"Reality" check on the future of the pedal steel

Bill McCloskey · Posted 19 Nov 2012 11:16 am

I'm sitting home sick with a cold today and watching a marathon of Pawn Stars, the reality show on the History Channel where a family owned pawn shop in Vegas features three generations (grandfather, son, grandson). It is a little like Antique Road show where people bring in their valuables and they appraise them and try and make a deal

One episode featured a woman bringing a double neck Sho-Bud pedal steel. Some of the comments were interesting when we think about the future of the instrument.

The grandfather says "Pedal Steel is one of the hardest instruments in the world to play".

the grandson says "Why do only old guys play them"

Grandfathers says "Because it is a lost art"

they bring in an "expert" who appraises the instrument at about $2,500-$3k. They offer her $1,500 for it which she passes on. As a final shot, the expert says, someone will want to buy it but it will take a long time to sell. No one is beating their doors down to buy one.

For all the debates back and forth on the future of the instrument, I think the Pawn stars episode sums up what the general public thinks about pedal steel: Only old guys play it and it is a lost art.

So, is pedal steel a lost art?

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Being an "old guy", I've probably already disqualified myself from giving an objective opinion and recently, I sat in with a rock-a-billy/honkey-tonk band for a set at the Viper Room. They were all in their 20's and 30's and commented on how hard it is to find a player younger than 50. I clocked in at 64.

So, I could launch into an extended diatribe on how we live in a "fast food" culture where everything is "easy, it's just so easy", problems are solved and resolved in 40 minutes, if you're uncomfortable, there's a pill you can take and if it's really difficult, there's an app you can buy. Not to mention that the kind of music that the pedal steel is associated with is being relegated to the "historical shelf".

Then again, when you think of how many people play the pedal steel, out of the billions of people here on earth, we're kind of in the same minority as super models.

I think everything tends to cycle and given the range of what the pedal steel guitar can do, beyond it's traditional roots, I don't see playing it as a lost "art form". I've said this before, I get calls for when they want the pedal steel guitar sound, and what it can do. When I'm warming up, wanking the pedals around, the first thing out of the producer's mouth is typically, "No Nashville".

If the "art form" is the pedal steel style that evolved in the 50's and 60's, which was 50 and 60 years ago (if this was 1962 instead of 2012 we would be looking back to before WWI), I think it will always have a place, but it seems to be currently relegated to connecting back to the history of when "country music" was a distinct musical form.

Larry Petree · From: Bakersfield. Ca. USA

Thanks for a great post Chas.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Keith Hilton · From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721

Here is my opinion: Every 6 string stand up guitar player in the world wants to fool around with a pedal steel guitar for some reason. Most of these guys never advance beyond a week or so of trying to transpose what they know on 6 string to pedal steel. Like a banjo is to Bluegrass, the public associates pedal steel with traditional country music. The Grand Old Opry is not the same music as we remember. I am not saying it is good or bad, just saying it is different.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

I usually avoid these types of discussions but the wording on Chas's post made me pause and think a tad.

A bit of back story: Been playing since the 80's. The dobro and "contemporary" bluegrass had been my focus until 2006 or so when after much nagging from Mike Auldridge I took up pedal steel. I took lessons and wood shed for about a year and then jumped in with a regional "classic country"/western swing band for essentially what was on the job training.

Leap forward to 2012:

I don't claim any particular expertise. In fact, I acknowledge my weaknesses as a player and strive to make the best music I can.

When the country thing dried up (front man retired to France) I begin looking for other similar opportunities. Finding none and determined to continue on steel I decided to just put myself out there in the market and see who/what was happening.

Where I ended up musically was labeled as "roots rock"/"alternative country", almost impossible to define but in my mind mixes elements of classic country and blues with just about...everything. I also learned through a lot of listening that this is not a monolithic sounding scene. One band with these labels could be playing "shoe gazer" music <sigh> and the next band with this label could be playing some very tasty countryish stuff, and everything in between.

After a lot of back and forth I ended up with a band that rocks out one minute and will do a Radney Foster or Roger Miller tune the next...for "shock value". My responsibility is to contribute to the music and to make it sound good. I may be laying back, playing the "B3" parts one tune and screaming through a TS9 the next. Next set I might be playing lead on Sleepless Nights or playing power chords to some original rock tune. Frankly, I don't care as long as it is musical and the audience response is positive. My band mates are young. I am 63. If I have back spasms one evening they come out and carry my gear. Winking

The band digs what I do. They are all decent musicians and no one tries to cop any steel licks. Oh, did I mention they are young?

