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HSGA Joliet 2004-One Month Away! Oct 14-16, 2004

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 9:21 am
by Gerald Ross
This year's Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association's (HSGA) Joliet convention will be held October 14-16, 2004 at the Holiday Inn, Joliet, Illinois (near Chicago).

Our guest of honor this year is Waikiki steeler and Steel Guitar Forumite Jeff Au Hoy. In addition to playing the major hotels in Honolulu, Jeff is appearing for two nights "on the beach at Waikiki" at the luxurious Halekulani Hotel during "Steel Guitar Week 2004". He should be warmed up for the Joliet show.

The majority of the music played at Joliet is non-pedal Hawaiian steel, 1920's acoustic Sol Hoopii style and 1940-50's Waikiki/Hollywood style. You're also likely to hear C&W, Western Swing and 1940-50's pop standards coming from the stage during the course of the weekend.

In addition to the three days of music, there are nightly jam sessions that frequently last until dawn. All musicians are welcome to attend and encouraged to be a part of these sessions. The jams are wide open. You'll hear Blues, Old Time fiddle, fingerstyle guitar, Jazz as well as Hawaiian, Western Swing etc., all played on the non-pedal steel guitar.

There will be two free workshops at this year’s convention. An introduction to Band-In-A-Box taught by forumite and technical guru John Tipka and a slack key guitar demonstration/instructional session hosted by forumites Chris Kennison and Bill Leff.

On Friday evening Jeff Au Hoy will host an informal Q&A session where he will discuss his steel guitar technique, his approach to the steel guitar and Hawaiian music.

Dress code? Aloha wear if you'd like. It's very comfortable and easily(?) hides 10-20 lbs. of excess body weight (note: the slimming effect of an Aloha shirt is greatly
diminished if you tuck the shirt into your pants, it then becomes "apple on a stick" wear).

As always, expect the weekend to be inspiring, enjoyable and exhausting. Three, 22 hour days (you'll have to sleep sometime) playing, learning, discussing/debating, jamming, living, breathing and eating Hawaiian and non-pedal steel guitar.

Visit the HSGA website for more info.

Aloha

<I><B>
Late news:
All of the on-stage performing slots have been filled. The STAND-BY list is now being compiled.

Special HSGA reduced rate rooms are still available at the Holiday Inn. Call the Joliet Holiday Inn directly (815) 729-2000 to get the HSGA discounted room rate. Your reservation must be received by the Holiday Inn before October 1st. After that date the rooms being held for the HSGA will be released to the general public. </B></I>

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
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Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 14 September 2004 at 01:12 PM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 10:19 am
by HowardR
I know that this is not quite "topically correct," but what in tarnation (a country mainly known for producing tar) is "POI?"

and can I get it on a bagel?

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 10:49 am
by Gerald Ross
It's the state carb of Hawaii.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, someone else please elaborate...

It's mashed, processed taro root.

You vant lox mit your bagel, do you? Try some Hawaiian lomi lomi salmon... You'll think you died and went to heaven! (nosh till you plotz).

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Image
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 14 September 2004 at 11:57 AM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 11:04 am
by Mike Neer
Hey HowardR, I actually had lomi lomi salmon last night at the National Arts Club luau. It was to die for! Still, it wasn't as good as in Hawaii (that was to kill for). No poi, though, which I happen to like. (I know, I know--how can you eat lomi lomi salmon without poi?)

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 1:19 pm
by George Keoki Lake
Howard...POI is best described as wall-paper paste...that's what it looks like. Some folks can't take POI, while others, (Hawaiians especially) have it almost on a daily basis. POI ...you either love it or hate it...no in-between. If it is made well, man, it's great with pork. I'm a real fan of GOOD poi. I have had some poi which should be used as wall paper past. Image

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 1:21 pm
by HowardR
and in Louisianna it's known as a "Poi Boy"... Image

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 1:25 pm
by Mike Neer
That's the one-finger poi. Too thick for my taste. I'm a three-finger poi kinda guy.

So, who plays acoustic Hawaiian steel at these events, Gerald?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Mike Neer on 14 September 2004 at 02:26 PM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 2:57 pm
by Gerald Ross
Mike,

Most of the steel playing at Joliet is performed on vintage Stringmasters, Bakelite Ricks, Rick Frypans, 1930's Gibson Laps, Vintage National Consoles, Modern Excel non-pedals, a few Multi-Cords and various home-made creations. Acoustic pre-war steel is represented as well and is always well received.

Here's a photo from last year of Frank Della-Penna and Dirk Vogel on vintage tricones (me on electric archtop... so sue me). Dirk and Frank did that entire stage set on their TriCones.

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Doug Smith always plays acoustically. Here he is with Barb Kuhns, Floyd Alexander and Isaac Akuna.

