The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm an old dude who started playing the bars in Baltimore in 1957 when I was 19. Played here until 1973 when I left the state. Been back a couple of years and going to Pop's Tavern now and then.

One joint I never did play was Stabile's. Stopped by a couple of times since I been back.

Spent a good amount of time picking at Slim Brow's and the Super Star Diner over the years. Did some picking with Big Jim Webb, Charlie Brown and the Maryland Rockets, Ernie West, and at Bobby Brown's place.

Even played Elmer's at Pratt and Light with Ronnie Dove. Biggest dive in Baltimore. Long since gone! Dove was in the Coast Guard then. Bruce Branch was the lead picker with a black Gibson Les Paul Custom. Hell of a guitar man!!!

Hoping to get a few gigs that are a step or three above Elmer's.

Play pedals, lead, bass. Smooth back up steel, 50's and 60's lead and bass. Nothing fancy and no trying hot licks, loud volume, or driving over the singer. The singer is the star, not me. Do E9th only.

Weekends fine. Have all equipment and transportation.

Available starting second or third week in July. No problem with rehearsals. I find they make the band tighter and a hell of a lot better than just walking into a joint cold, calling out some song we ain't never tried, and hoping it works out.

Roger Woods
410-288-1165
rwoods4108@yahoo.com

Welcome back, Roger! Sorry, but I guess you've noticed there's not a lot of music around here now. The most active place on the area is "Stable's", in Westminster.

Good luck, and I hope you find something.

There's also Little Texas on the east side of Baltimore. Decent sized place, though usually small crowds. I'll be there this saturday night pickin' with Jay D. Henley and the Stone Broke Band if you're bored and have nothing else to do. Just a little south of Baltimore is the Cancun Cantina, which seems to be the premiere country dance club in the Wash D.C./Baltimore/Annapolis area. Besides that, I can't really think of any other places that aren't dives.

There used to be several country music places in Glen Bernie and the Turf Club in Laurel.

And, the Tin Dipper in Beltsville.

Probably all gone now.

You are correct Mr. Stoner, all long gone.

How about the Starlight Lounge, I think it was on Pulaski Highway. I remember the Chavitz Brothers calling it home for years.

Pat

I met a Bluegrass singer, that now lives in Ft Myers, Fl. Her name is "Sis Chapman" but I don't know if the Chapman is a married name. She said her family had a Bluegrass band around the Baltimore area. She was the bass player. She's probably in her early/mid 60's to give a time frame relation.

My Band, J.R. Booker, (www.jrbooker.com)is from the Baltimore area. We'll be heading to Lynchburg to do a one nighter at Cattle Annies this Saturday. We played in Williamsburg last weekend. 'Nuff said about our home area. Patti and the gang at Little Texas are real nice and are trying hard to keep country alive in Baltimore. Stabile's is a shadow of its former glory. Cancun Cantina is a real chore. You've got Nicks in Alexandria, Va. Good place and easy to get to. I've never been to Pop's but I think it's a small venue. I grew up in Laurel and seem to remember many, many honky tonks up and down Rt. 1 from Beltsville to Elkridge. I missed all of that as I was a bass guitar player in a wedding band for 20 years. They're mostly gone now. Alas.

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1970 Emmons D10
Nashville 1000

There are often plenty of gigs available if you look in the right places. It strikes me as odd when I read these threads about how there are no more gigs some town and then I play a show there and local bands come up to me complaining about how they can't find a decent steel player. If I was looking to play I would get one of those weekender listings papers and go out. See what people are doing these days. There is a pretty big singer/songwriter, roots rock, alt country,indie scene that is very receptive to steel players. Once you start moving in currently active musical circles there is a surprizing amount of work. Lots of CDs being recorded also. There are some very talented and enjoyable musicians out there !

You will not find these musicians by staying home wishing for a scene that has been dead for 20 years.

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Bob
My Website

What Bob said...

<SMALL>Cancun Cantina is a real chore</SMALL>

The chore is after the gig cleaning your guitar and anything else that was on stage. Management spreads pounds of sliding power on the dance floor and it gets all over and stays all over everything. Pull rods, bell cranks, changer, down thoust esophagus and out your exit ramp. During the break, the DJ has the break time muZac so loud, you can feel the pounding on your chest. Ideally, you want to take your break across the street where the local carry out sells extra spicy fried meat sticks. Goes well with ballads.