When the band slows down a bit I use Craigslist to put out my virtual shingle. I get enough calls for session work and/fill ins to keep me as busy as I care to be. Yes, the key does not turn in the ignition until business arrangements are satisfactory.

I know I'm not the only guy doing what I do. There are a bunch of us steelers that have migrated to this type of music. Donny, I'm in the DC area. Do you know Dave Hadley in Baltimore? He is one busy dude.

Why am I "satisfied" and others not? Dunno. Sometimes I think it's because I was never really burdened with an absolute love of country music to the exclusion everything else. I just dig playing in front of an audience with good musicians. Maybe I've just been damn lucky.

I'm sure that's it!

I'm off to Virginia for a long rehearsal....

h

Mike Schwartzman · From: Maryland, USA

I have seen that "Pawn Stars" show before, but not recently. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that they offered 1500 for the guitar. I was used to seeing that show get an "expert opinion" and offer much less than 1/2 of the "expert estimated" value. It must have been a nice Shobud in nice condition. Such is the pawn shop business.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i don't really get the intent of this thread. being on the steel forum you obviously know the answer. it is far from a lost art, it is played well by young, old, and everything in between, and it is flourishing well in the recording industry...not just country. players are constantly pushing the boundaries, extnding it's capabilities.

so...why the question?

Bill McCloskey · Posted 19 Nov 2012 4:33 pm

If you don't get the intent of the thread , why respond?

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Cool. I watch that show allot and have never seen that episode.
Great posts.
Howard, I think you described my place in the local music scene to a T.
I've been at it for over forty years now and now have several bands going at any one time. I get a call to do a session half a dozen times a year. I've never had to work at getting gigs. On the other hand it's not my main bread winner either. I'm an electrical engineer by day. I'm 56. I do music gigs now for the therapy rather than the money. (cause the money sucks).
The steel has been out of the mainstream long enough now many young people don't recognize it which may be a good thing eventually. I have had many say something along the lines of "What is that? Sure sounds great". It's been a long time since someone from the slightly older demographic has said "I hate that whiney stuff".
I've done traditional country, rock, bluegrass, motown, honky tonk, blues, western swing, country rock and now alt country, all on pedal steel. I only say no to the new pop country bands. I was in a very successful one for ten years until I could take no more.
About playing steel in non-country genres - All I can say is you gotta know when not to play the major third.

PSG will survive:
It's very difficult to get the expansive chord voicings, blended melodic phrasing, pitch variable, sustaining......almost human voice like sound out of any other instrument. Yes, some can do a little but none can do all.
The most soulful white guys I know are pedal steel players.
It's also one of the few instruments you can't accurately synthesize with a keyboard.
The only thing it doesn't do well possibly (maybe it's me)is chunky like rhythms whereby attack is key. - We got plenty six string guitar players for that though.

Joe Gall · From: DeLand, Florida

Well, I am only 43. I'm trying to learn. Am I an old guy? Maybe I am I don't know... LOL
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chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Curt Trisko · From: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Don't forget that it's an expensive instrument. For the same price as a used pro model, you could get something like this:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/mcy/3384586124.html

That's pretty tough competition for a younger person.

Also, young people don't have the kind of disposable income that they used to. You old folks have been hogging it all Winking

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I don't think that TV is a good place to learn about what is going on with music.
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Joe Gall · From: DeLand, Florida

My Son printed out an article he found that was written by a professor from Juilliard who claimed the PSG was the second most difficult instrument to learn. Second only to bag pipes of all things. LOL
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Been at this damn thing for a few years now. Not so sure that I'm getting anywhere but it is fun. Sometimes.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 19 Nov 2012 9:31 pm

Bo Legg · Posted 19 Nov 2012 11:46 pm

Geez! I guess by not frequenting pawn shops all these years I'm totally lacking in my knowledge of how the world feels about the PSG.
How could I have ever neglected this valuable source of history?
I can hardly wait to hear the Check Cashers view!
I think you might be better of if you go with the Bail Bondsman on this one.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Bill - as is generally true, I completely agree with Bob H. But to expand a bit, I think you're especially reading far too much into a Pawn Stars dialogue. You must consider the source, and this source is very, very far from authoritative on any subject musical. I honestly laugh my ass off when they start talking seriously about vintage guitars of any type, about which I don't think they know much of anything. These are pawn guys doing a 'reality drama' show about how to troll the unwashed masses with lowball offers and periodically reel one in - this is a good strategy when you really don't know anything about what you're buying. I didn't see that Sho Bud, but I'm actually surprised a pawn shop would offer $1500 on an old Sho Bud D10, unless they knew it was something cool like a rare old Bud like a Permanent in real nice shape. But I doubt anybody they would have on there would know anything about that. My opinions.

