The Steel Guitar Forum

"The Purpose of Joe Wright's Theophilous"

I see Joe Wright's "Theophilous" act as a satire of the general public's stereotype of the steel guitar: primarily a country instrument that whines behind hillbilly country tunes. In doing this act, Joe is using satire to dispel these stereotypes, showing the audience that steel guitar is not just a "hillbilly" instrument.

He starts off the show doing "Steel Guitar Rag", the most common, well-known and overplayed steel guitar instrumental. This song is placed in the show as the perfect musical complement to his satirical character. At first he acts like he barely knows how to play, then slowly builds up to some great licks before shedding Theophilous and returning to the stage to continue his mission to break down all pre-conceived notions of the steel guitar. He uses Theophilous as a satirical introduction to his argument, and succeeds in winning over his audience early.

To his credit, he can play hard-core country steel just as good or better than most, so he gets to drive his point home further in his show by slipping in the classic country runs while demonstrating his expertise at rock, funk, and sometimes jazz & classical styles.

Joe knows what he's doing. The name "Theophilous", or "the awfulest", is meant to be ironic in that this hillbilly clown actually turns out to be an amazing picker - another attempt to spotlight the tragic fact that legendary steel players do not get the same credit for musical genious that legendary conventional guitarists receive. Joe is quick-witted, intense, intellegent and extremely talented. There's more to Phelophilous than just mindless comedy. This character is making a deeper statement, which I'm sure has not escaped the thousands who have attended his shows.

Danny, I appreciate your thoughtful comments. I was reacting, though, to the posts essential telling me you can't post a negativ review, which I find ludicrous. As far as my Hee-Haw comment, that was somewhat of an elbow-nudge joke - everyone I know, including country fans, finds the show pretty insulting to country artists by going so far to the "corn" side as to making people look stupid. I assumed most would be in line with other I know - I guess not. It wasn't meant to insult anyone - but I do think the show insults country performers by degrading their inteligence, which is unfair.

I also again will repeat that I find vale in Joe's materials; I commented on the production and organization, not the overall content, which except for the "robot player" part of his book is mostly really good stuff; it's just presented in a haphazard way IMO. Note - "IMO". I always thought opinions were valued so intelligent buying decisions could be made. but the idea that only positive things can be posted I find absolutely insulting to the intelligence of every member of this forum.

I look for good...and bad, and "review" things as I see them. I was brought up to present things honestly. I've done the same thing on other forums for years - it only seems to be a problem here, where things are awfully "provincial" at times. I can't change that. I also DO try to contribute my knowledge to the forum, which is why if you hang out in "electronics" you'll often find me posting buying advice, cautions, explanations; on just about every Fender cable-stel thread, since I seem to have become one of the "self-proclaimed experts" on these terrific tools ...if I complain, it's usually about teaching materials, which as a whole are very weak in the steel world as compared to other instruments (of which I play several). trying o push for better teaching should be a GOOD thing - too many people see it as an insult, but nothing will ever improve unless people point out perceived deficiencies.

Just becase you (in the figurative sense) don't agree about the materials does not mean I'm "wrong". It merely means we don't agree about it. Nothing wrong with that.

Lastly, as far as the "comedy act"...I had no idea what people were referring to. In L.A. we don't have steel shows, we don't have Joe performing here, we don't have steel stores for that matter. So I would not have had the opportunity to see him, nor is it likely I will, since I doubt he's going to do a solo tour that would include L.A., which is not a steel hotbed. the "Theofuless" or whatever it was is lost on me, as I have no frame of reference. Having no frame of reference, it looked from pictures like a pretty weird outfit. Thanks for explaining that he apparently does a comedy act of some sort (I'm still not sure what it is, but at least I know what the clothes are for).

Roger - Don't take what I say as a negative view of steel, or steel players, please. Just read it for what it is - a review of a particular set of materials, giving my personal opinion. Also, if you understand that not everyone here is a country musician you'll know that tastes vary as well. I was NOT insulting Joe - I was commenting on his material. Anyone who saw that review as an insult must not read many music magaxzines or venture to other forums.

So, Roger, please don't take my comments as anything to alter your steel playing path - my path is different. But the instrument is a tremendously versatile tool wih an untapped breadth of applications.

