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Topic: Robert Randolph Discussion |
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 14 Jul 2008 12:07 pm |
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I'm not the author of this thread and had additional comments to the original which weren't brought here along with the original post.....JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
Last edited by Jerry Hayes on 18 Jul 2008 2:04 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 14 Jul 2008 1:58 pm
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| Here we go again. Buckle up kids. |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 14 Jul 2008 2:08 pm
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| Jerry Hayes wrote: |
| Nothing impressive here! As with 99.9% of Robert Randolph's playing it could be done with a six or eight string lapsteel tuned in a basic C6th or A6th tuning. Most of it could be done with a basic open E tuning. I've always wondered if he's going to play that style, what does he need with a 13 string 8 pedal steel with knee levers. I don't think he really used any of 'em.........JH in Va. |
 Ok, let's hear you do it. Put your money where your mouth is. Post some clips.
I find the cable driven pedals quite interesting, though I got to admit, that's an ugly lookin' beastie!
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Primitive Utility Steel |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2008 3:45 pm
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Who's got the popcorn ? .....  ........Jim |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 14 Jul 2008 5:06 pm
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| Exactly Jerry. Very rarely does he ever hit a pedal or a knee lever. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 14 Jul 2008 5:48 pm
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| Though a lot of his stuff is fast, single string riffs, I've seen him use both pedals and knee levers, on occasion. He's a very good player at his style, and is indeed quite a showman. He certainly has enough chops and technique that I think he could play country stuff if he wanted to. |
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John Kingsley
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 14 Jul 2008 6:23 pm
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The intro riff to "Squeeze," off his unclassified album, has a pretty cool pedal intro.
There's also plenty of jazz solos that traditional pedal steel players play on the back neck without using very many pedals. |
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Curt Langston
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Posted 15 Jul 2008 10:53 am
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While we're here dis(cussing) RR and whether or not he can do all of his shows using a lap steel, let us not forget this simple fact:
RR is making a huge living doing what he loves!
How many can honestly say that they are well off financially, from the results of their steel playing career?
He has already made a whole lot more money than the vast majority of older lifetime players!
I like how he is always smiling while doing his shows.
Not many other steel players get a fraction of the exposure that RR does. Pedals or not!
Rock on, RR. Rock on! |
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Joshua Grange
From:
Los Angeles, California
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 6:32 am
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I did a month long tour with RR, playing guitar, and I can tell you guys, especially the guys who don't know what they're talking about, that he certainly does use the pedals, levers, all the strings and anything else attached to that guitar.
We used to do some country numbers during soundcheck and he played the %^*@ out of them, fast clean picking, really cool chord stuff too.
When I first heard him on recordings I asked if he used the pedals or levers etc., and I was told to just watch him.
I opened for him also when I was playing with Shannon McNally, and got to watch him every night for a couple months. He really does use the pedals and levers, and can play a lot of different styles, and very well. He used to ask me about certain progressions I was playing, and obviously had a passion for learning new things, and wasn't afraid to ask questions. Certainly a wise trait!
And while I remember, he also played the #$%^& out of the dobro he had on the bus, even taking it to a radio show one day.
There was music being played just about every minute of the day on the bus, acoustic guitars, dobros, singing.... It was a lot of fun, and he's a really good musician.... |
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Jerry Fessenden
From:
Vermont, USA
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 7:46 am Robert
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| I hate to add fuel, but didn't most people get the main points about RR? He's an artist, he doesn't have to do the same stuff that other steel players do... Help me Danny K... I wish someone would tab out one of his solos... He plays pedals and knees faster than anyone I've seen & big chords the width of the neck,,,can't do that on 8 strings ...He also plays OBS as fast as almost anyone I've ever seen. and clean too, if he chooses. Doesn't matter what steel he plays or tuning either , he has several. He adjusts himself to whatever is thrown his way...Did you see the Eric Clapton DVD? JF |
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Scott Shipley
From:
The Ozark Mountains
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 7:53 am
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Is RR a pedal steel guitarist in the traditional sense? No. Is he a pedal steel guitarist? Yes. Is he a stylist? Yes. Can he play? YOU BET YOUR BUTT HE CAN PLAY.
Folks, I've stood next to this guy onstage and attempted to "cut heads" with the man. I came in second at best. Dude has chops, style, and TONS of gut. I've stood next to Monroe, Cash, Dave Evans, Dick Dale, you name em, and I'd put him up there with any of them as far as raw passion goes.
Does he use pedals and knees? Sometimes, but not always. Does that mean he has less technical ability or MORE technical ability?
Is he everybody's cup of tea? No.
Was E everybody's cup of tea in 1958?
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Scott Shipley Facebook |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 8:03 am
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I really dont understand why or how RR's playing is even a suitable subject for debate. 
Personally not a fan of his original music, but his playing? wheres the beef? He kicks twenty different kinds of butt!! tone, style, soul...and screaming hot licks..even when he's just playing one note...man, what a player.
thanks for the info on his use of pedals and levers Josh. I'm a fan of your playing as well  |
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Charley Wilder
From:
Dover, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 8:23 am
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| He's the best thing that has happened to the pedal steel in years. He is showing to a wide audience just what is possible with that instrument instead of playing the same tired Nashville stuff. Since when is "playing Country" the only measure of a good musician? |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 8:43 am
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"Was E everybody's cup of tea in 1958?"
