Buddy Cage in 1972

BoFrazer · Post by **BoFrazer** » 23 Feb 2002 9:21 am

I just got hold of a live show from 1972 of one of my earliest influences, New Riders of the Purple Sage.

First of all, although the mix could account for some of it, I can't believe how PRIMITIVE it sounds. Granted I have some 30 years of listening to compare it with now, but -- geez, what must I have been smoking to even LIKE this stuff?

Second, Buddy Cage was a monster back then. If anyone knows whether he still is (or not), I'd like to hear about it. It's still clear to me after all these years why he was one of the reasons I became fascinated with the steel. I imagine he was having a pretty fun partying time touring with these guys, because it couldn't have been the musical quality that made him stay for years.

Third, I hope you guys with broadband are aware of how I got this. There's a site called ETREE.ORG that catalogues users of literally thousands of live shows, about 99% of which are perfectly legal and, in fact, condoned by the artists. There's a slew of bands out there that allow taping to the point where the soundman will plug into your DAT recorder from the board. In this respect it's not like Napster. The bad news is there's very little C&W; it's mostly Grateful Dead and Dave Matthews "jam band" kind of stuff. But there's a bunch of bluegrass (complete with b*njo), lots of Jerry Douglas in different configurations... Check it out. My personal list is http://db.etree.org/BoFrazer Oh, and if you don't have broadband, lots of folks will burn you a CD if you send them a SASE and the blank media. (It's about sharing. Yes, aren't we all warm and fuzzy?)

Feel free to write me off-line at BoFrazer@cfl.rr.com

Peace,
Bo

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 23 Feb 2002 10:13 am

Buddy Cage is alive and well and living in lower Manhatten. I spoke to him last month. He regularly plays on Long Island, Connecticut, and New York. When I asked him how long he plans to continue with playing he said, "as long as there are sexually charged women who fall in love with steel players I will be there!" He is one of a kind
and I admire him for being a gypsy.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 23 Feb 2002 10:33 am

I'm another one who's always had a bone to pick with Buddy- the very first song I had to learn in my first band was "Lyin' Eyes". Not too bad. But the next one was "Panama Red"- ouch- I've had the joyful priviledge of playing on quite a few dates with Buddy over the last couple of years and he's at the top of his still rowdy game. He's been playing with a number of bands in that "Jam Rock" genre, now mostly I think with the Brooklyn Cowboys. His signature sound and style are all there right up front- catch 'em when you can. He's recently married- there was a great John Arnold interview with him over the last several months in the PSGA newsletter if you can find those. No, Buddy's not outspoken at all...

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Mark van Allen- Lookin' for a gig! Pedal, Non-Pedal, Lap, Dobro and Lead Guitar- c'mon by and visit: www.markvanallen.com

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Feb 2002 10:39 am

"as long as there are sexually charged women who fall in love with steel players I will be there!"

Gee... I guess I must be workin' the wrong circuit. All I ever get is overweight guys askin' me about my stinkin' copedant!

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 23 Feb 2002 10:46 am

Hey Jimbeaux, I resemble that remark!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Feb 2002 10:50 am

(Unfortunately, so do I...)

Ron Castle · Post by **Ron Castle** » 23 Feb 2002 3:56 pm

Second, Buddy Cage was a monster back then

He's still a monster player.. I'm seeing him tonite at a little club in Rye NY. I've seen
him 3 times in the last few years and he is a spectacular player.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 23 Feb 2002 4:15 pm

I ordered a Fender 1000 in 1964 and receivced it in 1964....it was exactly as advertised....I don't know what else to say! www.genejones.com (Edited Mar 22: I was just scanning this thread and saw my post here...and I don't know what it means either, unless it was intended for another thread.

)[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 22 March 2002 at 03:54 AM.]

Steve Frost · Post by **Steve Frost** » 24 Feb 2002 6:18 am

Well,Gene that is puzzling

.....but that may not be something Buddy Cage could have influenced

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 24 Feb 2002 3:43 pm

I´ve gotta hear that recording - Buddy Cage is definitely one of my favorite players and main influences. He´s got a style and sound that are readily identifiable, something that you can´t say about a lot of the steelers in today´s commercial country scene... I love his playing on the New Riders stuff, on the one hand it´s still traditional, you can hear that he must have listened a lot to Charleton, mainly - but then it´s also kind of - nasty, I mean, just a little bit, not so much that you could get arrested for it... It´s terrific, in every tune Buddy says something with the steel, right in your face! Anyway, the first time I heard that, I knew I had to pick up steel myself. I just hope to meet the guy someday.

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 24 Feb 2002 4:01 pm

There are a bunch of us baby "Steel" boomers who discovered steel in the 70's whose biggest influences at the time were players like Buddy Cage and Rusty Young. It was the birth of country rock and was the most accessible kind of country-based music to the general public and especially young folks. At the time, groups like NRPS, Poco, Commander Cody, and Linda Ronstadt were in the center of popular/college music and that accounts for a big part of the interest of many of us.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 24 Feb 2002 4:43 pm

Ditto Jeff, Especially up here in the Northeast, it was the closest to Country that you could find as a kid. the good thing is that it opened the door up to more traditional stuff, thanks in part to Waylon and Willie for that.
I met Buddy a few years ago when he was with Stir fried, he was real nice and sounded great, a real innovator.
Buddy just played Friday at the Bottom line in NY with Garth Hudson and others, doing "The Music of the Band"

