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Topic: Mike Perlowin - "Fickle Pigs" |
Slim Lattimer
From:
Anaheim, CA USA
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Posted 26 Jul 2002 2:48 pm |
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I went out last week to listen to Mike picking with the "Fickle Pigs" @ Toppers Tavern in Eagle Rock, CA. This band is really really good and Mike's playing is much different than the usual country psg, and far from his "Firebird Suite" or "West Side Story" work. His blues and rock influences shine through and his technique is much like that of the great lap steel players.
It's fun to watch the other band members' appreciation of Mike's fills and solos. He's also a crowd favorite on the mandolin and the b#!jo. Lots of fun! If you get a chance, go check them out! I'm sure Mike will be posting their gigs in "Events and Announcements".
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PIGEONS |
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Jason Odd
From:
Stawell, Victoria, Australia
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Posted 26 Jul 2002 5:09 pm
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Thanks for that Slim, makes a fella wish that he could make a gig.
Mike, when did the banjo pop into the picture? |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 27 Jul 2002 7:49 am
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Thanks Tom. This band is really a lot of fun, and the other players are all terrific. In terms of the level of musicianship, these are some of the best players I've ever worked with in my entire life.
I totally suck at the B*nj*. Actually, I'm so bad at it that sucking would be an improvement. I play it on only one song.
I actually play it clawhammer style, but that wouldn't work for this song, so I attempt to play bluegrass style, and the audience who doesn't know any better doesn't realize how terribly I am, but any real b*nj* picker would either laugh or get very angry at my attempts at pretending to play. |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2002 10:18 am
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Oh no! 
Glad you're back to gigging, though, Mike.
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 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic) Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6) |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 28 Jul 2002 2:59 am
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| Quote: |
| Glad you're back to gigging... |
I am too Bobby, believe me. I'm still not completely recovered, but I'm rapidly getting there. I can do everything I could before the accident except carry my gear around. The doctors won't let me lift anything heavy for fear of re-injuring my still healing back. I have to get others to help me.
I always wanted roadies. Now I've got them. 
Seriously, the pedal steel guitar is a GREAT rock instrument. It's like a slide guitar only with an added dimention (the pedals.) It's true I tend to use the bar a lot more and the pedals a lot less when playing solos, but I do use the A pedal a lot, as well as the C pedal. One of my standard tricks is to hit the 1st and 4th strings and step on the C pedal the close the gap between the 2.
Another thing is that the low B string on my uninversal tuning drops to A instead of raising to C# on the A pedal so I've got this thundering bass when the A and B pedals are down. Sometimes, when the band is playing in A, I get down in this register for my ride, ending the solo in the low A. I got the idea from something similar Reece did on his Universal Direction LP.
Something else I do is have my distortion unit on a bypass loop, and have a 6 band EQ unit on another, so when I use them together, I EQ the distortion, and between the 2 units, the instrument positively screams.
We play to a crowd that is not into country and for the most part has never seen or heard a steel before. Usually when we play some guitar player will approach me and ask about it. I always explain how it works and let then sit down and try it. I like to think that some of them will be inspired to take it up.
The band will be back at the same club on Friday, August 9 and again Saturday, September 7. I hope some of you guys reading this can come on down and say hello.
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James Winwood
From:
New York, New York
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Posted 29 Jul 2002 7:44 am
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| The psg has yet to see its day in the world of rock. I heftily enjoy turning on my EH tube zipper and burning the pants off rock/blues guitar players whenever I get the chance. First they just stare at me like I'm some kind of freak. As i start kicking it up a couple of notches the corresponding redness in their faces increases proportionatly. I plan on making it a habit. Seriously, the psg is a monster ready to feed in this genre. There is a load more to it than what Randolph is doing. People love this kind of stuff. I'm working on feeding it to them and love to hear of other steelers doing the same. |
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