The Steel Guitar Forum

Bob Hoffnar wrote:I used to do quite a bit of sound design work using the pedalsteel but lately I have been into playing with an unaffected sound and using the natural phrasing abilities of the steel in different contexts.
Here is an example of a first take improvized solo I did with a pop band a few years ago.

http://soundcloud.com/bobhoffnar/03-pop-song-sample

Edited: I just listened to it and I'm all over the track. Anything that isn't an acoustic guitar or string bass is pedalsteel. It was a fun session. We had some extra time and did a quick pass at this tune.

Bob, great stuff. Is that Hem? I have a few albums by them, always a pleasure to listen to.

Mike Daly wrote:This has been such an informative thread. Someone should put out a compilation CD of this material.

I agree. Let's have another CD of material from everybody here. I think we all enjoyed the first one.

Good point, Mike.
I think putting out a CD of music by bands and performers linked in the thread is fantastic, though we can only imagine the logistical nightmare of getting proper licensing, etc. But yes, all of us "outsiders" would make for a fascinating and diverse disc.

I didn't see a copy of that first CD - where's it available (if still out)?

That said, I think those of us who really like this thread, and can offer some music, should indeed see if we can coordinate a CD release. Maybe we could also snag folks like Susan Alcorn, Chas Smith, Bob Hoffnar, Earnest Bovine, etc. to contribute. Maybe a double disc?! As you've had experience in putting out CDs, what would we need to do to start this? I'd be willing to pony up what I can - what say the rest of y'all?

Here's one from a fun project a couple of years back.... live on Billboard TV. I have a couple of moments that I wish I could take back....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE0v0Oo4cac

Yes an alt PSG CD would be fun.....

I know I've posted this before, but in case it was missed, this band thoroughly incorporates pedal steel in its sound:
http://www.japancakesmusic.com/

And since this thread is gradually becoming a compendium of steel in other musics, who could ignore Paul Niehaus with Calexico:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVqafjjUrqs You cannot go wrong with these guys, especially with Mariachi Luz de Luna! Makes the faux "Mexican" tinged stuff on "country" radio sound positively stupid. And Jon, John & Joey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0SN1w3f ... re=related

The Low Anthem, mentioned somewhere on the Forum, doing better country music than the "stars":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW3khY7Lk8g

We all know of the ubiquitous Greg Leisz, especially with Bill Frisell, a phenomenal guitarist whom I long figured for a frustrated pedal steeler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn_0ug1oxPE

This is one of the best threads I've seen; long may it continue!

Truly, fellow steel guitarists, an embarrassment of riches out there. I KNOW someone didn't really say steel is dead!!

And to toot my own horn, I got to sit in with Donnie Iris in Dec. 2010, after appearing on his Christmas CD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZMUuC-E7zY

Unless I missed it, I didn't see anything in this thread about Bobbe Seymore--for instance, his "Rhythmatic" CD sales@steelguitar.net

Been working on this lick of Pauls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpVZKay_ ... re=related

Buddy Emmons doing some amazing stuff, I absolutely adore this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T_CvYnLxbY

And here's Wilco doing an old Uncle Tupelo song (I always preferred Uncle Tupelo to Wilco)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7YNn9cd ... re=related

Daniel, big fan of Calexico. Thanks for mentioning them, I can't belive I forgot to. And I adore the Japancakes, I mentioned them earlier in the thread but they did a cover of my favorite album of all time (My Bloody Valentine's Loveless) using the steel to do the vocal lines Amazing band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAunoNQJ ... 32C80BCDA8

hiphop:
I did this for about 10 years....
http://www.steeljj.com/audio/flying.asx

Elton: Good luck!

Justin: Yup, saw that Japancakes was mentioned, just wanted to post a link to their site and numerous albums.

Johan: Yea, I'm not a hip-hop fan, but that is certainly cool!

Plenty of links on the Forum to folks like Chas Smith, Susan Alcorn, Bob Hoffnar, Mike Perlowin, Dan Tyack, the Sacred Steel guitar players, Maggie Bjorklund, all playing outside the box....hunt 'em down and listen!

Lots of cool music from other Forumites in this thread! I expect to buy a disc or two.

I've put this up before, too, but it fits best in this thread (my primary band, INTRA):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj90-TeoEiA

I just came across these guys. Admittedly they are not that great in the genre they play, but they have some promise.
Vernal Pool: Kinda black metal and doom metal hybrid with lots of lap steel.
http://www.myspace.com/vernalpool
Check out the video on the page, more pronounced lap steel on that one.

