The Steel Guitar Forum

At the KFOG Kaboom in SF he played in front of about 60,000 people if not more. Great show! While his tone and technique did not have a hint of country, he was still awesome. He also plays a mean standard guitar. Aside from the fact that I really enjoyed his set, I heard lots of people say things like "wow, can that guy jam" or what is he playing? It sounds awesome!" He made a lot of new fans as evidenced by the number of people lined up after to get an autographed CD. For those not liking his playing, I have to say that he is bringing an excitement and fan base back to the steel guitar. I would guess that quite a few people will be taking up the pedal steel as a direct result of his efforts. By the way, his album cover and liner notes have some great pictures of his Fessenden. For you fans, he kicked a**. His tone and speed was just amazing. I did not here a flubbed note or mis-cue at all. Very funky and bluesy stuff. I got to talk to him for a few minutes after the show and he was a very nice, humble sort of guy. His band-mates were also very nice.

HERE WE GO AGAIN...

Maybe this will finally impress the "E9 Cryin" club.

Can anyone on this forum tell me the last steel guitarist that fronted his own band in front of 60,000 people?!

Go RR!!!

I have heard Robert and Joe Wright both in person and I think that Joe could play circles around Robert on the rock stuff. Also to mention that Joe is equally as awesome on country standards as well. I think with the right kinda push Joe could headline his own show just as Robert does. This is not to take away from Robert though. He is incredible "at what he does".

Cody, I am with you. They are both great at what they do. The difference being Robert is NOT a pedal steel player, he IS a slide blues player. Joe Wright IS a pedal steel player. Joe Wright can do every thing that Robert does, but Robert if he practiced for ten years could not do what Joe Wright does. Very few pedal steel players ever could. Again this is NOT to take away from Randolph. He is a smoke player at what he does and I appreciate his playing. Its like comparing BB King with Chet Atkins. They are both in their own class.

I was gonna run with it and decided not to..
Good luck to RR..

t

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 25 May 2004 at 03:41 PM.]</p></FONT>

<SMALL>Did Robert actually say what it was he was playing this time..</SMALL>

Tony, really.., don't you think those who are interested has enough brains to figure that out for themselves?
When I play my strat in front of an audience I never go into a "This, ladies and gentlemen, is an electric guitar. This particular model was invented by a man named Leo Fender and has three pickups, which works like this.. blah blah blah...".
And I certanly never start lecturing about my lap steels either.
And I've NEVER played in front of 60.000....... (me jealous? nononononoooo..).


Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Steinar ..although I removed that post..the reason that this was mentioned in fun was because Robert was asked on National TV what his Instrument was and he stated
"It's not a Piano"..

And I gotta be honest with ya..the very first time I saw a Pedal Steel I had to ask what it was..I was very young early 12 or 13 or so..I still have folks ask me what it is I'm playing every now and then..It's not that odd when you think about it..why would folks know what it is if they never heard one before.

When you play your Strat I would be willing to bet that many don't know it's a Strat but they all know it's an Electric Guitar, which is what it is. Not a good comparison of point in my view. I have several Strats and Several Tele's..when we go out my wife still see's players with either and gets them mixed up..but she knows they're Fenders at least..or at least they look like Fenders..

thats all..
t<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 25 May 2004 at 03:51 PM.]</p></FONT>

Maybe with the growing popularity of RR, people like Joe Wright, Joe Goldmark and other progressive players will get more exposure. I am just glad that the pedal steel is getting to be known as a lead instrument and not just as that "twangy thing" or as a novilty sound. Maybe as more people become familiar with the instrument, they will want to hear what else it can do. My first memory of the steel guitar was some really goofy stuff on CW McCall's "Bear Creek Road". It got me interested enough to get a lap steel and start listening to the greats. There is no denying how pumped the crowd got watching RR.

Tony, no problem..

<SMALL>Maybe with the growing popularity of RR, people like Joe Wright, Joe Goldmark and other progressive players will get more exposure.</SMALL>

I think that's a good point,- at least one can hope that this will happen.

Stenar

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www.gregertsen.com


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 25 May 2004 at 06:42 PM.]</p></FONT>

most important, maybe this will encourage steelers of all styles to be a little more up front, rather than in the traditional support role.
that is probably the most significant aspect of what RR is doing, regardless of his music.

Here we go again....

If you guys really want to know what this style of music is about you should come down to the Sacred Steel Convention in White Springs Florida this weekend.

Now seems like a good time to mention
Jerry Garcia and Tempered tuning methods.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Chuck McGill on 26 May 2004 at 07:23 AM.]</p></FONT>

And how often the third string breaks.

And how finger picks are uncomfortable.

And how much of a bummer it is that we can't make a 300 watt tube amp that you can carry around with one finger.

Although this somewhat pre-dates RR's success: http://steelguitarforum.com/Archives/Archive-000003/HTML/20011227-1-013415.html
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 26 May 2004 at 06:48 AM.]</p></FONT>

DVA, I forgot about that. That was some funny, but true stuff.

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Jeff's Jazz

Don't forget the Peavey vs Fender controversy. This post should number in the thousands...

Dave, to you my friend, I say #2, #5, and #13!!

Thanks Dave,

I needed that...

I was going to start whining about the whining of others and you made me realize the futility of that activity.

<SMALL>If you guys really want to know what this style of music is about you should come down to the Sacred Steel Convention in White Springs Florida this weekend.</SMALL>

Hey Dan ... I see that you and Orville are scheduled to play Monday at the Northwest Folklife Festival. Are you going to pick up some frantic-flyer miles this weekend?

And aren't you forgetting something if you're going to Florida this weekend?

DVA, that's zum funny stuff!