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Topic: No more top 40' for me |
Bob Grado
From:
Holmdel, New Jersey
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 4:42 am |
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I've been playing in top 40 cover bands for the last 15 years and have decided to call in quits.
The bottom line is,unfortunately, I'm no longer needed. The band I was in was looking to update their setlist for 2009 and most of the songs had very little steel,if any.
It's funny, I've been sitting in with classic rock bands,lounge acts, Grateful Dead cover bands and even did a couple of pop recording sessions and never had a problem fitting in.
The only "genre" I'm having trouble fitting in with is modern country..
Somethings not quite right here..
I should have sensed I was in trouble when they knocked "I cross my heart" off the setlist. lol
Anyway, I'm really digging playing dead and new rider songs again. I've come full circle. |
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Michael J Pfeifer
From:
New York NY 10036
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 5:02 am top 40
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| what they call country here in the greater ny area is really rockabilly.as you know, playing steel with a rockabilly band doesn't require pedals.This is one reason I don't get any gigs. I sit in with bluegrass players and I play show tunes because there are no c&w artists here. |
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Ellis Miller
From:
Cortez, Colorado, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 8:03 am
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I do not play steel and I love the instrument. I believe in the hands of the right person, the PSG is the most versitile and expressive instrument on the planet. Those who restrict the PSG to a specific genre are missing out.
So... play, play, play, and have some fun. A door will open.
BTW, I haven't played in a cover band for several years. I just didn't enjoy it and playing music is supposed to be fun.
_________________
Ellis Miller
Don't believe everything you think.
http://www.ellismillermusic.com |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 8:25 am
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Agreed!!!... Grateful Dead and New Riders music is where it's at for Pedal Steel players!!!
Jam Band music in general allows us to genuinely "close the loop" with the audience better than any other style of music I've played.
I'll take twirlers and bone-shakers over line-dancers and boot-scooters every time! |
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Roger Edgington
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 8:30 am
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| I played with a very good house band for 3 years doing top 40 cover. Most of the time I was bored out of my mind and rarely touched the back neck. For the last 15 years I've been with a really good band that just does old country/swing tunes and I love it. Even with fiddle,lead,and sometimes piano and horn I still get to strech out as much as I am capable of. We don't play line dances,rock,or new country although most of us have in the past. I really don't miss it. Most of the material actually has more than three chords and is pretty challenging,arranged and upbeat. I'll be 63 next month and I find it interresting how your music desires change over the years. |
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Ulric Utsi-Åhlin
From:
Sweden
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 9:19 am
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Yeah,classic NRPS is WAY more country than most...
"country".McUtsi |
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Michael J Pfeifer
From:
New York NY 10036
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 10:11 am Hi Ellis
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| The music scene here is hostile.I do have fun. I've opened many doors playing a bluegrass jam and show tunes. Still no gigs! Here, it is not what you know but, who you know. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 10:34 am
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I'm lucky to play in a band [Strokin Dixie] that plays some of everything [except this so-called new country]. Classic country,old rock,blues, Southern rock,The pedal steel is PERFECT for the old rock standards,blues,and Southern rock.I love to play songs such as Can't You See,Give Me Three Steps,Sweet Home,Honky Tonk Women,Stormy Monday,The Breeze,Statesboro Blues,etc, DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 12:29 pm
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I have never, and probably never will, play in a Top-40 modern-country band. There is a musical and cultural chasm that seems insurmountable, to me. I've been asked to play with some bands like this a few times, and the first time we got together, it was obvious that they were coming from a completely different musical planet than me. Maybe it's just the specific cases I had to deal with, but I just had no interest in the material or attitude at all.
I started playing pedal steel because a band I knew playing folk-rock, alt-country, Americana, and country-rock lost their lap steel player. Pedal steel is natural, even almost necessary, for this stuff. I have no problem fitting in with a band doing classic rock (e.g., CCR, Stones, Eagles, Beatles, Stones, Bob Seger, you name it), blues, bluegrass, old-time, classic country, jam-band stuff, and so on. But the heavy-metal-southern-rock based modern country purveyed around here just doesn't leave any sonic room unless I shove it in their faces. To put it another way - to my tastes, it doesn't showcase the the natural sound of the steel well at all. I'd be much better off playing guitar and slide guitar.
None of this bothers me here, since there is essentially zero market for modern-country in this major northeastern university town. Even if I wanted to play it, I'd have to do it out of town. Suffice to say, I'm not motivated. If I want to play out in the country in central PA, there are people who are still interested in traditional country and bluegrass.
Another thing - the audience for some of these styles I play in are some of the biggest steel guitar fans I meet, and a lot of these bands make a lot of room for me when I work with them. Lemme see, what do I prefer - a band where I'm a fifth wheel or a band where they and the audience are diggin' it? No contest.
You should not interpret my comments as any type of dig on modern-country. Live and let live, as far as I'm concerned. But at the moment, ne'er the twain shall meet. |
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Michael J Pfeifer
From:
New York NY 10036
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 12:57 pm top 40
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| You don't need pedals for old rock,southern rock,stones,etc. a nashville pedal set-up is not good for this. For rock, a joe wright or the late sneaky pete set up is good. |
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Bob Grado
From:
Holmdel, New Jersey
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 2:14 pm top 40
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I'll tell you one thing about the transition from top 40 to Jam band. It's a humbling experience.
When you play top 40 all you really have to do is learn the signature steel parts and maybe take a ride for a few measures.
With a jam band I'm finding out how limited my playing really is. I mean "coming out of the gate" I'm doing fine but after 30 or so measures I've played every lick I know. lol
If anyone can offer suggestions on what scale or pocket, on the E9 or C6, I can use on the attached
song I'd appreciate it.
The song is a slow waltz called "Drink Up and Go Home". It was recorded at my friends house with a steel, guitar and standup bass. Please excuse the mix as it's just a rehearsal recording...
http://www.muziboo.com/bgrado/music |
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Michael J Pfeifer
From:
New York NY 10036
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 8:20 pm BGrado
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| Jammin' keeps me on my toes. Practice |
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 9:03 pm
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| Dave Mudgett wrote: |
I have never, and probably never will, play in a Top-40 modern-country band. There is a musical and cultural chasm that seems insurmountable, to me. I've been asked to play with some bands like this a few times, and the first time we got together, it was obvious that they were coming from a completely different musical planet than me. Maybe it's just the specific cases I had to deal with, but I just had no interest in the material or attitude at all.
I started playing pedal steel because a band I knew playing folk-rock, alt-country, Americana, and country-rock lost their lap steel player. Pedal steel is natural, even almost necessary, for this stuff. I have no problem fitting in with a band doing classic rock (e.g., CCR, Stones, Eagles, Beatles, Stones, Bob Seger, you name it), blues, bluegrass, old-time, classic country, jam-band stuff, and so on. But the heavy-metal-southern-rock based modern country purveyed around here just doesn't leave any sonic room unless I shove it in their faces. To put it another way - to my tastes, it doesn't showcase the the natural sound of the steel well at all. I'd be much better off playing guitar and slide guitar.
None of this bothers me here, since there is essentially zero market for modern-country in this major northeastern university town. Even if I wanted to play it, I'd have to do it out of town. Suffice to say, I'm not motivated. If I want to play out in the country in central PA, there are people who are still interested in traditional country and bluegrass.
Another thing - the audience for some of these styles I play in are some of the biggest steel guitar fans I meet, and a lot of these bands make a lot of room for me when I work with them. Lemme see, what do I prefer - a band where I'm a fifth wheel or a band where they and the audience are diggin' it? No contest.
You should not interpret my comments as any type of dig on modern-country. Live and let live, as far as I'm concerned. But at the moment, ne'er the twain shall meet. |
I got let go from a band because I would not use a distortion pedal. I was classified as TOO COUNTRY! And I am proud of it. But I have played in open-mic jams doing all kinds of music, not just country.
Tommy Shown |
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Tom Stolaski
From:
Huntsville, AL, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 10:06 pm
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| I have to make a choice. Play in a Top 40 country band and make money, or sit at home. The college crowd wants to sing along with songs that they know. They don't really care about the guitar or steel solo. This area does not have a lot of jam bands looking for pedal steel. If a jam band offered me a good paying gig I would take it. I also like playing on songs that do not have steel, so I can make up my own part. This is just my experience in this part of Alabama. |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 11:32 pm
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| Might be time to start your own band, Tom. You know how much fun we're having! |
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Michael J Pfeifer
From:
New York NY 10036
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Posted 20 Feb 2009 4:27 am top 40
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| I wouldn't use distortion either. The top 40 guy is right. If you don't play commercial material,you don't play at all. There are three or four gigs in all of NYC. I don't get any of them because I don't kiss ass. It's not what you know it's who you know. |
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 20 Feb 2009 6:56 am
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| Quote: |
| The only "genre" I'm having trouble fitting in with is modern country |
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Tom Quinn
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Posted 20 Feb 2009 7:11 am
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Why would you want to??? The Opry is the most pathetic show on teevee, with the rare exception of Tommy White or other steelers. The music is a joke, the women singers espcially have no talent and the bands basically suck. And could they please get that smarmy woman with the microphone a job as the weather girl somewhere far,far away?
Face it, pedal steel is like banjo or mandolin. As those instruemnts define an older, acoustic country music, the steel is the touchstone of '50s -- '70s C&W.
That's okay by me...
Last edited by Tom Quinn on 20 Feb 2009 7:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 20 Feb 2009 7:23 am
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| I'm finding the singer-songwriter and alt. country crowds go ga-ga over steel and traditional instruments. |
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Michael Haselman
From:
St. Paul
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Posted 20 Feb 2009 7:40 am
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I agree with most of the stuff here except for one: why not used a distortion pedal once in awhile? It will only add to your marketability if you want to make some money playing in this scary economy. I guess I'm saying you shouldn't simply refuse to use one because of "musical integrity."
_________________
Mullen RP D10, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. Hound Dog reso. Piles of other stuff. |
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Mike Ester
From:
New Braunfels, Texas, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2009 8:41 am
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| Roger Edgington wrote: |
| I played with a very good house band for 3 years doing top 40 cover. Most of the time I was bored out of my mind and rarely touched the back neck. For the last 15 years I've been with a really good band that just does old country/swing tunes and I love it. Even with fiddle,lead,and sometimes piano and horn I still get to strech out as much as I am capable of. We don't play line dances,rock,or new country although most of us have in the past. I really don't miss it. Most of the material actually has more than three chords and is pretty challenging,arranged and upbeat. I'll be 63 next month and I find it interresting how your music desires change over the years. |
Roger, that is why we live in Texas.  |
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Dave O'Brien
From:
Florida and New Jersey
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Posted 20 Feb 2009 8:45 am Bob's Track
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| Very cool cover of a Bluegrass standard Bob. Is your lead singer a Rapplea? If so the family used to play at Charlies Bar in Oakhurst and I knew his dad and uncles. Great band. Your steel playing is cool ; I can hear Jerry & Buddy in there. Regards, Dave |
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