The Steel Guitar Forum

I bet you never saw a Fessenden pedal steel used like this!

https://vimeo.com/367350121

--Al Evans

It is different. I didn't say I liked it. But cowbells aren't bad in the right place.

Interesting. I actually enjoyed it. Wikipedia says it's Ed William's on PSG.

Punk steel guitar, I was waiting for him to smash it on the floor at the end very different!

Somebody’s been watchin’ Rusty Young...

Guys a good player,,, Actually quite a good band all the way around.. The bass player/drummer/ percussionist are really solid.. they lay down a big thick groove that you can walk across... I like them... bob

Dennis Brion wrote:Punk steel guitar, I was waiting for him to smash it on the floor at the end very different!

Punk? I don't think so. To my ear it's straight up rock. More echo on the steel than I would ever use - 3 repeats? Still, he's very good and it's great to see steel featured as the lead instrument in a rock song.

Loved it.

Undoubtedly influenced by Robert Randolph.

Even though he’s not doing an Emmons, Chalker or Anderson thing he’s a featured instrument in this pretty modern style song. That is a good thing for pedal steel, showing versatility. I like that it is out in front, too, not placed back behind the keyboards on a riser.

That's really really good. He is dead-on solid. Nothing 'experimental'. He's put in his experimenting hours so that he can come to the stage and know exactly what he's doing and present it as music.

b0b wrote:

Dennis Brion wrote:Punk steel guitar, I was waiting for him to smash it on the floor at the end very different!

Punk? I don't think so. To my ear it's straight up rock. More echo on the steel than I would ever use - 3 repeats? Still, he's very good and it's great to see steel featured as the lead instrument in a rock song.

While I am not a big fan of delay, I think his use (or overuse?) was perfect for this song. I plan on checking out some more of their stuff.

Does remind me of Rusty Young. What ever fit the song, weather country steel, raging slide, B3, or ? Lots of body English.... wish there were more vids of early Poco with Russ “in action”.

I believe the music world is looking for more players pushing the instrument forward and staying current with Pop trends....I hear this song as a pop/rock setting. The steel is mimicking the U2 / Coldplay rhythmic delay approach typically heard from guitarists with a little Sacred steel slide style inserted, and his Rusty Young style showmanship sold it visually....What he chose to play was spot on for the gig.

...players pushing the instrument forward...

Well, he certainly has that move mastered. He did it quite a few times!

Wow! I dig this, and without guys playing like that in other genres, steel guitar is a dead dinosaur. Well, dying a slow death of cultural irrelevancy, at least...

Franklin wrote:I believe the music world is looking for more players pushing the instrument forward and staying current with Pop trends....I hear this song as a pop/rock setting. The steel is mimicking the U2 / Coldplay rhythmic delay approach typically heard from guitarists with a little Sacred steel slide style inserted, and his Rusty Young style showmanship sold it visually....What he chose to play was spot on for the gig.

No arguments there! Pedal steel can do so much stuff that's "out-of-the-box", but the artists and producers rarely give them the chance. Part of this is convention, and part is that most pedal steelers don't really care for it. It does require imagination and a willingness to experiment, though.

I do like the song...creative playing

I really enjoyed this. Thanks for posting.

Love It!!

Brilliant ,really enjoyed this.The steel was right there up in the mix and totally relevant.Thought the use of the delay was really clever and suited the song.We need more of this to maintain and raise the instruments profile .

Not my typical kind of music but the guy is inventive and plays what fits the song to a tee. Good work whoever you are.

Enjoyed that. Thanks so much for posting. So much music, so little time..

this was really good, I really enjoyed it, thank you for posting ...

This band, The Revivalists, is scheduled for airing tonight 1:00 am on Austin City Limits on my local PBS station. You might check your local station for times if interested.

Maybe get to see more of Ed on pedal steel in this rock setting.

If I read the listing correctly, this video in Al's link was a bonus and will not be seen in the PBS ACL airing in that time frame.

I long for the day that pedal steel in this style won't be considered by many as unusual, rather as being accepted as a part of the music just like any other instrument.

Players like Ed and bands like this utilizing it, go a long way to making that happen.

I think it is pure genius. A pedal steel is a musical instrument. It doesn't necessarily have to whine and cry all the time. Healthy for steel guitar sales too and keeping the instrument alive and on stage.