Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Jan 2009 1:32 pm |
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| Well, if you are a steeler who (like me) considers anyone under 30 to be a "kid", then take heart: the kids are all right. It would be nearly impossible to catalog the many contexts where lap or pedal steel guitar is showing up. NO, it isn't usually strictly country (although some is certainly in the ballpark), but it IS a healthy sign of our instrument's future. Need some proof? How about www.japancakesmusic.com, www.thelasttownchorus.com, or www.kakiking.com? There's www.casadecalexico.com, although they may not be all be under 30, and if "outside" music featuring pedal steel interests you, there's the rather obscure music of Metal Rouge or Yek Koo http://www.helgafassonaki.net/metalrouge.htm , with sound clips at www.aquariusrecords.org . There are several CDs by Charalambides featuring Heather Leigh Murray on pedal steel (JOY SHAPES, ELECTRICITY GHOST, UNKNOWN SPIN). Helga and Heather are not trained players, and you may argue about whether what they do is "music", but they DO use pedal steel in non-traditional contexts. The Handsome Family, while not quite "kids", contains pedal steel in a quirky country context www.handsomefamily.com. A very literate and countryish band is at www.richmondfontaine.com. And of course, Hank Williams III has some fantastic playing including lap steel, as well as fine songwriting; and while his latest (DAMN RIGHT, REBEL PROUD) goes a bit too heavy on the pharmaceutical usage, all of his CDs have superb non-pedal steel playing. And for seasoned veterans who utilize pedal steel in their own inimitable fashion, there are Chas Smith and Susan Alcorn, both of whom have recordings available at amazon or www.downtownmusicgallery.com in NYC (very fine service, that). So don't despair - the steel guitar isn't going away, and another generation is discovering its charms. |
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