The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **1 Nov 2006 9:47 am**

Ray Price will be in Austin, Tx. at the Paramount Theater this Saturday (Nov.4th.
We already have tickets and plan to be there. Does anyone know who his musicians are nowadays. Especially steel?[This message was edited by Don Ricketson on 01 November 2006 at 09:49 AM.]

Posted: **1 Nov 2006 10:32 am**

Hey Don. I think Mike Cass is doing most of Ray's shows these days.

Posted: **1 Nov 2006 6:16 pm**

I tried to find info on how to order tickets on line, but had no luck. How do I get tickets? Help me out guys.

Posted: **2 Nov 2006 5:50 am**

Hey John, I bet you can go to KVET.com and find how to get tickets. I think they are giving some away, also.

Posted: **2 Nov 2006 6:53 am**

John, get tickets online at www.gettix.net
Hope you can make it. Don.

Posted: **2 Nov 2006 8:24 am**

I say, get some Coopers BBQ and hit the road to Austin.....
http://gettix.net/texas/?event_id=1473

Posted: **2 Nov 2006 8:50 am**

Ray's band, who ever is in it, will be top notch!

I wish they would do a live recording of Ray today. He and the band sounded GREAT in August.

Posted: **2 Nov 2006 9:45 am**

IMO Mr. Price has the finest voice of any performer in country music. I had the pleasure of being part of a group that openned a show Mr. Price a few years ago and both he and his band put on an excellent performance. Dale Morris, Jr. was working with Mr. Price at that time and his playing knocked me out beyond words, plus Dale was a real friendly guy.

Posted: **3 Nov 2006 6:44 am**

You may be lucky and see Bobby Flores playing fiddle,this is more or less a wish.Huey

Posted: **3 Nov 2006 10:23 am**

Hey David Wright, 10-4 on the Coopers BBQ. I do that about once a week.

We went on vacation in California last month and stopped at a motel in Walker. I signed the regristry with Llano, Tx. and the girl said aww man..Coopers BBQ.

I thought that was pretty cool.

Posted: **3 Nov 2006 12:46 pm**

Don,
I've been there twice! best damm BBQ in the world!!!!! I have a friends in Kingsland and Hamiltion.... if your ever out this way again let me know, !!!! you were by Topaz???[This message was edited by David Wright on 03 November 2006 at 12:50 PM.]

Posted: **4 Nov 2006 10:50 pm**

good stuff guys, difficult sound set up,,as heard from 2/3ds back in theatre. instruments not up front audibly, especially mike cass steel. my unplanned trip to austin allowed paying homage to an 80 year young, ray price. truly one of the innovators with the pleasing, addictive sounds of his unique vocal efforts allowing his players to stretch-out for the last 50 plus years. just hoping you have enjoyed all of them as much as this oleman.

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stay tuned, kenny

Posted: **5 Nov 2006 2:45 pm**

Like Kenny said, it was a fantastic show except for the lead insturments not being out front enough. Especially Mike's steel and the lead guitar. Of course I might be a little preduice on the steel. Piano was okay and the four fiddles with Dale Morris Jr. especially, was excellent. The Upright Bass player sounded really good, but he had to read the charts on every single song even Crazy Arms and all the other oldies. The drummer sounded great. Didn't get his name, but he's been with Ray for 21 years. They had 2 rhythm guitars plus Cliff Price's guitar plus a lead player that played rhythm for the most part. All in all a 13 piece band. Mike Cass was playing a GFI Ultra through it looked like a Fender Twin white face directly on the floor right behind his pac-a- seat. Don't know how he could hear it. Maybe he doesn't have to

The Mayor of Austin proclaimed yesterday (Nov.4th) Ray Price Day in Austin and shortly after that, Govenor Rick Perry proclaimed Texas Ray Price day in Texas. They presented Ray with signed documents. How bout that? Kinky Freeman showed up on stage with Ray and told a joke or two about being on the bus back when Willy was with them. Of course he done a little politiking too and Ray said that he had his vote for sure. Hell everyone applauded big. He might get their vote too. Ray had several standing ovations and sounded as good as ever. The Paramount seats 1300 folks and it was full as far as I could tell. Me and Bonnie got our $100.00 bucks worth for sure. We were right in the center about 20 or so rows back. Don.