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About two years ago one we had five or six vintage Tricones at the convention. The Thursday night jam session evolved very quickly into an entire acoustic jam. It was great to see people who typically play electric, go acoustic that night (players like Alan Akaka, Bobby Ingano, Duke Ching etc.) Here are some photos from that year.

Two of these guitars belonged to Paul Warnik and showed up on the PBS TV show "Antiques Roadshow" later that year

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Mike, if you show up this year you can add your name to the list of non-electric players as well!

Here are more photos from previous HSGA conventions

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Image
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 14 September 2004 at 04:19 PM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 14 Sep 2004 3:12 pm
by Rick Aiello
Oh my ... my tricone made it to Joliet (one in the middle) ...

But I never have Image

I'm still workin' on this year Image
<SMALL>Mike, if you show up this year you can add your name to the list of non-electric players as well!</SMALL>
If he does show up ... he best be "pullin' double duty" Image

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Image
<font size=1>HorseshoeMagnets</font>


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 14 September 2004 at 04:26 PM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 30 Sep 2004 8:40 am
by Gerald Ross
Bump to top.

Two weeks away!

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Image
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website



Posted: 30 Sep 2004 9:40 am
by Mike Neer
Looks like fun.
It makes me sick to see those PW tricones again--I wanted them in the WORST way! I was willing to tap into my retirement account for those babies. Image
Oh well....ya snooze, ya lose.

Posted: 30 Sep 2004 3:22 pm
by Rick Aiello
I'm goin' ...

First time ever ... member since '87-'88.

I'll be drivin' (10.5 hrs) ... so I can bring all my stuff ...

4 "Dustpans" ... and assorted "name" steels with our neodymium horseshoe magnets installed for folks to play.

Mr. Pfeifer even put me in the program ... Image

Been over 8 yrs since I played Hawaiian Steel "out" ... I'm already nervous Image



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Posted: 30 Sep 2004 4:45 pm
by Gerald Ross
Allright Rick! Glad you're coming. It'll be a blast. I really think people are going to be impressed with what you've been working on.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Image
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website



Posted: 30 Sep 2004 6:50 pm
by HowardR
Hey Rick, wanna swing by the Big Apple & pick me up?

Gerald, I fell off the fence....and landed on the Island side. Image Made my "reso" today.

I look forward to my first HSGC. I know that you put a huge effort into promoting Hawaiian Steel Guitar events and music. I joke around a little, but I sincerely mean it when I say this; it will be a real pleasure to meet me.

Posted: 1 Oct 2004 4:37 am
by Rick Aiello
Howard ... I'm afraid if I got within 50 miles of the "Moonlighters" ...

I would be magnetically drawn in .... tighter than a 10 Penny Nail to a niobium-tin dipole electromagnet ...

And never escape ...

Image

Posted: 1 Oct 2004 6:51 am
by HowardR
Rick is being polite......for a 10.5 hour trip, I have 9.5 hours of jokes. Image

Posted: 1 Oct 2004 9:43 am
by Mike Neer
Look out! Rick's bringing the heavy metal. Gonna clean up with those Dustpans?

Posted: 2 Oct 2004 8:12 am
by Maurie Junod
Hey Rick, what great news. I am really looking forward to meeting you. We have some
common interests. When I read of your steel
building exploits it reminds me of my own.
Only it was about 40 years ago.

Howard, I am looking forward to meeting
you too, although with apprehension, since I don't
know what to expect from you next. Could you
reduce those many hours of jokes, because I
don't catch on to half of them. There's a
couple of streetwise generations between us.

Maurie

Posted: 3 Oct 2004 4:38 am
by HowardR
It will be my pleasure to meet you Maurie, along with many other people at the convention.

Posted: 3 Oct 2004 7:09 am
by Rick Aiello
Maurie, the pleasure will be mine.

It's gonna be "deja vu" for me ...

I've been gettin' those quarterlys for 16 yrs and I have a mess of convention videos ... so its like I already "know" the "regulars".

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Posted: 3 Oct 2004 8:13 am
by Russ Young
<SMALL>and in Louisianna it's known as a "Poi Boy"...</SMALL>
Howard, I award you a belated rimshauxt!

Posted: 3 Oct 2004 4:16 pm
by Bill Creller
IT will be great to meet some of you guys in person, and it should be a blast.
BILL

Posted: 4 Oct 2004 1:15 pm
by Paul Warnik
Rick A-I will be there on Friday-Hope to meet you! By the way those two consecutively serial numbered style 4 Chrysanthemum National Tri-Cones that were on the "PBS Antiques Roadshow" have been SOLD!$$$$$ Image

Posted: 4 Oct 2004 1:22 pm
by Mike Neer
PW-- Image

Posted: 5 Oct 2004 10:24 am
by Paul Warnik
Mike N-keep searching- Image I did for years!