Crash booked Hank for a frat party at U.T. at Austin and that is how their association started. Well Hank had Ray Price in the band and then Ray Had Willie at one time and then Johnny Bush then Johnny beget Frenchy and then Daryal McCall was in there too and I am sure I will be corrected if I dont have that exacally stright. Mucho history.

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Gordon Borland
MSA D10,FENDER STEEL KING,

Roger wrote.."the band calls Larry my illegitimate son".....he meant to say Steve. There is a definite resemblance. Now, about the child support.....we still need to resolve that issue.

OOps! had a senior moment. LOL

Roger,,,you're not old enough for a senior moment,,LOL. Looking forward to seeing you in Dallas,,,,

The Kentuckian Club in Romulus, MI.

They know how to two-step!

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<font size=1>Drew Howard - website - Fessenden guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.</font>

Sonny, I'll be 60 in March. We had to hire a 23 year old guitar player to bring the average age of the band down a little. LOL

Yep! Takes me back to Churchville, NY in the mid-70s, when I was steeler with the Innkeepers, house band at Dino's Restaurant: the best and most fun-filled gig I ever had (and I can't envision anything today to beat it)!

Of course, it's wrenching to think of what I sounded like back then: naught but a babe with MSA Semi-classic unleashed! (Good God!)