Bob H is dead on about Joe's right hand material and concept. Working through those exercises improved my playing by a massive amount. Its a little tedious but I guarantee the payoff is there.

Other instruments have basic exercises (paradiddles for drummers, etc) and Joes concept is right along those lines.

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Scott Swartz

The Linemen


<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Scott Swartz on 27 October 2006 at 01:30 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hey Jim, I wish you could come to St. Louis to Scotty's convention and listen to Joe and some of the others who perform there regularly. I think you'd really enjoy Joe's steel work. I know you're into other types of music much more than country and this guy can deliver. He can play you a Clapton ride as good as any guitarist around or kick off Johnny B. Goode just like Chuck Berry did and then sing the dang thing too. His alter-ego (Theoffulus) however it's spelled is very entertaining. He's one of the true "showmen" of the steel guitar. Having known you through the different Forums over the years I do respect your opinions and more than that, I respect your right to state them. I don't have any of Joe's courses but if they're in the condition you mentioned, I wouldn't be happy with them either and would say so. All that said, how's the GFI doing? You got one of the best.........JH in Va.

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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Jim, after reading all of the posts above, I would like to try to make you a happier person. Send me your home mailing address and the total cost of the materials you purchased from Joe or whomever. I, as a personal friend and volunteer representative of Joe Wright Productions ( Dallas, Mesa, Tulsa & St. Louis shows) will mail you a check for your cost of the materials, in advance of receiving the materials back from you. You may send me a personal e-mail instead of posting here if you like. Just click on the "e-mail" section above my post for my addess. Joe is not the kind to reply to Forum posts, but he is a man of honesty and integrity, and would not want anyone dissatisfied with any purchase you made. Thanks in advance - - Skip T
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Skip T on 27 October 2006 at 08:07 AM.]</p></FONT>

As long as anybody out there is reading this; If you want to be a better steel player and are willing to put in some basic work check out Joe's site:

http://www.pedalsteel.com/

His Right Hand system alone has brought steel instruction out of the dark ages !

It works.

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Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website

Jim Sliff, are you always this humble?

On top of which, Joe is the only person in the world who can sing "play that Funky Music White Boy" at a steel guitar show and have the audience love him for it.



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Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

<SMALL>can someone explain to me the dorky semi-clown getup I've seen in some pictures? It's embarrassing - looks like Hee-Haw on a really bad day </SMALL>

Jim does not have the historical benchmarks other than Hee Haw by which to judge... few do so I am not singling him out...

Joe's "Theofulus" character falls into a long tradition of "Country" comedy that includes bands like the SKillet Likkers, Minnie Pearl, Rod Brassfield and seems a direct descendant of charcter steel guitarist "Cousin Jody" of Lonzo & Oscar's band in the 50's.Dressing up like a sterotypical cartoon "Hill Billy"is kind of embarrasing in a sociological way, but it gave pleasure to the audiences they were aiming to entertain. Not as sociologically embarrassing as working in Blackface i'd reckon, but in the same vein without the Racism.


That Joe is an entertainer as well as an amazing player is a bonus for those who have seen him live. He could get by on his playing alone.

QUOTE: "In L.A. we don't have steel shows, we don't have Joe performing here, we don't have steel stores for that matter. So I would not have had the opportunity to see him, nor is it likely I will, since I doubt he's going to do a solo tour that would include L.A., which is not a steel hotbed."

Jim, the International Steel Guitar Convention in St Louis is held every year and is attended by steel guitar players/enthusiasts from all over the WORLD.

The opportunity to see Joe and other world class steel guitarists does exist. Instead of waiting for a tour to come to our local town...some make the effort to go to where it is happening.

It is no doubt that if you attended even one of these 4 days shows in St Louis, you would have your ears and eyes opened to steel guitar in ways you may have never imagined.

Where else can you hear the likes of Buddy Emmons, Paul Frankin, John Hughey, Tom Brumley, Doug Jernigan, Joe Wright, Herby Wallace, JayDee Manness, etc... ALL IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME????

Who knows, maybe you will have a good time?

Look forward to seeing you there!


