The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello, I find myself listening to a lot of old timers let's say either dead or definitely over 50, anyway who are the kings of Nashville studios these days, whose playing in some killer band in some gin mill somewhere, who's doing something weird whether you like it or not, turn me on to some new players if you got a minute, or yourself maybe,I'm open to almost anything when it comes to pedal steel. I like Western swing ,old country,Americana, Bruce Kaphan, Speedy West, Weird electronic music, whatever,also I ocasionally hear some cool steel on modern country radio, who are those people thanks, I'm ready and I'm taking names.

well,as someone who's either dead or over 50, i would say keep reading the forum. that's where the answers are. and there are 18 years of previous posts you can search through.
even if you just stick to 'steel on the web' and 'steel players' you'll find more answere than anyone could write down.

Three newer guys who I really enjoy listening to and are on the forum are Jeremy Long, Will Van Horn, and Jonathan Lam

Where do the rest of us who don't live in California hear these people?
I went looking on the Tube and got this for Jeremy Long,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wScR_47uwRc

James.

As far as I know, Jeremy Long is on Sam Outlaw's 'Angeleno' record, Will Van Horn can be heard on the Robert Ellis records and live recordings, and Jonathan Lam is playing with Honeyfingers and Sinkane. I'm positive that these guys are playing on a lot of other stuff, but these are the things I have personally heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l5iKwi4jq0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5XI0qYyDmA
http://jonnylam.com/music/

Jeremy Long also plays and records with Alice Wallace,who is a gifted singer/songwriter from southern California.She sings with great range and power.

guy bringing something new would be Robert Randolph, other then him, it is all same old stuff, some guys play faster then others, some use more complex chords etc, but in general nothing new... the last major innovations, and creativity was done back when Buddy and Lloyd were in business... but that is the same problem I see with steel guitar, same old guitar designs, and same old licks and styles, nothing new, refreshing or inspired... if you find a new player with something different and interesting to offer, let me know...

Damir Besic wrote:guy bringing something new would be Robert Randolph, other then him, it is all same old stuff, some guys play faster then others, some use more complex chords etc, but in general nothing new... the last major innovations, and creativity was done back when Buddy and Lloyd were in business... but that is the same problem I see with steel guitar, same old guitar designs, and same old licks and styles, nothing new, refreshing or inspired... if you find a new player with something different and interesting to offer, let me know...

I guess everyone on the forum should quit then. Except Robert Randolph, but that's because he's not a member here. Sometimes, it's not hard to see why that's the case.

Thanks, but I'm going to log off and go back to listening to the new Charles Lloyd/Marvels record.

Paul Stauskas wrote:

Damir Besic wrote:guy bringing something new would be Robert Randolph, other then him, it is all same old stuff, some guys play faster then others, some use more complex chords etc, but in general nothing new... the last major innovations, and creativity was done back when Buddy and Lloyd were in business... but that is the same problem I see with steel guitar, same old guitar designs, and same old licks and styles, nothing new, refreshing or inspired... if you find a new player with something different and interesting to offer, let me know...

I guess everyone on the forum should quit then. Except Robert Randolph, but that's because he's not a member here. Sometimes, it's not hard to see why that's the case.

Thanks, but I'm going to log off and go back to listening to the new Charles Lloyd/Marvels record.

I'm not sure why are you quoting me? I never said anything about any of the things you are talking about... like I said, if you know player that brought something fresh and different to steel guitar, please let me know...

Bryan, There is tons of stuff going in the music world with pedal steel. The perspective here on the forum can sometimes seem like a bunch of old metal shedders complaining that no one plays the guitar anymore. Look into Susan Alcorn, Chas Smith and the band Steelism.
If you want to hear some truly masterful playing check out Greg Leisz with Bill Frizell.
Another place to keep an eye on is Scandinavia. The composer Morten Qvenild has a Pedalsteel player he works with who is busy doing very cool stuff over there. I forgot his name though.

Let's not forget BJ Cole !

Keep your eyes and ears open and you will find all sorts of great new steel guitar music.

Bryan,

GO onto You Tube and check out Dave Easley. He is very creative and can really play!
I believe he has a web page too.

Damir Besic wrote:guy bringing something new would be Robert Randolph,

Are you serious Damir? He's copying all kinds of "Classic Rock" licks and playing over the same old tired chord changes.
Why not accept and preserve "Classic Country" steel playing as a genre, even though there are other styles.

Do you want "kings of the Nashville studios" or some "newer and/or different players"? Not necessarily the same thing. I'll assume your title is what you want - I think most of the "studio kings" are well-known and not exactly "new players". But I'm also including some players who are not so young, but who cover some fairly different ground than traditional country and/or steel guitar jazz as it has evolved.

You say you want names - so beyond those already mentioned, in no particular order, and not discriminating against people who are over 50 - but also adding some younger players into the mix: Zane King, Milos Deering, Eddy Dunlap, Eric Heywood, Travis Toy, Tyler Hall, Austin Tripp, CJ Udeen, Kyle Everson, Austin Stewart, Joe Wright, Wally Moyers, Russ Pahl, Buck Reid, Mike Daly, Randle Currie, Doug Livingston, and I'm sure I'm leaving many other very worthy players out.

Paul Stauskas wrote:I guess everyone on the forum should quit then. Except Robert Randolph, but that's because he's not a member here. Sometimes, it's not hard to see why that's the case.

Actually, he is a member.

Brint Hannay wrote:

Paul Stauskas wrote:I guess everyone on the forum should quit then. Except Robert Randolph, but that's because he's not a member here. Sometimes, it's not hard to see why that's the case.

