What did you think of the new set on the Opry?

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 10 Jun 2000 5:33 pm

I think they went too far with it. The only thing missing tonight was the pyrotechnic display and Little Jimmy Dickens busting his guitar on the circle. The stage was dark, the auditorium was dark, the canned lights swung down on the start of every show and I kept waiting for Roy Clark to rise up from a hole in the stage. What ever happened to George D. Hay's words, "keep it simple, boys"? I'm not opposed to change and a change was needed but country music comes from the heart, not a stage set like Carnegie Hall. By the way, Pete Fisher is about as country as Julia Childs. Remember, his first recollection of country music was Steve Warener.

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 10 Jun 2000 5:58 pm

The Grand Ole Opry is a sad joke.It makes you sick when you watch the acts today.The stage looks like something on MTV.All they need now is smoke and burning guitars to go with the music that's selling today.

BJ Bailey · Post by **BJ Bailey** » 10 Jun 2000 9:52 pm

It did not impress me at all.
Ronnie Milsap like all the other's ,is wasting some good talent,He could be singing country music.
Roy Clark is a guitarist ,Not a prime time singer.
Finaly, yes Allen Jackson was the total packages. AJ is the man of the hour

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BJ Bailey

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 11 Jun 2000 4:28 am

I thought it would be worse than it was. Ok so it's a Light show ala Mtv.But the Barn is still there.I think the biggest thing they need to work on is the sound mix. Roy Clark said it all when he said he consided Country Music as a Big tree. Each new branch was a part of it.However when you cut out the trunk of that tree it's gone forever.Ronnie Milsap did not sound all that great,AJ showed Fisher what it's all about. Roy Clark should have let him finish the set,because when AJ left the show was over. My opinion of the new set. I can't see it on the Radio.

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CJC

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 11 Jun 2000 6:56 am

I just love the intelligence and insight of the guys on this Forum. You guys have just said it all about the Opry, and right on too! And Right too about AJ, good thing he was on!.......al

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 11 Jun 2000 2:44 pm

Well guys, lets just get 3 or 4 bales of hay and a couple old tractors and put up there. Maybe a couple 100 watt light bulbs right in the middle. And take it off that new fangled T.V. too. Oh by the way, no electric guitars or drums either. I have not seen it yet but Joan tells me it's cool and she is as traditional country as it gets. It is true that I don't necessarily like everything I hear on country radio today but a lot I do like. If everything does not move along with time it will die, including the Opry. I would shutter to think what would have happened to steel guitar if everyone was as narrow minded about pedals as some of you are about the changes that are taking place now.

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GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
Zumsteel D10/11

[This message was edited by Johnny Cox on 11 June 2000 at 03:51 PM.]

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 11 Jun 2000 3:23 pm

Johnny:

Change is wonderful and a change was needed but not to the point that it removes all essence of the very foundation from which it was built. That is not being narrow minded, just my observation. Keep it country, not rock and roll!

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 11 Jun 2000 3:36 pm

Did you all complain in 1941 when they moved the Opry into the Ryman Auditorium?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 Jun 2000 3:38 pm

I just got a chance to see it (I tape it). I'm not impressed but then it's not as bad as I had imagined it was from the reports here. I think the current Opry managment are idiots, but change isn't bad if it's done for a reason, not to just change. The opry is tradition and in that sense they have failed.

[This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 11 June 2000 at 04:38 PM.]

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 11 Jun 2000 6:24 pm

Les, I sure wish I would have thought to say what you did. I actually think I did but in more of a Hee Haw fashion.

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GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
Zumsteel D10/11

Bobby5102 · Post by **Bobby5102** » 11 Jun 2000 9:54 pm

I just wanted to say I think the new set is great. First Class. A good mix of tradition with modern times. After all, the Opry backdrop used to change at least every 8 or 9 years until it moved to the current location. The 2 new screens seem to add excitement in the audience. I also think Tim Ferris does a wonderful job in the sound department. He puts his whole heart into his work and is a pleasure to work with when I am there with Bill Anderson. Its been a long time since I have seen such variety in the lineup. The lineups are not predictable at all now and I think its cool Mr. Fisher has not overlooked acts like Earl Scruggs, The Oaks, Ray Price, Gene Watson and Patti Page while scheduling recent lineups. Heck, even Andy Griffith appeared a few months back. On the Opry website, you will see that a great list of performers are scheduled in the weeks to come. Don Williams,Randy Travis,Charlie Pride,Loretta Lynn,Ray Price,John Anderson,Asleep at the Wheel,Vestal Goodman and Brad Paisley. Theres no place like the OPRY. AMEN...

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 11 Jun 2000 10:23 pm

If an act comes out on stage and $ucks, I'll turn the channel. I don't care if Porter has sparks shooting out of his A$$! The art is not in the equipment, backdrops, bells, whistles, etc...

Tommy White is the one and only reason I even bother to check it out in the first place.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 12 Jun 2000 2:50 am

Bobby, you sound like you work for Gaylord???
You may not be, but it sounds like a company man comments. (And before I get flamed, this is not meant as a flame to you).
There are some of us here here that are in the Marty Martel camp and we've been waiting for someone from Corporation to come on here and justify their actions.

I don't think change is bad, just the current Opry management seens bent on dismantling the traditional Opry and making it something it wasn't and shouldn't be. If they want a "Network TV" type show with all the flashy hype and pop/rock music that's fine have a show of that type but the Opry should be left to tradition.

I guess we'll have to send City View to straighten them out....

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Franklin D-10
Fender Nashville Tele
A Country Musician

[This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 12 June 2000 at 05:43 AM.]

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 12 Jun 2000 3:04 am

After watching it again on tape with a better attitude,I find it a more alive set.I noticed the colors changing and I paid more attention to the set and not the Artist.I would still like to see the guest seats in back which seemed to be eliminated. It would be interesting to see how someone who played on it views the change. I suppose before I first viewed it I had already built up in my mind a negative attitude over the past two weeks about the change.

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CJC

[This message was edited by Joe Casey on 12 June 2000 at 04:11 AM.]

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 12 Jun 2000 4:07 am

Les,
Right on! Theresa

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 12 Jun 2000 6:27 am

Jack,
According to his profile, Bobby works for Bill Anderson as his sound engineer.

I didn't see the show, so I can't comment on the new look. However, I love traditional country music as much as anyone ever has. But as has already been said, sometimes change is a good thing.

We who play the pedal steel should realize this more than most. If it were not for change, we'd all still be sitting around playing an acoustic resonator guitar...OR if we were really pushing the envelope, we might at least be using an electric lap steel on an amp with NO effects like reverb, delay, etc... (oh my!!!)

I, for one, would not want to have Mr. Fishers job at all, as it seems to me that it would be impossible to completely satisfy both the ones who prefer the new, and also those who prefer tradition. I would think that would be a balancing act of MAJOR proportions.

Lem.

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http://pub14.ezboard.com/bpedalsteelguitar

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 12 Jun 2000 7:25 am

The Grand Ole Opry has always been, is now and will always be the greatest country music show in the world.

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GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME
Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
Zumsteel D10/11