My worst music nightmare.

Bob Doran · From: Ames, Iowa, USA

Having a real steel player show up at one of the band's gigs.
Fortunately there are only about 5 steel players in Iowa, so i think i am safe.
Bob

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

Welcome to my world. I'm gonna have to see Gary Lee Gimble at my gig tonight. Yeesh, that guy could have just had an eye poked out, one arm tied behind his back, be taking a nap, and he'd still play circles around me. Good thing I have no shame!! I ain't scared!!

Ray Walker · From: Smithfield, NC, USA, R.I.P.

You'll just have more fun with Gary there. He is a great picker though. He was at Chuck Cambell's picnic this year and man a live he is a pleasure to watch play. you know making all those funny faces

Ray

Buddy Griffin · From: Derwood, Maryland, USA

Where's your gig tonight?

Buddy

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

Buddy, it's at JV's Restaurant in Falls Church, 6666 Arlington Blvd (corner of Rt. 50 and Annandale Rd). If you make it out, please bring bar and picks!! See Bob, now I'm gonna have to put up with two real steel players!! And YOU were complaining? LOL!!!!!!!!

[This message was edited by Chris Forbes on 05 November 2004 at 05:28 AM.]

Bob Doran · From: Ames, Iowa, USA

You know, musicians forget one thing.
You always sound better to people listening to you, than you do to yourself.
I know this is true.
It is just like singing.
Most people think they have a bad voice (bad quality) but often they sound great to others.
I have noticed this with my other instruments too.
if you have ever recorded yourself, and someone plays it without your knowing what he is playing, you think, "hey, that sounds great!"
Also i have even noticed that many really superb musicians get intimidated listening to other great players!
Bob

Darrell Schmidt · From: Charles City, Iowa, USA

I believe there are a few more than 5 steelers in Iowa.
9 On the worldwide steelers page alone.
Darrell

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Bob---I went to a gig of another NY steel player a while ago and he tried to do something during a ride and kinda went out on a limb and sawed it off with himself being on the wrong side of the cut if you know what I mean. I cracked up and kept on laughing out loud and later on I was talking with him and he mentioned this moment, embarrassed-like, and I couldn't help laughing hard all over again and as I gasped for air I explained to him that I was laughing because I knew exactly what he was trying to do, I knew what went wrong, and I knew exactly how nekkid he felt doing it because I do the exact same thing all the time. And I was laughing like a brother---I was laughing at all of us and the predicaments we put ourselves into. I was laughing at how cool it is that we put ourselves on the line and sometimes cough up some beauts. I was laughing because the audience didn't care--they appreciated that he was up there playing. I was laughing to tell him 'it's no big deal--laugh at yourself and forget about it--'.

A couple of days ago someone wrote something to the effect that any player that would charge money to teach another player is worthless.......that sentiment is a sick crock. But here's my law-------any player who listens to another player and can't relate to where he's coming from, can't remember when he was struggling to get the hang of it, can't appreciate what he is trying to do, can't smile with some appreciation of the effort------that, my friend, is worthless.

BTW---I'm still struggling with the idea that the guitarist in one band I do a few gigs with is also a steel player who can play circles around me. My approach is somewhere between asking for his opinion about whether I'm stepping on his toes in the fills and acting like I'm a pro with enough confidence to not need to ask him 'how am I doing'. Bluffing my way through. It's working so far.

Bob Doran · From: Ames, Iowa, USA

I am not sure i have ever heard of two steelers in one band.Interesting.Except i do think there might have been two steels in the Byrds version of "You Ain't Goin Nowhere" by Dylan. Great song and version.
Bob

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

Jon, fellow formite Peter Goeden came out to see me play friday night. I also choked HARD in a couple of places, but like you said, I just laughed and kept going. I'm sure Peter doesn't think less of me as a person cause I goofed a couple of licks here and there, and there was at least one truly horrible/funny moment in Sleepwalk (yeesh, I've played the song a million times, how can I mess THAT one up!?!?).

