Robert Randolph on Letterman

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 13 Dec 2006 10:31 pm

I think he's getting more interesting. He played some pretty good rock-blues licks that weren't too wild, but that fit the song musically pretty well. His singing was the best yet, and also really worked with the song musically. Most interesting is that his playing, his singing, and the whole group's playing and singing were less traditional gospel Sacred Steel, and more modern mainstream R&B/hip-hop style. The great thing about that is that it takes his hot pedal steel style out of the novelty Sacred Steel category and really puts it into mainstream urban pop. This can only be good for the survival and resurgence of steel guitar. There a tons more young guns out there playing urban pop than Sacred Steel. This new direction of RR makes steel seem like more of a viable instrument for their music, which is the biggest selling stuff out there. He has modernized it for them. His lyrics are still spiritual, so he still maintains his gospel integrity. But with this style the lyrics could now just as well be secular and about anything. Not that I would like to see gangsta rap with RR style pedal steel, but I think it is interesting to see him adapt steel to modern urban pop. From there, the sky's the limit.

Oh, yeah, I also caught the last half of Twisted Sister's rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful over on Leno. Um...ah...no comment...I guess.

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 13 December 2006 at 10:35 PM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 14 Dec 2006 3:55 am

Hear, hear!

Tim Bridges · Post by **Tim Bridges** » 14 Dec 2006 5:33 am

How long will it take for someone to slam this thread? I agree with you about opening new doors and having a different style that IS working. I saw him and his band this past summer. Really enjoyed the show!

How long will it take for a slam? Within the next 5 posts I bet. I hope I'm wrong!

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 14 Dec 2006 7:19 am

Sure was a great plug for Fessenden!
His overdrive tone sounds alot better than
when I saw the band live a few years ago.
Back then he wasn't doing any vocals though,
so you got to hear him play more. If anyone
missed it last night & wants to see it...let me know.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 14 Dec 2006 8:43 am

Was he working a wah pedal, or was that an envelope follower or similar effect?

John LeMaster · Post by **John LeMaster** » 14 Dec 2006 10:57 am

Isn't it great to see a steel guitarist so dynamic in his performance? The Family Band was "tight", and they all seemed to be enjoying the gig, too.

Joe Wright and C.J. (Chad) Udeen come to mind as dynamic, exciting stage performers who also happen to be super steel players.

I tend to fall into the category of "Do we need to put a mirror up to his mouth to see if he is still breathing?"

John L.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 14 Dec 2006 11:05 am

Did anyone see Robert and his band a few weeks ago playing during a few breaks on TV during the USC /Notre Dame football game?

Real nice close-ups of him playing. He had a new guitar and I couldn't make out the brand, don't think is was a Fessy though, maybe I'm wrong.

Real good exposure though for Robert and the PSG.

------------------
Regards, Craig

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 14 Dec 2006 11:15 am

I wish there were a dozen RR's. Mainstrem exposure is such a big plus for the instrument.

------------------
Jeff's Jazz

Ted Solesky · Post by **Ted Solesky** » 14 Dec 2006 11:18 am

Dave, I agree with you. I hope this exposure gets the kids interested in steel.

Kyle Everson · Post by **Kyle Everson** » 14 Dec 2006 11:33 am

Craig, I saw Robert on ABC earlier in the football season and he was playing a red 13-string Jackson.

------------------
Kyle Everson
Sho-Bud Pro-II
Fender Twin Reverb
Goodrich 120

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 14 Dec 2006 11:36 am

You won't hear me slam Robert,I was hooked when I heard his first[and IMO his best]cd The Word.NO he does NOT sound like Buddy,Lloyd,and IMO the greatest that ever lived Curly,so what?Would'nt it be boring if they all sounded the same.I have made this comment before,Show me just ONE artist or group that puts the steel front and center,right in your FACE,ALL NIGHT LONG,and also introduced the steel to thousands of people that had no clue what a steel was until they saw him. Bama Charlie.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 14 Dec 2006 1:48 pm

Had some emails from guys wanting to see Robert
on the show from last night. Check back on this
topic tomorrow. I should have it uploaded by then.

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 14 Dec 2006 2:37 pm

You wanted a slam well here goes.
Personally i love RR and the Family Band. I played and loved soul and R&B long before RR. What bothers me is the idea that we need the steel guitar to be saved by these guys. As if without him and guys playing funk on steel it will disappear. POPPYCOCK!!

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 14 Dec 2006 3:10 pm

Right-on Ron.

What's all this worry over whether or not the steel guitar is DOOMED?

C'mon!

When I first got a steel at 28 yrs old - 30 or so years ago, the population of the world was not as intrusive or scary as it is now.

It's a BIG, BIG, BIGGER world now...I'll bet there are thousands of players who are out there who we haven't heard of and don't care to join this forum; but are plugging right along.