<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Tim Harr on 27 October 2006 at 09:10 AM.]</p></FONT>

Wow talk about replys I sure got them Sorry Jim you have a right to your input I was a classic rock and roll front man on the west coast for years. My love for coutry made me come back to it. The steel even though I am new is awesome and I want to play Hotel California on it one of these days and sing it at the same time. So Joe has been an inspiration to me. If you live in Southern California I can see your min dset fast and furious I know I have been there. Keeping good positive inputs makes this a better forum. I hope to see and meet alot of you guys at the Texas Jamboree in March I am taking my teacher Lonnie Carrol 77 years old to this . This is my gift to him for what he has done fopr me. I am a slow learner right now but do practice every day. All I can say is if one does not have anything good to say do not say it. I said a comment from what a so called friend told me about Carter Steel guitars I found out it was my stupidity which I openly admit. All comments are welcome but good comments are respected.

Dave, thanks for the history lesson - seriously. It's stuff I've never been exposed to and you're right - I have no basic understanding of what it is about, so it just looks odd from the outside.

Skip - I appreciate what you offer, but you are (as seems to be the tone all the way through) either not reading what I said or completely misinterpreting it. I said the materials have value...I just was commenting that the videos are repetitious, the productin values pretty weak, and the book sloppy and disorganized....but I said, again, that there's good stuff in there. You just have to wade around to find it. Honeestly, I sold the videos months ago after watching them a couple of times - it's not too difficult to absorb the excercises, which are great, just overly long IMO. As far as the book goes, despite the production method I like parts of it, and it is a valuable tool. Personally, I think for the price it should be produced a little more professionally, but I've done book editing, production and layout in the past so maybe I'm coming from a different angle - I know how easy it really is, maybe Joe didn't and did the best he could with the tools he knew about. Regardless, I wouldn't give it up - there's good reference material in it I would not want to have to hunt down again.

Jerry - The GFI is the bomb. The "power-to-weight" ratio is amazing. I'm doing some twists on it - first I assumed an extension kit would fit - wrong - so I'm getting longer legs so I can play it with a volume pedal (not for the "normal" swells, but as "drive" method for tube amps and/or a "cleanup" for overdrive pedals, since there are no controls on the guitar). I'll also need to add an impedance-matcher so I can use some of my vintage and boutique effects without them getting slammed into distortion by the high-impedance pickup. Then comes the fun part - changing the copedent. Having experimented for some time with E9, I found I have everything it has and more with the "Sneaky" B6 copedent I use on my modified Fender 400...and with the GFI it'll only expand the capabilities and make it a bit easier to play. It is a tremendous guitar, highly recommended.

Tim - I guess a lot of folks don't mind spending a couple of grand to attend a show in St. Louis, but it's not an expense high on my family priority list. I'll spend that money on my kids' educational activities, sports leagues and things that matter more. If the show was closer to L.A. it would be a possibility, but St. Louis is just way out of the question.

I do wish we had at least some activity other than just Mike's jam (which I unfortunately missed last year), but when you consider the only steel stores are 70-100 miles outside L.A. you kind of get the picture we're not overflowing with steel players or fans. Other than John McLung and Silvio Bello, I'm not sure there's another steel player within 15 miles of me...<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 27 October 2006 at 09:56 AM.]</p></FONT>

Jim, the closest steel show is the one in January in Mesa AZ just outside of Phoenix.

You NEED to go to one of these shows.



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Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

Evidenced by your explanation, we agree that the opportunity does exist and it is about choices, not opportunity.

Guys look up the meaning of the word Theo in Greek, I am supprised the writer of this thread did not take off on that.

ernie

Love to - it's a matter of available time and money. Mike, you know about my travel budget and trips to Utah for family reasons...that pretty well kills off other travel for the next year or so, both financially and using all my time off.

I'll get to Arizona eventually with any luck. St. Louis probably never. I guess it really doesn't grab me as anything I'd really be interested in based on pictures and videos I've seen. I'd hate to spend a couple grand to see one or two people play that really interest me (I did listen to much of it on Steel Radio - and the people I enjoyed played at times like 3am!)

The last 60+ years is full of "comedy acts", where world-famous musician's put on unique costumes. A couple of examples of this are the Lawrence Welk show (dressing like farmers, construction workers, performing skits between playing etc.), and yes, even Hee Haw. I wonder what Curly first thought being surrounded by hay bales and straw hats!

What impresses me the most is how these players, including Joe, can be at the top of their game on their instrument, and then give of themselves in way so others can enjoy both the audio AND the visual.