Tommy Allison · From: Transfer, Pennsylvania, USA

I guess I've been struggling with this beautiful but sometimes frustratung instrument long enough that the intimidation factor is beginning to fade. I've reached the point where I actually look forward to playing along with other steelers that I consider superior to myself(that would be just about everybody else)at steel jams. And, I find I usually don't get as nervous playing in their presence. I can't think of a single steeler that I am personally acquainted with who has a negative attitude toward other steelers. I look up to many steel players but down on none.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

(I've told this one b4, but it's worth tellin' again -- I think)

It was late 70's, early 80's. I'd been playing steel for about 5 or 6 years -- all of the time with a band and I was pretty confident. A guy I knew was putting together a steel show in a nearby town. He'd arranged to have a pretty good backup group and Buddy Emmons was the headliner. Scotty came along as well.

My expectations:
1. I would be kinda lost amongst several local steel players -- no big deal
2. Even though I knew Emmons was going to be there, I didn't really feel much pressure (beforehand)
3. I would send the band a tape of a few instrumentals and we'd do them for a half hour or so then I'd back the band on some of their stuff. I expected that should go smoothly.

. . . and now for something completely different . . .
. . . the REALITY . . .
1. I got there to set up and saw Scotty's van and Buddy's 'Derby Power' mobile in the parking lot. Few other cars. I walked in and realized THERE WERE NO MORE STEEL PLAYERS ON THE SHOW.
2. I sat and chatted with the promoter and Buddy and Scotty for a while, beginning to perspire -- even in the cold Michigan air.
3. The band started arriving -- they'd come in earlier and set up PA and stuff, so they were all set. We introduced ourselves and, from listening to their sound check, they sounded pretty solid. So, it was gonna be the set with me and then me and the band, then Buddy. We got ready to start and they asked what instrumental I was gonna play first, I told them "the first one on the tape I sent you -- 'Just Pickin' in C". They said, "WHAT TAPE".
So there I was -- I'd prepared 5 or 6 really nonstandard tunes with cool arrangements -- and they didn't have a clue how any of them went. So I called 'San Antonio Rose' in A. We muddled our way through that one. They obviously had no real experience with swing and didn't know the tune -- didn't even know the chorus went to the V chord. I WAS SCREWED. So, the band ended up playing the rest of the hour -- mostly Alabama tunes -- we got through the set, but my 'solid' assessment went waaaaay south.
As it turns out, when Buddy played his set, he opened with 'Gonna Build a Mtn' with the half step modulation after each verse. After about two mods, they had no clue where they were. So Buddy just laughed it off but the rest of the set was pretty rough too. Buddy played great through it all.

What does not kill us will make us stronger.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

LOL!!!! Good story Larry!! God bless you, you're a braver man than I.

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

I would say that playing along side or having to keep up with higher caliber musicians is a tremendous bonus and should be continually sought out. In music, as in sports or whatever else, if we are pressured to move to a higher standard of our abilities, we can do nothing but gain from it.

If we stay within the safety of our comfort zone, we put get back the same measure that we put into it.

------------------
I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!

Charles Curtis · Posted 8 Nov 2004 3:55 pm

How's this? I played Gary Lee's Zum with him there watching (Well where else is he going to be?). I think that I can now play in front of Buddy Emmons (laughter and all of course).

Gary Lee Gimble · From: Fredericksburg, VA.

Please don't perch me high up on a pedestal, I'll bruise when I hit the ground.

Chris, I shut my eyes for 40 winks and before I knew it, I found myself in the fetal position with thumb inserted. The time was 130 AM when my wife let out a huge snort which woke me, must have been the dry air. Keep me posted for any future gigs you have and I'll make it a point to nap on the easy chair instead of my pillow top mattress. Since all the kiddies are gone now, napping on top of the dining room table has worked out purty good too.

Gary Lee Gimble · From: Fredericksburg, VA.

Ray, those funny faces are attributed to this high fiber diet I've been on. Playing music gives me a chance to vent, can't walk around with a stretched face.

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

Charles, I've also played Gary's Zum, the oddball set up he has on there really threw me for a loop. Gary, I'm playing this friday night in Beltsville, but will probably only be playing steel on perhaps a dozen or so songs, I'll be plunking standard six for most of the night. Let me know if you have nothing better to do.

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

Oh, and congrats on getting rid of the kids. Although I'm sure I'll miss the funny stories, especially the "full moon" story you told me.

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic