The Steel Guitar Forum

I headed over to a good size rock club
about an hour's drive from here to see
Robert Randolph. I guess I can pretty
much describe it in one word....
<font color=red size=5>Sssssmokin'!!!!!!</font>

His playing was phenomenal & he put on
an excellent show! Having said that,
I would say his show might not appeal to
the entire steelin' community, but if
you have an open mind, musically, there's
alot to appreciate. It was just a drummer,
bass, & organ backing him up & they were
a tight band for sure. They played for a
little over 2 hours straight & did some
groove-oriented rock/fusion type material,
a nice slow blues thing & a bunch of
"whip the audience into a frenzy" stuff
toward the last portion. The only "cover"
songs were Sly & the Family stone's "Thank
you for Lettin' me be Myself Again" as
well as a version of the theme from
"Sanford & Son" (plus he did a little bit
of Hendrix's Voodoo Child). All the rest
was original material. He had his
Carter thru a big old Peavey something
with an 18" speaker!!!...and that was cranked thru the PA....
and it was LOUD! He used an
e-bow on one song,a wah-wah on
some songs and quite a bit of overdrive
on most everything.
All in all, it's a show worth checking out
if you get the chance. It's probably something different than you're used to hearing. It sure will expose a whole new
audience to the pedal steel.
<font face=loosiescript>
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jay Ganz on 12 April 2002 at 08:06 AM.]</p></FONT>

By the sounds of it, I think I'll pass.

Yeah, that's the thing about a young crowd...they like to "feel" the music. It's only when you get older that you really listen to it.

I saw Robert last summer, also at a rock club. He was electrifying. He explained what the instument (a purple 13 string Fessy) was to the crowd, most of whom had never seen a pedal steel guitar before, and proceeded to play his heart out for about an hour.

The crowd loved him. He put our more energy in that hour than most performers do in a week.

Robert is exposing the steel guitar to a whole new audience, people who are outside the traditional country music community. He is proving that the steel guitar is not just a country instrument, but a real MUSICAL instrument, capable of playing many kinds of music.

He is giving the pedal steel guitar a real shot in the arm. He deserves our support.

I went over to Poughkeepsie last nite to see Robert. He was smokin' all right, as usual.
The kids were not as animated as the last time I saw him in NYC- but on the other hand it wasnt as loud last nite(if you can believe
that!!)
I think his material has improved- a bit more mainstream rock so that should be good for the Family Band to gain even more followers.
Three bands played last nite but everyone I
spoke to came to hear Robert. The kids just love it- it does my heart good to see a guy fronting a band on PSG and all those kids
going wild for it.

He is simply one of the best musicians I've ever seen on any instrument period. If you play pedal steel you will be amazed at how good this very young fellow is and what he can do. He and his band (two of which are cousins) have that obvious "god given" talent and the music they play in exceptional without question.

I'll tell ya though, the crowd wasn't
just 20 year old kids. It was a real mixture...plenty of 30 & 40
years olds as well. <font face=loosiescript><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jay Ganz on 12 April 2002 at 02:04 PM.]</p></FONT>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR><SMALL>The only "cover"
songs were Sly & the Family stone's "Thank
you for Lettin' me be Myself Again" as
well as a version of </SMALL><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's one of my favorite rhythm guitar riffs of all time. If he played the signature riff on steel, that's pretty neat.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jeff A. Smith on 12 April 2002 at 02:29 PM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jeff A. Smith on 12 April 2002 at 02:30 PM.]</p></FONT>

Does anyone know if he's coming to Nashville this summer? Traditional country is what I prefer on steel guitar but I'm open to new stuff too. If he's playing funk I've got to give him a listen.

Robert and the Campbell Brothers and Calvin Cooke will all be at a festival in Nashville at the end of June. I think the date is June 23rd.

What key did he do "Way to Survive" in?

I mainly know him through 'the Word' project/band with the Dickinson Brothers, etc.

Last night I was listening to a track from it on the radio (I actually thought it was the Allman Brothers circa '71 at first!)
The deejay knew excactly who Randolph and the rest of the band was, but several online interviews and reviews that have come out since the CD's release (some live reviews as well), list Randolph as an unknown.. kind of like he came out of nowhere!
Now, plenty of the Forumites have mentioned R.R. for some time, so I've been lucky in that regards.

He is a monster and his rock stuff is definately right up my alley. Very cool, although I understand how it's less attractive for some.

Cool !! I will be seeing Robert Randolph open for the Dave Matthews band at Madison Sq. Garden in New York on Tuesday night and am looking forward to it. He probably will only play around 45 minutes as an opener but it will still be great to see him.
Steel on, Steel on !!!
Bob

Schedule at http://www.robertrandolph.net/gig.asp

Buffalo tonight. Sold Out.
<IMG align=right src="http://www.dinoperrucci.com/RobertR/3_2 ... jpg"><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 13 April 2002 at 02:20 PM.]</p></FONT>

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Harry Hess on 13 April 2002 at 10:59 PM.]</p></FONT>

HH------Just give RR a listen with an open mind and a clean slate. He is an entirely new voice who brings something fresh to the PEDAL steel vocabulary. I saw Duane three weeks before he died in October 1971; Robert is every bit as exciting and original.

