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Topic: John McClung with Kenneth Pattengale |
Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 25 May 2010 2:02 am |
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I just saw John play with this singer/songwriter, Kenneth Pattengale and his band. Pattengle on vocals and acoustic guitar, which, unlike a lot of chord strummers, he can really play, John on steel, and an accordion player and bassist whose names I did not catch. No drums.)
I've known John since the early 80s, and seen him in any number of different bands, but this one is special. And his work with these guys is so tasteful and appropriate and simply elegant, that it should be the standard against which all other steel playing should be measured.
Pattengle is not a country singer. Instead he is a new contemporary voice whose music combines ele3ments of country, folk, pop and countless other influences.
Pattengle recently bought a Sho-Bud and is studying the steel himself, but is just a beginner. He told me he loves having John in the band and wants to keep him employed forever.
These guys have a real shot at making it to the top. I expect to see them on Letterman and/or Leno in the next year or two.
Way to go John.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Anders Eriksson
From:
Mora, Dalecarlia, Sweden
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 25 May 2010 7:52 am
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Mike, here's a shot of our buddy John. I was honored to be able to spend an afternoon with him at his home when I was in SoCal last September. John's one of the "Good Guys" for sure.....JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 25 May 2010 9:39 am
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John is great player,Look how organized everything is in the photo,and a great guy 
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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Don McClellan
From:
California/Thailand
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Posted 25 May 2010 10:09 am
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Here's John and me with my then new S12 Russler in 1975(?) Please don't do the math. Don
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 25 May 2010 10:54 pm
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Thanks for the very kind words, everyone! Mike, thanks for coming out, that was a nice surprise to have your support at such a late night show.
Backing up the very talented Kenneth Pattengale is a delight and honor, he's such a great writer and performer. Our little combo excels at somehow knowing how to "breathe" as one.
On accordian and guitar was Evan Vidar. Filling in on stand up bass was Julian Cubillos. MIA due to schedule conflicts were Paul Cartwright on violin, and Christian Castillo on bass.
Don, what an amazing picture! I have several from that era in Hayward I'll scan and post one day soon. Thanks for sharing this one.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 25 May 2010 11:05 pm
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Here's a great Pattengale video shot late last year, you can check out the delicacy I find so lovely. Great shots here and there of my Mullen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1nd725CFAw
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Bryan Daste
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 26 May 2010 12:56 am
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| Great stuff!! |
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Danny Bates
From:
Fresno, CA. USA
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Posted 26 May 2010 8:30 am
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Excellent all the way around. Very light and spacious sound.
BTW, This guy could be the next Dylan. His songs are long enough too!  |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 26 May 2010 8:51 am
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I've said it before, singer/songwriters like this are the future of the pedal steel guitar. Pattengale is only one of a number of artists withing this genre who are using steel guitars as part of their sound.
These people couldn't care less about traditional, or even modern country music. They are looking for new sounds and textures for their bands, and many of them are looking to players like us to provide them.
Our fellow Forumite Jim Eaton has also recently been playing behind artists like this. I saw him with one such artist at a showcase where half a dozen of them each performed very short sets (3-4 songs.) After his set, all the other artists approached him about playing with them too.
The steel has a bright future, it's just not where many of us envisioned. Jim and John and another of our fellow forumites, Jon Graboff, (whom I've not had the pleasure of meeting,) are already finding homes in this new genre. It's only a matter of time before many others of us will too.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Bill Stroud
From:
Dresden, Tennessee, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 26 May 2010 9:28 am John
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That was good, and the Bar showed real good too, wonder where that came from?
You guys did a great job on your playing.
Bill |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 26 May 2010 12:57 pm
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Bill, you gotta know I brag on your tone bars to anyone who'll listen!
(BTW, Bill, I emailed you last week about display cases for your bars, do you offer that? Never heard back, so let's talk offline)
Yeah, the reflections off my bar and strings in those slow pans in the video were beautiful! Those were shot with a Canon 5D DSLR that also shoots HD video, the look from those cameras and lenses was astonishing.
To go with Perlowin's comments: as much as I love trad country and feel most at home playing in that great genre, opportunities to play that style are ever diminishing, so it's a good thing that a lot of today's younger musicians love the pedal steel in much the way that those of us from previous generations love it.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Greg Vincent
From:
Folsom, CA USA
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Posted 26 May 2010 1:49 pm
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| It's great to see John hooked-up with an artist that is worthy of his great talent! |
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 26 May 2010 3:00 pm
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| Fantastic, John! |
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