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Mullen D10-8/5
Sho-Bud LDG SD10-3/4
Evans FET 500 and Nashville 112 Amps
"Making The Stars Shine"

[This message was edited by Don Ricketson on 05 November 2006 at 02:51 PM.][This message was edited by Don Ricketson on 05 November 2006 at 08:25 PM.]

Posted: **5 Nov 2006 9:28 pm**

Mike C told me that they intentionally play at a low stage volume level with "The Chief" something that he had to get used to-His amp is the Fender '65 Twin Custom 15" We got to meet Ray and see the show earlier in the year at The Old Town School in Chicago-Thanks to Ken Drost for helping bring Ray and the Cherokee Cowboys here-While hangin' out with Mike before the concert he goes to me "Hey Paul how often do you see that?" Pointing to Ray walking from the bus to the theatre-"Ray Price walking down the street in Chicago"

[This message was edited by PAUL WARNIK on 05 November 2006 at 09:32 PM.]

Posted: **6 Nov 2006 8:31 pm**

Yeah, Paul. I know they have to play at low stage volume. In fact Ray even stopped for a second and told the band to quietn' down a little, which they did. The sound people was in a booth in the back of the auditorium and could have brought the leads out in the mains even though the stage volume could have still been low. Whatever, it was still almost the best sounding Cherokee Cowboys Band I've heard since Darrell McCall, Johnny Bush, Willie Nelson, Buddy Emmons, Jimmy Day, Julian Thorpe and now Mike Cass and a bunch of others I'm sure I've left out. Sorry if I did. Don.

Posted: **14 Nov 2006 12:47 am**

My thanks to all who came out to hear Ray.
He just gets better and better! Add Dale Morris,jr on fiddle,Gilbert Sedeno on piano,Ferdy Calderon on drums,Lindsey Greene on upright bass,Gary Jones and Cliff Price on guitars and the excellent rotating string section,then sit back and enjoy. Youre not missing anything with me being too quiet,
perhaps its like that so I dont muck it up. If you think about it,I have the job of trying to fill some awful big shoes;
Buddy,Jimmy,Julian,Jim Murphy,Terry Crisp,
Johnny Cox,Steve Palousek,et all;
not possible for me in my lifetime. Those fellows are true pros and steel guitar legends,befitting of such a job. Im lucky to be an aftethought in that crowd. I firmly believe that if anyone in Texas was available the weekend of that Dallas Steel Show a few years back,Id still be at the house

My sincere apologies to those whos
"steel-jones" wasnt satisfied in Austin or elsewhere the last few years. Join the club.
There's an idea: a forum contest to see who really should be backing up Ray on steel. Any ideas? Maybe they could get in the house mix. God knows Im at a loss as how to accomplish that

[This message was edited by Mike Cass on 14 November 2006 at 01:40 AM.]

Posted: **14 Nov 2006 4:49 am**

Live music is really hard to present properly. Technically, there are just too many things that can go wrong, plus soundmen hear things differently. That's why so many singers/bands play to tracks on TV, and even on some live shows. Remember the technical problems the Stones had at the Super Bowl? (Couldn't hear Keith's guitar for a while.) You don't get much bigger than that, and it was still a minor fiasco. The GOO isn't exactly an audiophile's dream sometimes, either.

Man, I played a fairly big show at Opryland once and found out on the break that the sound people had the steel running through a harmonizer - a friggin' HARMONIZER! - in the mains. Not in the monitors where anybody on stage could tell. Sheesh... What ineffable incompetence.

I can't even remember how many times on live shows in supposedly professional situations that I've watched sound people scampering around the stage changing cords, swapping speakers, plugging in this or that, mopping up split beer... Faron would spend half the show sometimes complaining about the sound. At least Price has more class than that.

To paraphrase Marisa Tomei in "My Cousin Vinny", "Oh my God, it's a gosh-darn nightmare!".

I've been to very few live music situations where the mix and the volume was to my satisfaction, but if I get a chance to hear Mike Cass or anybody else of his caliber at all I figure I'm still a lucky dog.