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Regards, Craig

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 24 Feb 2002 5:28 pm

Oh yeah! A huge influence on my playing in the early and mid 70s after I heard the live LP "Home,Home on the Road". I saw him play w/NRPS at the Roxy in Hollywood in the mid 70s and was flabbergasted.That aggressive,in your face,slightly out of control - but not really style of playing used to tickle the hell out of me.Those nebulous chromatic runs,high octane chickin pickin and Emmons thru a Marshall rock licks reminded me of vintage Jeff Beck.I wish he'd get out to the west coast more often. -MJ-

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 25 Feb 2002 9:00 am

Did Buddy really use a Marshall back then? I thought he always had Fender Twins.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 25 Feb 2002 9:28 am

Naw - it just sounded like a Marshall. Actually,I think they had custom amplification along the lines of the Greatful Dead's stage rig.Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.And anyhow,how come Buddy Cage hisself ain't on this forum - somebody answer me that...I'm sure he'd add some color. -MJ-

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 25 Feb 2002 10:17 am

As I recall he plugged into the Twins then either miked them or ran a line out to the Marshalls for extra power.

BoFrazer · Post by **BoFrazer** » 25 Feb 2002 10:20 am

Yes, I don't know how much censorship goes on in this forum, but if the F-word does not offend you, check out this great interview at http://thecoolgroove.com/cage.html Very candid and illuminating.

btw, for all you NRPS fans, I hope you are aware of the "Great Speckled Bird" album with Buddy and Amos Garrett. For my $, his best solos and fills happened in tunes like "Trucker's Cafe", "Smiling Wine"... if you have never heard this stuff, you're in for an eye-opener. Plus Amos Garrett is astounding on the 6-string...

Ted Russell · Post by **Ted Russell** » 25 Feb 2002 10:36 am

Buddy has his own website: www.buddycage.net

Ron Castle · Post by **Ron Castle** » 25 Feb 2002 12:46 pm

Having just seen Buddy play sat nite, I'd say
his best solos are just now being created.
He played more than half the tunes on C6, which was a real treat.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 25 Feb 2002 1:09 pm

Buddy was indeed on the forum 2 or 3 years ago. Some lowlife ran him off by screaming stuff at him about how he sucked from too much drug & drink. One of those moments that makes you proud of your steeling 'community'. Buddy knew there were better things to do than have someone's turds hurled at him.

David Rupert · Post by **David Rupert** » 26 Feb 2002 12:29 am

Buddy was indeed on the forum 2 or 3 years ago. Some lowlife ran him off by screaming stuff at him about how he sucked from too much drug & drink. One of those moments that makes you proud of your steeling 'community'. Buddy knew there were better things to do than have someone's turds hurled at him

I didn't know, that some JERK...had ran him off......by such a mean-spirited post. Not to mention...such a totally FALSE statement. Their are some very intelligent people on the forum...& then their are many people w/a IQ of about 60...max.!!

For someone to say that Buddy Cage sucks...is just total stupidity & ignorance. IMO...Buddy Cage, is one the greatest, & most-talented...steel players on the planet! As well, as being a great friend of mine. His playing, has not suffered 1%...because of his PAST drug & alcohol abuse. His playing...is as EXCELLENT, as it ever was...& beyond. He's a MONSTER player!! And...he is 100% drug & alcohol free. Has been so, since 1988/89.

Anyway, I also attended the show...in Rye, NY...on Sat. w/my good friend & fellow-steeler...Ron Castle. It was an excellent show...& Cage played FANTASTIC!!!

------------------
David "DJ" Rupert

1995 Mullen D-10
Nashville 400 Amp
Goodrich Volume Pedal (L120).
Boss: Dual Overdrive (SD-2), Digital Delay (DD-5), Super Phaser (PH-2).

"Music. Without it, life itself...would be impossible."

Peace.

www.johnbarnold.com/rupert/index.htm

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 26 Feb 2002 4:50 am

OK, I too am a Steel Baby boomer ! From the early 70's. Buddy Cage, John Call and Rusty Young were my first influences and thats a good thing. I can still remember listening to and playing along with all 3 players on there records. It was a great time to get
"Stolen" ! From there I heard "E" and thats when it became a life form. I do go up to NYC and CT every now and again and I will certainly look up Buddy C at a gig for sure.
He's one of the greats.
TP

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 26 Feb 2002 9:42 am

Alas, whatever ever happened to "judge not, lest ye be judged"? what a darn shame. I find it repugnant to run down another player because of any reason at all. If someone chooses to do drugs or drink, that is their decision. If it doesn't match my choices in life (I have quit doing drugs, cursing, and smoking) that doesn't make me a better person than they are. If someone isn't as good a player as you, so what? But I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts Buddy Cage could blow the doors off of whoever was trying to run him down. Sorry for the rant, please accept my apologies. Chris

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 26 Feb 2002 10:09 am

One of the things that makes Cage so great is that he virtually invented the country-rock style of playing. The chromatic stuff was just part of it. The bouncy, bubbly style of picking and very clever phrasings with the extensive use of the A pedal weaving in and out of his fills and solos (listen to Panama Red) gave him a signature sound. He was a very hard palm-blocker, similar to Lloyd Green in that respect. His blocked notes would make a "squish" that would rhythmically punctuate his lines. All in all, he is very unique.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 26 Feb 2002 3:28 pm

Other inventors of that bouncy country-rock sound would have to be Ralph Mooney first & foremost, as well as Walter Haynes, Tom Brumley, Jay Dee Maness, Rusty Young and ???

I recently found George Hamilton IV's 'North Country' album from '69, and Buddy is bouncin' all over it with fellow Canadian luminaries Lenny Breau and Bruce Cockburn. The "Manitoba Mafia" George calls 'em. Great stuff!