Personally [IMHO], I dig the idea that the steel guitar still remains a "mysterious instrument".

Life, for COL, is mysterious enuff! Why does "MAN" always feel compelled to figure everything out.

The most insane endeavour I believe, was the race to the south pole. HUH? Wasn't it hard enuff just to muster the energy and resources
to attempt that trek? And back then, they didn't have gortex and velcro and super-duper clothing, for one.

Sorry - probably got off track here.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 14 Dec 2006 3:17 pm

Ron, I beleive the direction RR is going is good---different, but good. Nobody said RR was needed to "save" steel guitar. It's just cool to see steel guitar ALSO in a different direction, which also helps raise the popularity of this instrument. GO ROBERT, and anyone else who plays steel guitar in any other style music they like, as well as common traditional styles of music! So, Ron, I don't think your comment was really a slam, now was it? So are we still "legal", Tim???

Randy Beavers · Post by **Randy Beavers** » 14 Dec 2006 3:27 pm

My only complaint is they didn't have the steel LOUD ENOUGH!

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 14 Dec 2006 3:29 pm

Nobody said RR was needed to "save" steel guitar.

Well, I'll say it!

RR is much needed to save this instrument!

I too, wish there was a dozen just like him!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 14 Dec 2006 3:53 pm

Whatever.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 14 Dec 2006 7:14 pm

Thanks Kyle, That name (Jackson)looks right, I've never heard of that brand before. You could see it very quickly and just couldn't make it out.

I got Roberts new CD and it is good, but I still can't figure out the ill will some people have against him.

I think he is a good guy and is just expressing himself with a steel guitar, kind of like George Benson who wished he was a singer, but happened to be a better guitar player.

Give Robert a break, it's Christmas!!

------------------
Regards, Craig

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 14 Dec 2006 7:20 pm

Jay-I would like to have seen RR . Why don't somebody tell us a day or two ahead of time when a Steel player will be on David or Leno's show? I like to see him showing off that steel to thousands of young people. It can only promote steel guitar in the long run...al

------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 14 Dec 2006 7:31 pm

Not a slam...just an observation. I think it's funny that the Forum members who continually slam either new country or country music that leans more towards rock...country rock, music that "just ain't country", etc., praise RR because the steel is up front, when the music/beat is the pretty much the same...and he doesn't dress up, either.

More power to anyone who can bring visibility of the instrument to a new, younger audience. Of course, that's what Jerry did with "Teach Your Children," and he gets crucified just like RR does. Go figure.

Billy Joe Bailey · Post by **Billy Joe Bailey** » 14 Dec 2006 7:53 pm

this is what I think about it everytime I read on the forum about RR and it's made mention of his sacred steel?????? Ive heard the music he's played and how he's performed .ai'nt nothing sacred about it.
An he can't ride on his past history of growing up in a Black Penecostal Church.
But what would be great, now that he has become famous, is for our Lord to knock him of his high horse like he did Paul in the Bible,that was on the road to Damacas to kill christians. then call Mr Robert Randolph in to the ministry. Then Robert could take his Sacred Steel guitar and sure enough return to his roots
and spread the Sacred Gospel on his Sacred Steel in the House of God. But Im afraid Robert has sold him self to play in the house of the riseing sun
Now I did'nt slam dunk R and R did I --- BJ
[This message was edited by Billy Joe Bailey on 14 December 2006 at 08:40 PM.][This message was edited by Billy Joe Bailey on 14 December 2006 at 09:37 PM.]

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 14 Dec 2006 8:38 pm

I thought they sounded great and it was nice to see a steel up front as the main focus although I wish the volume on the steel would've been a little higher.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 15 Dec 2006 2:16 am

Steel guitar is not doomed.
But it has been decidedly under exposed in main stream music in the last X# of years.

Partly because traditional country where it was most at home,
became a still living cousin of the buggy whip.
Like it or not true, or we wouldn't moan about it.

So ANY player that can give world wide exposure to it
is 100% cool in my book.

If 250 young guys pick up the steel because of him,
this is nothing but good.

Young players will eventually look into
the roots of the instrument's history,
and discover classic country too, by the back door.
Eventually they will age into.
So it really benifits classic country too.

I like RR, and even if I didn't
I would support his playing 100%

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 15 Dec 2006 5:00 am

I thought the performance was very good.
EB..I did not see any wah pedal so it was probably an envelope filter.
Last night we had a great blues jam in Wilmington with David Bromberg. We had bass, drums, keys, 2 guitars, sax & trombone, and steel, a very hot young gospel/soul singer came up to sing Stormy Monday and offered loads of compliments about the band in general and the pedal steel specifically. She knew exactly what it was, which is a very good thing. Thanks to RR. I dig what he is doing.