C#
www.calsharp.com

Posted: **14 Nov 2006 8:23 am**

Cal,a freekin' harmonizer? Ive heard it all now,and the sound folks had no clue

If you dont understand the music youre mixing,find someone who does,please.
Im thinking that the live nightmares alluded to above have served to turn away many listeners who would've otherwise discovered the non-rocket science that is Traditional Country Music. That opinion is based on a number of real life conversations over the years with just such people. "Hokey",
"cornball" and "hay bale-ignorant" are just of a few of the terms Ive found myself having to contend with in those discussions.
In their defense however,I can recall watching a whole bunch of CMA shows,talk shows, etc,where the mix was just plain depressing,steel guitar levels aside.
While the Stones can transcend a few messy bars on TV,the folks who pay good $$ to see a live auditorium/colesseum/fair show deserve better than a "safe mix".
Reminds me of a certain live,local radio show I once attended which starts after the witching hour. We kept asking the sound-person to turn up the steel guitar. Her reply was; "well,I can hear it...." thats what we're up against,friends. And God forbid you should say anything to them about it....you think you were down in the mix before??? fortunately,the manager came and ordered her to turn it up as he sensed that a near-riot was brewing

My apologies to b0b for gettin' waaaaaay off topic here, but Ive bit my lip several times as this has come up repeatedly;my name being the most frequently mentioned with regards to the sub-topic presesnted yet again.
Its almost like the powers that be are trying to kill the music we love,and one good way to do that would be to make it unlistenable

Posted: **14 Nov 2006 2:40 pm**

Mike

Amen!

I had the honour of hearing you, Ray, and the Cowboys at the Midnight Jam awhile back. Totally awsome, man! You were right in the pocket as per the modern iteration of the Ray Price and The Cherokee Cowboys, and carried the proverbial feathers as well as anyone.

Anyone who didn't "hear" Mike in a Ray Price show should of just moved in a little coser! You're missing a great experienced player at work.

Mike... that Ray Price suit is fittn' ya better and better all the time, pal.

Best regards,
Dave

Posted: **14 Nov 2006 4:16 pm**

I saw Mike with Ray Price just about a month ago, and he, Dale Jr., and the entire band were mixed perfectly, IMHO. So it can be done when the sound crew knows whassup.

Sadly, there's lots of situations where things like Cal's experience is the norm.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 14 November 2006 at 04:36 PM.]

Posted: **14 Nov 2006 6:20 pm**

Mike,
I was not able to catch Rays show up here in Minnesota at the Midwest Country Theatre last month. Would like to hear Ray again in person. The last time I heard him live was at the Medina Ballroom just west of Minneapolis. He had Jimmy Day on steel with his blue darlin. Also Moses Calderon on piano. Lots of legends on the stage that night. Bobby Flores was there also. Kind of like a trip to HEAVEN! Hope to hear Ray again sometime soon, I'm sure you do a SUPER job for him.....he wouldn't have it any other way!!!
Neil

Posted: **14 Nov 2006 8:41 pm**

Kudos to Mike. I haven't heard him play since about 1986. He was smoking then and was playing with Tom T. Hall at the time. If you guys get a chance to go hear Mike, Do Not Miss It if you like to see someone really "spank the plank." He's also a very friendly person and nice guy.

Posted: **14 Nov 2006 9:37 pm**

I known Mike for years, we've worked the clubs and studios together often. A class act,
a great player and a friend.
Richard

Posted: **15 Nov 2006 7:13 am**

It gets lonely out there sometimes and I get confused. Thanks for the reality check, fellows.
Herb, sorry I missed you,buddy.
want to hear you on that new gig!
They say success is measured in the quality of ones friendships....I seem to be Donald Trump in that department

Posted: **15 Nov 2006 2:35 pm**

Don- One of the highlights of my steel guitar career, was getting to open for the great Ray Price and the Cherokee Cowboys at the Paramount Theatre in Abilene with Twyla Foreman, last fall. Mike Cass et al were superb! We did two shows and got to visit some with the group. Mike is a super nice guy and an awesome player. It was a dream come true for me! My Emmons setting next to Ray Price's steel man's guitar! Wow! I'm sure the Austin Show was super![This message was edited by Randall Palmore on 15 November 2006 at 02:42 PM.]

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Ray Price in Austin

Ray Price in Austin