Actually, he is a member.

Many top players are actively involved in the discussions. Herb Steiner's recent post on C6 chord forms is one example. Other top players post occasionally, Franklin, Travis Toy, Bouton, many more. When was the last time Randolph actively engaged in a dialogue? I think many players like him don't post on here often because of the dismissive attitude displayed by many bitter players here. I quoted the example above.

Bob Hoffnar is too modest to mention himself, but he definitely has taken the steel in different, amazing directions. Check him out.

Paul Stauskas wrote:

Brint Hannay wrote:

Paul Stauskas wrote:I guess everyone on the forum should quit then. Except Robert Randolph, but that's because he's not a member here. Sometimes, it's not hard to see why that's the case.

Actually, he is a member.

Many top players are actively involved in the discussions. Herb Steiner's recent post on C6 chord forms is one example. Other top players post occasionally, Franklin, Travis Toy, Bouton, many more. When was the last time Randolph actively engaged in a dialogue? I think many players like him don't post on here often because of the dismissive attitude displayed by many bitter players here. I quoted the example above.

I agree. I was just making a point of order. RR did make one "Hello" post when he joined, but that's it so far. Understandably. Unfortunately.

Someone mentioned Greg Leisz. Do a search on youtube for him and you'll find wonderful non traditional stuff. If Rob't Randolph isn't your cup of tea you could still check out Del Graces posts of Sacred Steel. Look at some of the builder's sites that will have video of artists with their creations. Check out Bill Asher's site for just those vids. In addition you can check youtube under Bill Asher and slews of videos will come up. Don't forget Cindy Cashdollar. She covers alot of bases not just Western Swing. You MUST check out Andy Volk's interview with her in the Fretboard Journal this quarter. Like the dobro it's moving away from traditional sounds, just slowly.

I forgot Ben Harper. He's definitely non traditional

Bob Hoffnar wrote:Bryan, There is tons of stuff going in the music world with pedal steel. The perspective here on the forum can sometimes seem like a bunch of old metal shedders complaining that no one plays the guitar anymore. Look into Susan Alcorn, Chas Smith and the band Steelism.
If you want to hear some truly masterful playing check out Greg Leisz with Bill Frizell.
Another place to keep an eye on is Scandinavia. The composer Morten Qvenild has a Pedalsteel player he works with who is busy doing very cool stuff over there. I forgot his name though.

Let's not forget BJ Cole !

Keep your eyes and ears open and you will find all sorts of great new steel guitar music.

Susan Alcorn = Tuning !

Susan Alcorn is amazing.

Thank you all, so far I've been listening to a live Susan Alcorn show and it is just wonderful stuff, checked out the Greg leisz. Too ,just awesome,thank you all and keep them coming. To the wonderful Dick Sexton, I've been watching your videos for a while,thank you so much, I've learned a lot from you,I probably should have been more specific in my original post that I meant new to Me not necessarily new as in young I'm open to all types of music I love the old as much as the new, just trying to stay stimulated and inspired sometimes you just get stuck listening to things you really love or are trying to learn and you just want more, so thanks all I will be checking out all these names I can find this post has become really fun, thanks again

Dave Mudgett wrote:Do you want "kings of the Nashville studios" or some "newer and/or different players"? Not necessarily the same thing. I'll assume your title is what you want - I think most of the "studio kings" are well-known and not exactly "new players". But I'm also including some players who are not so young, but who cover some fairly different ground than traditional country and/or steel guitar jazz as it has evolved.

You say you want names - so beyond those already mentioned, in no particular order, and not discriminating against people who are over 50 - but also adding some younger players into the mix: Zane King, Milos Deering, Eddy Dunlap, Eric Heywood, Travis Toy, Tyler Hall, Austin Tripp, CJ Udeen, Kyle Everson, Austin Stewart, Joe Wright, Wally Moyers, Russ Pahl, Buck Reid, Mike Daly, Randle Currie, Doug Livingston, and I'm sure I'm leaving many other very worthy players out.

Dave, thanks for mentioning me in the list.. There is a lot of cool stuff happening in the steel world these days.. Some by young players and some by the old guys😊..
Russ Pahl, over 50, is not only introducing new ways to play but also, with the help of Show Pro, rethinking the instrument much like Emmons did in the early days.. There are more new steel CDs out there for sale than I can ever remember.. As an old guy, over 50, I've seen a lot of steel projects come and go.. Mike Daly is doing some very cool new, not country, music also.. Buck Reed is in my estimation, the new Buddy Emmons. I'm not saying he plays like Emmons but is a "great" player.. JayDee's new CD has some fine new original steel music.. These are just a few example but there's more that I haven't heard yet.. I'm working on a new project that will be all original music.. I released my first single last week with a video.. It's a blend of new and old using C6 and E9 tunings along with Dobro and slide guitar sounds from my ResoRocker... For me the insperation in the song comes from many of my favorite styles of music.. The beginning intro is inspired from the intro of the Jimi Hendrix song fire.. The head of the song from Buddy Emmons, the slide guitar has shades of the Duane Allman and so on.. Most all music is inspired from other music.. I challenge everyone reading this to set down and write something new, you may be surprised what you come up with. This is a link to my song Don't Fret.. https://youtu.be/U4WS2lAKjpo

Wow that's was just great,watched the video for don't fret. Loved the band and loved your playing, thanks for sending me the link, I'll be doing some serious practicing tomorrow after being so inspired by all these wonderful and different players, Plan to keep seeking out these names everybody's sending, this forum is is just great! and I am also so far over 50 I will be leaving that neighborhood real soon, but onward and upward.