The Steel Guitar Forum

I couldn't let this event pass without some comment.

I was eagerly awaiting this broadcast and, from a musical standpoint, I wasn't disappointed. She sings like an angel, and the musicianship of everyone on stage is quite remarkable - Alison's vocal on 'Atlanta' (in particular) was stunning.

I sat there, remote in hand, editing out not only the commercials, but also the mind-numbingly stupid and inane ramblings of that dreadful girl, Katie Cook(sp?) - there is no-one on television who irritates me more! She seems to have had some sort of 'sincerity bypass', and it's clear to me that she cares nothing for, and knows precious little about, the music she's priviledged to present. She's obsessed with the notion of her own 'celebrity', and puntuates her inanities with that awful nervous giggle.

When I'm watching the 'Opry', I automatically 'mute' her out. I know I'll miss nothing of importance as she poses her predictable and unimaginative 'questions' to some denim-clad refugee from VH-1 or the nether-reaches of what passes for country music today.

To let her loose on last night's programme was a travesty, and disrespectful to the music. I'd have loved to hear what Alison and the guys in the band had to say about it all afterwards - Ms Krauss and Ms Cook are cut from very different cloth, and I can't imagine that Alison enjoyed the pointless intrusion of the programme's format.

As I did my own editing, I can tell you that the ninety minutes that the concert ran for on TV contained just forty-one minutes of music....

Does she drive anyone else nuts, or am I just too old and grouchy?



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Roger Rettig
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 22 February 2003 at 07:55 AM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>Katie Cook(sp?) - there is no-one on television who irritates me more! </SMALL>

You've never seen Bill O'Reilly, have you?

Bubble headed blonde.

Got to agree with you,Alison dose sing like an angel!Great show!As a dobro player I'm also a big Jerry Douglas fan.Are you sure that "Katie" is not an android or some other
emotionless creature? I also had my finger firmly planted on the mute button whenever she spoke!

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Larry Robbins
GFI-s 10
Morrell lap steel,Reagl 75 dobro and Marshall half stack(I know,I know)

You are not alone:
http://www.petitiononline.com/cmt/petition.html

Bob

<SMALL>You've never seen Bill O'Reilly, have you?</SMALL>

I haven't...and now I think I won't

I signed it, Bob. Told them to run more Austin City Limits shows. The older ones.

Thanks for the 'heads up', Bob - I just added my comments (an abridged version of my 'post' above) to the petition; it's a relief to know that I'm not the only 'old and grouchy' one out there.

I'm intrigued now - who IS Bill O'Reilly? He can't be worse than KC! Lame as I find Cletus, at least he sends himself up, although that dreadful stereotyped 'hillbilly' twang that he affects (he DOES just put that on, doesn't he?) is tiresome.

Damn it, the whole channel is tiresome - there's just nowhere else to see any kind of country music, so we're trapped....

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Roger Rettig

Thank you for your observations. I have been a pro in the country music field for quite a while and have seen this trend approching for some time. The promotions end are trying to compete with the low-band brains of hip-hop and fashion. Forgetting and/or ignoring so often the value of musicality pure talent and the quintisential element of country music, the song. The brainless spokesmodel fits right into the cell phone chick n' dude audience they think they appealing to. However, what they haven't figured out yet is how to contain and market the music of the soul. But to their credit occasionaly they get lucky. One of several reasons Alison Krauss has stayed with Rounder for so many years. Melody is alive and melody and harmony as well as rhythm will always find a place, as well as a market. Look deeper in this country and you will find it. My advise, to quote John Prine, Blow up yer TV.

http://www.cmt.com/cmt/request/katiecook.jhtml

No wonder . . . her first impression of a country star was Crystal Gayle . . . that explains her inability to tell the difference between country and pop. She does have a bit more roots than I'd expected, however.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 27 February 2003 at 12:38 PM.]</p></FONT>

Can't Stand To Watch Katie And Some Of Them She Is Talking To. All In The Same Boat.I Play Old Country Music Real Country. SONNY.

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SONNYPRIDDY

I'm not an Alison or Katie fan!

Unfortunately, I taped the show, so the commercials are fast-forwarded when I watch. Best I can tell, 11 -12 of them each break.

AK+US are the best sounding - vocally and musically, performing today. I've seen them in person, and can say they are the best live performing group I've seen. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Kenny Davis on 27 February 2003 at 07:51 PM.]</p></FONT>

I can't believe it! I've just read that piece on Katie Cook - she's almost English!!!! I did a couple of sessions years ago for her Dad - the Cook/Greenaway team - when I was still in the UK. I don't suppose I'll get any more calls now I've written all that about his daughter...

Chris - well put! I can sort-of accept Ms Cook presenting the average 'hat act', or some of this latest crop of indifferent singers who make no effort to dress for a performance - I feel they belong together - but seeing her juxtaposed with the best artiste and band of the last ten years (my view, anyway) was too jarring for me. It was somehow irreverent.

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Roger Rettig

Theresa,
I'm a bit surprised to hear you say you don't care for Alison Krauss. In all honesty, I believe you are the first person I've ever heard say that. Is it just because she doesn't use Paul on her sessions? (just funnin' you)


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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Larry,
Sorry, I slipped on my postive side of thinking. Alison is a bit to nasal for my taste in singing! I don't understand what she's saying in her songs most the time.
She's used Paul before or should I say she's overdubed on Keith Whitley's and other artist. It doesn't matter, I'm not a fan of her's! <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 01 March 2003 at 12:23 AM.]</p></FONT>

Allison is great, but the blonde has to go. I really don't think she has a handle on music at all. I am surprised she can even function in life. She is sure a long way from Lorrianne Crook and Ralph Emery.

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

Theresa, isn't Del McCoury still your favorite performer?