The Steel Guitar Forum

On Saturday Night Live this Saturday, 10-13-07, Bon Jovi will be performing w/a steeler.

The show starts at 10:30p.m. Central.

His steeler is Kurt Johnston. He'll be playing his new Performance brand D-10 pedal steel that was built by Jerry Brightman.

According to Kurt, he really loves the tone, action and playability of the guitar...he also says that the steel even held its tuning during rehersals under the hot studio lights.

If you haven't had the chance to catch one of these guitars in action...you might want to catch this. I've heard some good things about the Performance brand steelguitars.

I know I'll be watching...how neat is it that ol' Bon Jovi is using a steeler???

Here's a link to Performance Steel Guitar & SNL:

Performance
http://steelguitaramericas.com/Home_page.htm

SNL
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/

BUMP

I didn't know until I heard the steel being played that Jon would have one backing him up, but you had to look pretty hard to see the steel player BEHIND the drummer! And the steel was prominent in the tune they did. No respect but he sounded good.

Clearly not enough stage space.
But yeah he sounded fine and
held the main backing counterpoint
on the choruses nicely.

Yeah, but...it's Bon Jovi.

Who cares if it's Bon Jovi, at least he's employing a steel player and exposing the instrument to lots more people.

I caught the last song and Kurt was out front in the mix!
Good job and it has be fun working with Jon.

i'm glad a steel player is employed,
but this music is pretty horrible. considering the state of Nashville, it seems totally appropriate that a bad hair band from the 80s could break into "country" a few years later.

and screw him for doing a song called "Lost Highway"... although I am truly glad he isn't covering Hank Williams.

Kurt you sounded great with your boss!

I'm with Scott..... bob

I walked in from my gig turned on the T.V. and caught the last song,Kurt nice playing...I like them Bon Jovis,They've been doin' it for a long time and play great!

Just because they don't have the long standing
roots in classic country, shouldn't mean they
can't move closer to country if they like it.

They obviously do. More power too them.
They will be bringing many of their fans from rock to country,
because of this album. And SOME will explore
father back into the style.
Can we argue if 3 people discover Hank Snow,
because of BonJovi?

The sound was reminding me of the Byrds a bit,
crossed with what is called country these days.

They could have done the album in LA. if they wanted to,
but they chose Nashville, so they could get
closer to country.

It always amazes me that someone tries to get
more country in their work, and it is like the're
labled a nouvaux-riche dilitant, trying to steal
the style from the true belivers.

Rather than an artists branching out
and bringing fans closer to the older style.
This should be laudable.

So they don't sound like the bands we love from 1954.
They do sound in the ball park of much of the country
I have heard lately, which many of you hear think is
rock with down-home style and accents grafted on.
ie. not country either. But such is the market.

I agree Lost Highway was a poor title choice.
But then again, they may feel the title was
homage to Hank, and not rip off.

There was a movie Lost Highway too, but didn't reflect Hank's song theme particularly.

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo got the same treatment when it came out.
How DARE they try country.
Now it's a classic.

Only time will tell on this one.
But I would rather see it as positive than negative.

Young players would rather hear positive on the forum than negative with what's going on today in country music.
To play steel for Jon Bon Jovi would be a thrill and give great exposure.

Heres something positive,
http://www.myspace.com/kristinmueller
This is what I would like to here on snl
The Liberty state park song kills it

I guess some people are just content to work the American Legion or Eagles Club playing "Mansion on the Hill" than work on National TV for a Commercially signed Artist who has the potential to draw hundreds of thousands and expose the Pedal Steel Guitar to yet even MORE people, in a positive way!!

He is doing a thing here people.

Tim,,

At nearly 60 yrs. old I'm content to work the Eagles, and American Legions,,,,,,,but just watch what would happen IF someone offered me a gig like that! On the road again! I'm outa here!!

Larry

Then you would subject yourselves to the crtics of the SGF and labeled as selling out.




If you got a gig like that Larry -- I would be a fan of yours and would support your efforts of taking the PSG to a place where it may not be as accepted.


That last post if mine is NOT a slam for those who work local posts and lodges...

It is merely showing the contrast

My post had nothing to do with the steel guitarist in the group, but only my dislike of Bon Jovi, simple as that. Good for Kurt Johnson, didn't mean to come off like a bad sport.

Maybe it's because I'm from NJ and have had to suffer through Bon Jovi for far too long.

Tim,

I didn't take your post as being a slam at all, in fact I really agree with it.

Selling out? I was accused of that the first time in the mid-late 60's when I went over seas! Again in the 70's when I was playing bass with a phsycadelic rock group to make extra money to feed the wife and two kids! Now I'll let the cat out of the bag, I sometimes take my PSG and sit in with a couple of the Punk Rock groups here in town, just for the fun of playing something different! They think the old man in the cowboy hat with that strange guitar is pretty cool! So as you can see, someones opinion of me selling out doesn't really bother me! [got my flame suit on]

Classic country is my first choice of the music I most like to play, but I enjoy playing most any kind of music if we're all on the same page and having fun! And if I get paid for it, all that much better!

edited to add, the way I play there's not much chance of a National act offering me a gig!

Larry

I thought it was funny Mike
i do hope people notice the steel tho...
I didnt hear SNL, but I saw him on the today show or something. Had him tucked way in back and couldnt here him

I see Mike's point..

I am sure NJ is on Bon Jovi overload

I like Bon Jovi. I liked the song as well as the drive and feel. I know there are folks on this forum that musically still live in the 50's and 60's but some of the new stuff is fun to play and enjoyable and I'm 57.

off topic but...
What really miffs me is that a lot of the new "country" acts dont have a place for steel, and sound more like saccharine adult contemporary TO ME. I personally cant stand B Jovi, and no amount of steel is gonna change that. But good luck to the steel player, and I agree, if it turns someone on to Jimmy Day and Tom Brumely then no foul!
PERSONAL PREFERANCE RULES! \m/,

ok... i watched the you tube clip...bon jovi, attempting to play music that has already been done far better by the eagles and contemporary country artists....doesn't anyone have anything unique and personal to offer anymore?
.............smash the cookie cutters.........allow individuality.........please don't encourage the shallow wading pool of non-creativity!!