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Harry Hess on 13 April 2002 at 11:01 PM.]</p></FONT>

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Harry Hess on 13 April 2002 at 11:02 PM.]</p></FONT>

Did Joe Pass play like Segovia? Hendrix like Leon Rhodes? We have to realize that there is validity in different styles of music and different approaches to instruments. Just because someone plays with a different attitude doesn't mean that their music isn't valid. That's why there's SO MANY STYLES OF MUSIC!!! I took my wife to see the Campbell Brothers for our anniversary a couple of years ago. Now I'm a BIG classic country music fan but I'm open minded enough to like and play many different types of music. Quite frankly the Campbells blew me away!!! Robert Randolph isn't Emmons or Chalker BUT HE ISN'T SUPPOSE TO BE!!! If this instrument is to survive and gain validity with mainstream music fans then we have to embrace different styles of music being played on the instrument. Some of us need to break out of our shell and realize that our favorite music is NOT the only kind!!! By the way as I'm writing this I'm listening to Dumplin' Cox playing behind Connie Smith on the Opry. What a tasty player!!! <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jerry Hedge on 13 April 2002 at 08:04 PM.]</p></FONT>

sorry, posting error<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Harry Hess on 13 April 2002 at 08:20 PM.]</p></FONT>

Harry Hess,
Methinks the lady doth protest too much...
The kid plays REAL PSG pedal knees and all..
but he's trying and succeeding to build a genuine BLUES-rock type following in a type of music he knows best - maybe his success is why the sour grapes keep cropping up.
I've heard lotsa people knock Robert- the first time I heard him at the SS convention last year he played more of what you would recognize as 'traditional' pedal steel; gave a speed picking demo in which he played E9 country licks using palm blocking (which he rarely uses) that was as acurate and as fast as anyone down in Nashville.

Personally I think you should be ashamed of yourself panning Robert like you have on this post.Especially withou ever seeing him in person. Its all well & good to say- I dont like that music- Its too ....... whatever, fill in the blank, but to knock him as a musician and a steel player is just downright petty & mean spirited.

As for the kids diggin what he does I know I dont have to remind you that its the kids who buy concert tix and CDs and pay the bills- like it or not.

You guys blow me away with the negative response to this kid every time his name comes up.You say your not trying to knock the guy - so what then r u doin? slammin him instead?
Because he doesnt play PSG like LG or BE, and that's what you prefer?
Then say that without impuning the young mans abilities.

Robert plays psg- not imitation psg- real PSG- he plays it well, uses pdls when called for, lap techninque when called for, fuzz, wha, and whatever else HIS idea of music leads him to, and he's gaining success, prominence, and - (dare I say) more exposure
for pedal steel then LG or even BE ever did.

Remember a guy named Buddy Cage? Another guy everyone loved to knock. He played
steel in front of the same age-group, & I would wager that theres at least as many steel players on this forum that started PSG because of Cage, then started because of LG
(maybe more ).

Whine on Harry- times a'movin, and it looks like you're being left in the dust.

<SMALL>And that's all I have to say on the subject.</SMALL>

RC
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ron Castle on 13 April 2002 at 08:30 PM.]</p></FONT>

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Harry Hess on 13 April 2002 at 11:03 PM.]</p></FONT>

Meanwhile, he'll be playing Madison Square Garden.....not too shabby I'd say. I'd also say that nobody in that audience is too concerned about whether he's got an Emmons or Day set up..

Hey Fish, that Allman Bros. concert, Oct. 71,
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by HowardR on 13 April 2002 at 08:52 PM.]</p></FONT>

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Harry Hess on 13 April 2002 at 11:04 PM.]</p></FONT>

Harry-
First- I'm not a particular fan of RRs type
of music- actually really not my cup of tea at all.
Its not about the music- What annoys me about your comments is that you find it so darn hard to give credit where credit is due.
2nd) You're right about one thing- you got my hackles up- but its not because I love Roberts music, its the continual putdowns and assumptions you and others are making about him.
3rd) What I like about Robert, is that he is playing PSG for the masses- exposing thousands of young folks to PSG- NEWS FLASH: These kids dont currently listen to Loyd & Buddy- maybe never will- but becuase of Robert some may even go on to be players, some who'll get interested in listening to the 'old' guys and maybe one could even become the next BE complete with pink hair & tatoos! (and lotsa nice pdl and knee moves!)
as for the genre-
like I said- I dont care for it- dont like Stevie Ray Vaughn or BB King either, (or Poco) not because 'they dont play guitar like Wes or Johnny Smith'- that kind of blues bores me...
But I dont put them down and accuse them of not being REAL guitar players, I give them their credit.

4th) re: making assumptions- I'm 56 yrs
old, Graduated from Manhattan School of Music
in NYC in '66, sat in symphony orchestras, played B'way shows, and when my teeth gave out at 50 took up pedal steel avocationaly.

5) it was LG & BE and guys like Pete Drake and Chalker that made me want to play steel

But all this is away from the point- you ARE putting down this kid on this forum- even if you dont have the honesty to admit it-
And hes bringing steel to the mainstream
as much as Alvino did on his TV show-

as Howard said "he'll be playing Madison Square Garden.....not too shabby"

Your assumptions about who I am are as equally off base as your assumptions about RR's playing abilities.

BTW- I'm not offended- just annoyed