Only if you were a steel guitar player, or played in a country band, and I mean a "player" not an onlooker. There is a difference you know?
Is RR everyone's cup of tea? Only if you drink tea I guess. I'm a coffee man myself, but I can appreciate his "talent" to an extent, but not enough to fall down on both knees and begin thanking him for saving the steel guitar. That's a ridiculous statement in my book, the steel guitar never has died in my part of the world. You have a steel in the band here or THE BAND DIES, not the instrument.
Maybe some people are in the wrong part of the country if the steel instrument is having clods rattle on the boards (Meaning it's already been buried, and requires salvation). We didn't let it happen here. Mebbe' the reason so many steel players in Texas. Who knows? But I can tell you this much, RR and his style of music would not fit in too well here. And that's OK. You like his playing then buy his music and push him to the top, but to make the statement he exceeds the talent of country players is about as valid as warm horse stuff.
phred
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There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI!!
Think about it!! |
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Scott Shipley
From:
The Ozark Mountains
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 8:47 am
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With all due respect Fred, you are mixing your quotes together. I never said or implied that steel was dead. I know better. In more ways than one.
And in 1958, there were (believe it or not) a few folks (players and on-lookers alike) who didn't care for what E was doing with steel guitar.
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Scott Shipley Facebook |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 8:57 am
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"Maybe some people are in the wrong part of the country if the steel instrument is having clods rattle on the boards (Meaning it's already been buried, and requires salvation)."
Scott, with all due respect, I don't believe I see your name in the quote above. I made the statement for those folks who believe the guitar needs salvation. I'm simply tired of "those in the know" who believe and then state the instrument is in its last throes.
Even it was so, RR or any other individual won't save it. The music in which it is predominantly used would be its savior. In any case it's a geographical function of music styles anyway and that's my honest opinion.
As I said in this part of the country RR would have a problem making eating money. I simply believe there's no request for his style of music. He might pull a crowd in one of the churches, but where the money is, in the tonks and concerts, he'd probably have a problem making coke money.
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There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI!!
Think about it!! |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 9:08 am
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Thanks Jimbeaux, you know that's what i meant and the last thing I would do would be to attack RR's habits. My bad. In any case he would probably be drinking water out here in the hinterlands.
phred
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There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI!!
Think about it!! |
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Bo Legg
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 9:09 am
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RR is a Star who just happens to play PSG. So we're comparing apples to oranges here.
RR is a Star and is presently the best know PSG out there known to the general public.
A group of young people I overheard talking about RR “He plays a guitar that nobody else plays that he invented”.
It’s the unusualness of, and the strangeness of, the mechanical monster appearing guitar (PSG) that attracts attention.
If your young and want to become a Star you would do well to imitate RR.
If your young and want to become a Certified Forum Excepted Great PSG Player, then get a day job and practice for 20years until you can imitate all the excepted greats. |
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Stephen Silver
From:
Asheville, NC
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 9:09 am
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"As I said in this part of the country RR would have a problem making eating money. I simply believe there's no request for his style of music. He might pull a crowd in one of the churches, but where the money is, in the tonks and concerts, he'd probably have a problem making coke money"
Yea, right Fred....like you just wished you had a schedule like RR
http://www.pollstar.com/tour/searchall.pl?Content=A-ROBRAN&By=Artist&PSKey=Y&StartSearch.x=11&StartSearch.y=11
Now when you are through with your patronizing, racist stereotype comments about coke money, go out and just try and figure out how the guy makes the mortgage payment on that big ole house on the hill he has....I am sure you can count on both hands and both feet. Or then again, maybe not.
SS
SS |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 9:15 am
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Once again someone who knows nothing about whom they're writing. Easy to do behind a keyboard. Warm beer, wet toilet paper, and people blowing their nose when they don't know what they're talking about.
Maybe someone will enlighten this one about whom he's blasting. I've got on asbestos panties so go get 'em tiger. I don't do schedules any more lion heart. I'm fortunate enough that's behind me and you wouldn't know a stereotype if one bit you in the butt. Ride on cowboy, your horse has eaten your saddle.
Phred
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There are only two defining forces that have offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American GI!!
Think about it!! |
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Scott Shipley
From:
The Ozark Mountains
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 9:18 am
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Quote
"To repeat or copy the words of (another), usually with acknowledgment of the source."
par·a·phrase
"The act or process of restating or rewording."
"The music in which it is predominantly used would be its savior......it's a geographical function of music styles"
Walk The Line wasn't exactly verbatim either, but it turned a lot of folks on to the music of Johnny Cash.
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Scott Shipley Facebook |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 9:21 am
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It seems that frequently, when RR comes up, one of the main reactions is tantamount to: "My 6-year old could paint that!"
Those Strat players better be using that whammy bar every other note, or by golly, they might as well be playing a ukulele!!!! 
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Primitive Utility Steel |
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Scott Shipley
From:
The Ozark Mountains
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 9:22 am
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"Coke money?!?"
Are we gonna go down that road too now?
New thread: Artists with "habits"
Wow.
BTW, I am first and foremost a guitar player, but you don't hear me sitting around in my "asbestos underpants" complaining about RR killing electric guitar.
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Scott Shipley Facebook |
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Bo Legg
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Posted 17 Jul 2008 9:53 am
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| I'll admit that the phrase "asbestos underpants" is funny, but Geez lighten up, this is way to trivial a Topic to get this worked up over. |
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