Daniel Lanois and Greg Leisz: I thought this was pretty great to listen to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_SUG9wl ... re=related

And I know that Bon Iver has been mentioned before but I have been listening to the new album alot the past few days and am in love with this song, cool pedal steel and a strange 80's soft rock, jazz, style updated for the times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UtQe0JOCnM

Eric Heywood playing with Ray LaMontagne. I believe he is playing an 11 string key-less Williams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBOlkHS0 ... re=related

The drummer in my band reminded me of another great song with steel in it today. 90's indie stalwarts Pavement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qv5PZc_VmQ

First post for me (I was planning an introduction post, but was at a loss, not being a player yet). While I've always loved the sound of the PSG, I've never been a fan of country music (mainly because of the vocals). Although he's likely not on anyone's radar here (mainly because he just dabbles, for want of a better word), Steve Howe from Yes was the first one to pique my interest in PSG and non pedal steel - not technically blinding, but absolutely gorgeous melodic ideas, IMO. Jimmy Page dropped a few appropriately musical things into a couple of early Zep tunes. A little while ago, I'd picked up the Sling Blade DVD, and Daniel Lanois' bits in the extras reignited my interest. Besides his Belladonna CD, the only thing I have right now is Buddy Emmons' Steel Guitar Jazz, which is great. And in my Amazon wishlist I have a couple Bruce Kaphan CDs.

Pavement did the "cowboy" thang, eh? Nice song!

Christopher:
Steve Howe is much better on guitar than steel, but he's far better on steel than on vocals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOv_g0Bm ... re=related

The classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pNm2VqL ... re=related
Later version with strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WybjHMUT ... re=related
Another song, Steve starts on steel ~3:30:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fi-sUOM8io

Yeah, his vocals are an ongoing concern whenever I think about recommending some of his solo stuff (especially his early albums, before he wised up a bit ). Which is a shame, since there's some fantastic guitar work all over the place. It took a long time, but I can handle his singing now on his own material (still cringe when he sings Jon Anderson's parts though).

Those clips you chose were exactly what I was thinking of - nothing amazing from a technique standpoint (and I'm quite appreciative of the players that blaze on the instrument as well), but I love the note choices. Off the top of my head I'd add To Be Over and Going For The One:



http://youtu.be/gJs1itdGM6Y

http://youtu.be/ILvE3UFCN5A

Oh, and by the way, Christopher:
Welcome to the Steel Guitar Forum! Glad to have you aboard! If you haven't yet seen, there are all types of players (probably some non-players) and tastes to be found in this Forum, and it sounds like you jumped into a thread that suits you. Sometimes things get heated in exchanges, but that's to be expected in a group of 10,000+.
b0b has done a wonderful deed in hosting a place like this, a place I could have only dreamt of when I was learning steel.

Here are a couple of songs I played on that were somewhat out of the box. The first is by Eric Blakely out of Austin and the second is by James Carlson & Steady Hand, a band I play with in Grass Valley. Love this thread. Keep em' coming. [url]/Users/lawrencetracy/Dropbox/Larry ... e Blue.m4a. [/url]/Users/lawrencetracy/Dropbox/Larry's stuff/01 cain and able.m4a. HMMM must have done something wrong.

Larry:
I can't get the links to work - can you repost?

From the Steel Guitar News, a duet of Theremin and lap steel: http://duetonline.net/page2.html
I couldn't get the video to come up, but check them out on this page:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... +theremin+
The downloads (and CDs) are available at:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... &x=14&y=26

I'm sure all of us "alt" lovers know this one (I play this as a rare cover tune in my band INTRA):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfnUcp1J ... re=related

And more David Gilmour and Pink Floyd:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAJj8YKA ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9ohBMoz ... re=related

How cool is steel guitar, fellow travelers?
It never ends! Thank God!

I had completely forgot about Steve Howe played pedal steel. I had to bust out my Yes albums today because of this thread. And I had thought about posting some of that Gilmore stuff, glad to see Daniel beat me to the punch.

I forgot to mention some Hank III. I always love seeing him, just a fantastic show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pfn7A3BcbM

And since we've got some David Gilmore mentioned. Here's Luther Wright and the Wrongs with some cool pedal steel off there The Wall cover album. If you haven't checked the whole thing and like Pink Floyd and Country music I recommend it very highly. Saw them in 2004ish and it was great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEvznepdGDI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Iy0hbL ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy_PxHOuwGw

OK, Lets see if this works. http://soundcloud.com/steelar/01-cain-and-able. http://soundcloud.com/steelar/01-its-ok-to-be-blue

LOVE Steve Howe's unique take on steel guitar!

I did some work with the band CAKE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZItvCgsM ... re=related

I 've posted this guy before,but he plays what I would call a dobro. He's outta the box. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKnngyCIctA

Paul ,reminded me of a guy that I had almost forgot.Rusty Young may very well be why I play steel today.In 1969 Hendrix was still the biggest thing around,Joplin was gone,The Beatles where smokin the air waves.Then these guys came along.I was hooked on this intrument right then. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA1qOgfn ... re=related

And one of my earliest idols, someone who is always one to go outside the box, BJ Cole, with Bjork:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUBL7NQc ... re=related

BJ with John Cale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aojHZ7SgDg8

I never tire of this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjKHUMfLuOg

With Cochise. You need SWALLOW TALES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rJr4JQT ... re=related

Dumb video, but the song's fine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V96IkArc90E