The pedal steel has a very, very long way to go before it runs the way of the lute or the harpsichord, and I honestly doubt it will in the lifetimes of anybody here - in fact, I think it's been on an underground growth spurt for some time now. Don't look to the mainstream media, nothing much musically interesting happening there, everything is about dance steps. But pedal steel is a very modern instrument at a lot of levels, and has expressive capabilities matched by no other. I routinely run into musicians in many styles that intuitively understand this, and I'm so busy on other things right now that I barely have time to circulate - but what little I do, that is a constant theme. Many guitarists I run into are outright jealous that I can play pedal steel, and many wish they could.

As Howard P. reports, I get more interest from Americana bands that mix blues, country, folk, and rock, and jazz influences than 'country' bands - most of the country bands around here want me to play Telecaster, which is more in-keeping with the 'hot' stuff most country bands play these days. I'm OK with all of it, but sad to say I don't have time to play a lot of gigs at all - right now I have to turn down more pedal steel gigs than ones I can take. And I'm far from a great PSG player.

Ray Thomas · From: Goldsboro North Carolina

I play at a senior dance once a week, the up beat bouncing type songs brings a few "younger seniors" to the floor but if we play one of those slow crying type songs then the floor fills up and they love the steel guitar. How much longer this will last,??????
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Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

Nice vid Chas. Indeed I see and hear you crankin' out a rhythm. I'll see what I can work up strumming with my thumb pick.
Another steel player who is good at that is Buddy Cage BTW.
Notice your band kinda illustrates the point here.
You in particular are old enough to be good!
I've heard allot of your other stuff too - great.

Frank Montmarquet · From: The North Coast, New York, USA

There are 2 bands in my area (Rochester NY) that use PSG. I have not heard them live but they are young folks and presumably have PSG because they like what it can do.

One, "Donna the Buffalo" is probably a roots band and occasionally uses PSG. This band is playing locally soon and I am planing to go see them.

The other is Teagan and the Tweeds. They seem to be alt rock or something like it.

So PSG is used outside of county, by other than old folks. Not a lot, but hardly dead or a lost art.

Howard Parker · From: Maryland

Our demo Here!

There you have it...

h

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

As with many of the threads contemplating "demise of a genre", it really varies with where you are and who you hang out with. "Traditional" steel is alive and well in places like Texas, where a younger crowd has been inoculated with a regional culture. That culture greatly varies by locale- Asleep At At The Wheel has a great following all over the country, but drew very poorly here in Atlanta, for instance. This is not a swinging town.

With all respect, the local VFW or Senior Dance is only a barometer of a very localized scene... and there's a lot more out there. All over the country kids and older cats are playing in Americana and singer-songwriter venues and festivals, and the steel is well-known, appreciated, and frequently a part of their sound. If they can afford it (!) they generally love having one in the band and on recordings.

There are legions of fans for legacy country-rockers like Garcia and Cage, who love to hear steel... Roosevelt Collier with the Lee Boys is playing to an ever-expanding fan base in a blazing rocking Sacred Steel style, as Robert Randolph keeps packing 'em in. When I play a festival date, there are usually a number of bands asking me to sit in on their sets just because they love having steel in the mix.

And while I see endless posts bemoaning the demise of steel in "modern" commercial country, at least on ATL area radio, I hear it in more songs than not.
So while The Old Man may think he knows the value of a vanishing instrument, he's only talking from his limited view of a music scene of which he is probably mostly unaware.
My suggestion is to keep looking and digging into parts of the music scene you don't usually visit, and you'll find players and gigs you didn't even know were there.
Frank- I've played a number of shows with Donna The Buffalo- I would describe their music as trancy cajun-zydeco based dance music. I don't know what kind of venue they'll be in up your way, but on tour they regularly play to thousands of pretty rabid fans at large outdoor venues. Tell Jeb (lead vocalist/guitar) that I said to get on his pedal steel and dazzle you!
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