Joes, current show, in many ways mirrors Mike Snyders show in style if not content. For those of you who know Mike I dont have to tell you he is a fine musician who has been able to make a living playing music of a high quality along with the comedy. The comedy music approach got Mike a regular slot on the GOO.... maybe Joe will also be so fortunate.

<SMALL>Mike, you know about my travel budget and trips to Utah for family reasons..</SMALL>

Actually I don't, but that's beside the point. Joe's live shows inbclude comedy, country and large doses of the very lkind of thing you advocate. He plays songs like Smoke on the Water, Taking Care of Business, and as I mentioned, Play that Funky Music White Boy. his set with Sarah Jory this year in St Louis could be subtitled "Dualing Fuzz tones.

There is a lot going on at these shows that would appeal to you, but more to the point, there's a lot going on that you don't know about, that you should.

Somehow, you've got to make the time and save up a couple of hundred bucks and make the trip.

Like I said, you really NEED to attend one of these shows and see what goes on there.

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Warning: I have a Telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

I've got a DVD that someone gave me of a couple of Joe's shows. Absolutely blew me away...a great picker and consumate showman. He has an unusual style, but I love it. He can certainly play different genres of music, and I've always been surprised that he hasn't got more recognition. I don't know about the materials...I've never seen any of them.

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Mike
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Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com

ZB Custom S-10 (#0509)

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mike Winter on 27 October 2006 at 12:41 PM.]</p></FONT>

QUOTE - "St. Louis probably never. I guess it really doesn't grab me as anything I'd really be interested in based on pictures and videos I've seen. I'd hate to spend a couple grand to see one or two people play that really interest me"

That is too bad. Someone who participates as much as you do in the SGF would have a blast.

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Tim Harr on 27 October 2006 at 12:53 PM.]</p></FONT>

Regarding Jim's comments about the repetition in Joe's DVD's, I can understand what he is talking about. I remember taking a look at a DVD of his before I had seen Joe or read his other materials where he was demonstrating left hand technique and for a good portion of the DVD he showed going from the first fret to the second and then from the first fret to the third, etc. On and on, and then down again.

After I saw him play and read his "my way" book, I realized that Joe was showing you exactly what he does to get as good as he is. It isn't a lot of fancy licks strung together: it is boring, dedicated, disciplined work. And that was what he is really showing you. I realized afterwards that to have just said: "Practice going up and down the frets until you can hit them without looking" wouldn't have been enough, because you would never really absorb what he was talking about. Only by watching him do it up and down, like he must have practiced a million times, do you get the idea of the dedication he is really teaching.
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bill McCloskey on 27 October 2006 at 12:59 PM.]</p></FONT>

Joe Wright is super talented individual.

I had heard about him for sometime, but once I heard and watched a video of his playing for the first time a few nmonths ago, I realized in all of about two seconds this guys great!

He reminds me of my friend the late Speedy West, in the sense of his showmanship. Speedy was a Master Showman and Joe has taken it onto a higher level.

We hope to get him to our steel show at Marshfield, MO one of these days. Hopefully, it might happen in 2007

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

If the ISGC only featured performances, I would not have attended. I agree that hours upon hours of someone else playing steel guitar is grating on the nerves, especially incessant speed-picking. I'm a performer - I can't take that much spectating. In fact, I know very few players that can stand to watch these types of shows for marathon periods of time. My real curiousity lay in trying the various brands of steels and checking out all the booths. I spent three days just wandering around, taking everything in. I didn't spend a whole lot of time in the ballroom, actually. I made sure I didn't miss a few favourites, but other than that I was roaming, chatting, hanging out with some friends, and playing James Morehead's Sho~Bud in the lobby. It was cool just to hang out and take it all in. There is a lot more to the ISGC than hero-worship....ha-ha.

Definitely a digression from the original topic, but "when in Rome"......

Joe's book on technique reminds me of Fred Zimmerman's book on bow technique for the double bass. Zimmerman breaks bow movement, especially string crossing (the most problematic part) into the smallest increments and then assembles them bit by bit into a whole concept of playing. I know very few who have gotten all the way through this book; it's a lifetime study. I do know that if you practise like Zimmerman advocates, you will improve. The idea is to have played so many combinations of up/down bow and going from one string to another that your bow arm is never surprised by something it has to play. It's the same with Joe's books and videos. The exercises aren't much fun, but the payoff is huge.