The Steel Guitar Forum

Man. Had such a great time this weekend. First official paid gig for pedal steel playing with some friends who do soul, funk, jazz. It makes me so very happy to introduce steel to people in contexts they wouldn't have otherwise considered. Most notably on this gig "If You Want Me To Stay" by Sly and Family Stone!

I can identify with that. Our band plays a similar variety of material where the steel doesn't "belong" but is quite capable of making itself at home. We have yet to perform a C&W song.

I love playing real music

We also play every genre, I think piano when I’m on steel unless it’s country..

This is as far out as I've ever been.

**Warning** - Turn the volume down!

Can you hear it? Asked to put down a subtle layer.

Your thing? probably not. My thing,? Nope!

A known touring band with a vision. Incredible to work with.

h

- edit Caustic Casanova, a real band. Nice folks. A real label. Tour approx 25 weeks/year. All over this great land! (Without me though..)

Yeah..There's a story behind my involvement.

First thing we gotta do is quit saying and thinking it doesn't belong. It's a musical instrument just like any other and only limited by it's players.

I have to admit it's not always easy to find a fit, but my little crowd plays everything from Bach to Bachman Turner Overdrive and everything in between. It's all music and it's just the instrument I chose to express it..

Good on you snd your group for being one of those that's not afraid to put it out there in any context.

Back around 1984-85 while on a hiatus from Mountain Smoke Band, I had the good fortune to play with a popular group in OKC that was known as a "show" and dance band. They had the most diverse catalog of songs of anyone I'd heard. Jerry Tanner and the Contagious Brothers evolved from a very popular rock group from Minot, North Dakota known as The Embermen Five. The group split and the brothers Jerry & Larry moved to Oklahoma in the early 1970's. I likened them to Donnie & Marie - Larry was Country and Jerry was Rock N' Roll. Larry pressed Jerry to hire me to replace their outgoing keyboard guy. They played predominately Hotel clubs, doing 5-6 nighters. I was thrown into learning a wide variety of material, plus expected to perform in one of three "specialty shows" on Saturday nights. We would take an extended break after the second set and change into the evening's show outfits. These consisted of 50's, Village People, and Elvis shows. Crowds were good all week, but the Saturday night shows packed the places.

I have to say it was probably the best job I've had based on challenging my abilities and putting myself out there in the shows. I look back and wonder how I did a 40 minute Village People gig complete with vocals and choreography, much less singing Johnny Angel in the 50's show! I also enjoyed the very wide variety of their fan base.

After reading the comments on this thread, I went back to listen to some stuff I recorded one night before I left the band. As you will see, It's quite varied!

Ramblin Fever
For the Good Times
Slow Burn
Only One You/Loved Them Everyone
Silver Threads
Red Red Wine
It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Buddy Holly
Billie Jean
My Way
Burning Love
Caribbean Queen
Back On My Mind Again
Hurt
Talking In Your Sleep
She Used To Be My Girl (Four Tops)
Years - Barbara Mandrell
Comman Man
The Night Owl - Little River Band
50's Medley
Motown Medley: Come See About Me/Stop In the Name of Love/It's the Same Old Song/I Can't Help Myself/Ain't Too Proud To Beg/634-5789/My Girl
Disco (Funk) Medley: Play That Funky Music/Back In Love Again/Fire/LeFreak/Sanctified
Sweet Caroline
Ferry Cross the Mersey
Oh, Lonesome Me
Blue Blue Day
Sea of Heartbreak
...many others

Moral of the story, jump in and play anything you can stand for 2 or 3 hours at a time. It all builds your tool chest.

I have ALWAYS played everything on steel from Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams to Beatles and Sun Ra. In all cases I just hang on for dear life and do my best.

Larry Allen wrote:We also play every genre, I think piano when I’m on steel unless it’s country..

I guess that's my function a lot of the time. I often use a chorus effect that conjures the spirit of a Fender Rhodes

Like various guys have said, it's all music and the pedal steel, special though it is to us, is just another instrument as far as the public is concerned.

Ian, here’s what I use for the different sounds, Alexis Midiverb 4, Larry

My wife would probably say the living room…,

I know a musician that refuses to play any song written after 1963!

That's interesting, Larry. Currently I make do with the Lexicon MX200 that came with my Telonics rack.

Darrell Criswell wrote:I know a musician that refuses to play any song written after 1963!

Sure missing a lot of good country music.

Henry Matthews wrote:

Darrell Criswell wrote:I know a musician that refuses to play any song written after 1963!

Sure missing a lot of good country music.

Indeed!
h

Howard Parker wrote:

Henry Matthews wrote:

Darrell Criswell wrote:I know a musician that refuses to play any song written after 1963!

Sure missing a lot of good country music.

You're not looking in the right places. There's plenty around.

Good luck in your search.

h

I lost you Howard, I meant there was a lot of good country music after 1963

Ha..I read that completely backwards and have edited my response.

Thanks for the correction!!

h

Henry Matthews wrote:

Howard Parker wrote:

Henry Matthews wrote:

Darrell Criswell wrote:I know a musician that refuses to play any song written after 1963!

Sure missing a lot of good country music.

You're not looking in the right places. There's plenty around.

Good luck in your search.

h

I lost you Howard, I meant there was a lot of good country music after 1963

Yes, there is a lot of great Country Music after 1963. But - It pretty much stopped after 1993!!!