But ya gotta admit the scenery is spectacular. Gary, what's your new e-mail address?

Well, that is really hitting the nail on the head. I struggled around playing the local country scene in our area, generally $25-35 a night, but, about a year ago, I switched to playing with a beach band. Never less then $100 a night. Tomorrow night we will be at "Cheeseburger In Paradise", in Asheville, NC. The music is really different, but, enjoyable.

Pat

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www.pjsteelman.com

Chris, here's a hint

posted 08 July 2005 12:16 PM profile send email edit

Roger,

Westminster Moose in Westminster, MD is a good place to find bands looking for steel players.



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Jeff Hyman
jeff@cactus.com
Sho~Bud LDG
WEBB and Fender Deluxe
www.HatCreekCountry.com
www.cactus.com

My sincere thanks to all who responded. Y'All provided a wealth of information that I will use.

Roger Woods

<SMALL>There are often plenty of gigs available if you look in the right places.</SMALL>

But, it ain't like it used to be. Take it from me, I've lived here all my life! All of the places listed below featured live music back in the '60s. Yes, <u>all</u> these places were open for most, or all, of that decade.

Paradise Club*
Bolero Lounge*
Stabile's*
Slim Brow's*
The Ship Shape Lounge*
The Holland House*
Jazz City*
Hawaiian Room
Zebelean's Lounge*
Pioneer Club*
Turf Club*
Rhapsody Inn*
Surf Club*
Green Onion
Hollywood Park
Bunny's Place*
Dietrich's Tavern*
Sorento's Lounge
Sunset Lounge
Latin Casino
Green Dolphin*
Club Hi-Fi
Sweeney's *
The Spa
Sierra Club*
Moe's Lounge*
The Quarterdeck*
Pump Room*
Roland's Tavern*
Charlotte's Fiesta*
Ern-El's Tavern*
Ritz Bar
Dairyland
Friedman's Tavern*
Carl's Club "33"*
Golden Flame Inn*
Dino's Restaurant
Carleton Hotel*
Southern Inn*
Seagull Inn*
Bojangles
Cicero's
Sid's Ranch House
Pink Pussycat
Captain Harvey's
Golden Ring Inn*
Club Brandy*
Mill Stream*
Pop's Tavern*
Keystone Inn*
Tin Dipper

This is only the places I could think of right now, and I played at all the ones marked with an asterisk (*). Yes, Baltimore once rivaled any city, for it's size, in the sheer amount of music venues it had. There were of course many other places in the area that featured live music in that period, but I only listed the ones I frequented or played at.

To my knowledge, all these places are either gone, or no longer feature live music.

Yes, there's a probably a few singer songwriters looking to hire musicians, and maybe even a couple new venues opened up. But a study of the list above tells the pure truth, it <u>ain't</u> like it used to be! That's not just "melancholy reminiscing", either, it's a fact that only someone who's lived through the change can appreciate.

Hey Donny, sounds like you have another verse to "I've Been Everywhere".

Pat

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www.pjsteelman.com

Any of you guys ever play The Tasty Diner in Laurel?

I used to live in Laurel and don't remember it. I was there on and off between 69 and 73.

Jack this was in July of 86.

As usual, Donny nailed it... Live music is a small fraction of what it was at one time... most everywhere.

Yes there are a few alt country/singer songwriter gigs around IF you look hard and are lucky. but try putting together enough for the new D 10 you want with the money you make taking those type of gigs..bob

People have 200 channels now...the DUI laws are MUCH more harsh...people have discovered that they can get up with a CD player and make @$$&$ of themselves(kareoke)...who needs us?I tell my son(aspiring musician)constantly how sad I am that he won't have nearly the fun I had playing the clubs...the live music scene in Nashville is pretty slow...

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http://home.comcast.net/~stevehinson

Craig, I have many times. I don't think they have bands anymore, and I don't miss the place at all!!! LOL!!!!!!!!

I've done the Diner and there was nothing Tasty about it. Wasn't nearly as plush as a honky tonk.

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Gary Lee Gimble on 21 July 2005 at 04:24 AM.]</p></FONT>