A Shoe Filling Thought

Jack Dougherty · From: Spring Hill, Florida, USA

Over the past few years we have lost classic country performers as well as classy steel guitarist. So it does beg the question......" Who will fill their shoes?"
My take on it, is nobody. Not that there isn't enough talent out there, but the lack of exposure on the big stage. That is to say there are many pockets of local interest where the steel may be heard as well as classic country. And therein lies the problem. It's not that there is lack of shoe filling talent but the seemingly lack of interest in the music industry. I could go on about what's out there now, but maybe for another time and topic.This should not be news to anybody who has been around for the past thirty or forty years. Most may call it progress or just business. However, the above titled song was and is very prophetic. So my brothers and sisters......it may be time to start changing the culture. Justin Tubb wrote a great song...."What's wrong with the way we are doing it now?" But as most of you remember....it was awhile ago. Just food for thought.

JD

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

To a large extent, I'd say you're correct. The vast variety of great steelers we used to hear on radio and records has now dwindled down to a tiny few (you can pretty much count them on one hand). Fortunately, we have youtube videos of the steelers of yesterday to watch and listen to, so all is not lost.

Jack Dougherty · From: Spring Hill, Florida, USA

Donny.....

Agreed....we do have the tube....but still the major arena is a black hole.
National broadcasting is sorely lacking.

J

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Too sad it has turned out the way it has. Nashville big wheels do not want country music but they want to call what they have out today country. IMHO it stinks and I do not listen to it. I remember watching the Opry many years ago and seeing Weldon Myrick behing Justin Tubb sing that song "What's Wrong With The Way We are Doing It Now" as you stated. There was nothing wrong with it since it worked for years. Many young people want something different and so they are getting what they want.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

History just doesn't work that way. Of course certain trends seem to repeat and cycle through in a very broad sense, but there will never BE another Buddy Emmons, or another Jimi Hendrix, or another Mozart or another Alexander the Great. There are a few boom 'n' bust cycles that seem to be repeated due to human nature, but it's different every time through the pattern. "The shoes" get buried with their owner, and, in my opinion the only responsibility towards tradition that a modern artist needs to engage is, don't overtly mock those shoulders you're standing on, kid. (But steal like crazy, kid! Laughing

)

If you could idealize a specific shoe-filler, what specific actions could he possibly DO? Certainly not just do the retro/nostalgia style a la Dwight Yoakum's earlier stuff? The one musical cycle that I can firmly believe in is that there are periods of great, untethered creativity, followed by periods of consolidation wherein the innovations become the new mainstream.

One really odd thing that happens over and over here is, the great call to arms from a steeler who says we MUST expand to different styles of music - but they don't know what it is. There's a goldmine of a thread under "Different Styles" - but the people most vocal about "Steel is dying! Save the baby steelers!" then backtrack 20 years to Joe Wright, Paul Franklin with Mark Knopfler etc. - they don't know that steel guitar has ALREADY been saved - just not by us. Winking

Japancakes, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, and the Red Sparowes are all bands in which the steel guitarist is integral in the writing of the music, and boy do they know how to arrange music that's built to showcase steel. I was turned on to these by the aforementioned "Styles" thread, here:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=208507&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Japancakes is not to my taste, but there's steel everywhere. The other two very much are to my taste, and that thread is a GOLDMINE. But anyone who's watching television and listening to the radio expecting to hear anything new, it sure isn't there. And never will be again. Television programming is designed for one thing only - selling advertising slots for the highest possible amount, meaning they want either the most viewers totally, a viewership bump in a targeted group or both. (The single group who watch the national evening news shows are overwhelming old people - ever wonder why they're packed with commercials for feelgood medicines?) Laughing

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

so what! if you want something to happen, you have to want it badly enough. industry trends have been bucked by true artists who believe in themselves and their music.
there is no "this is what you have to do", short of
working hard and knowing what you want, have something to offer and be lucky.

Brian Ostrom · From: Old Chelsea Quebec Canada

All valid points and staements.
As the song goes "Time Marches On"... I'd like to think it's cyclical and were at the bottom of the circle but iI have my doubts. I have noticed that radio stations that play the old stuff and help keep us alive are being rewarded and have the best listings . . That's who we should focus attention on and work with.

I noticed also that our summer venues are lacking in numbers and attribute it to economical times and loss of the people who enjoy our music.
I wonder.... Did our grandparents have this same chat about big band and R&R music?
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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Jack Dougherty · From: Spring Hill, Florida, USA

Ok.....

So we don't stray........The fact there are or seem to be more steelers out there no matter they come from,gets lost in the mix. There may be more call on the planet then just the US. My point. In the sixties and seventies there were a ton on country stations playing REAL Country music. There was all the steel you could handle. So as not to be accused of living in the past, the question still stands. Having the want or desire to do something musically is not enough. If there is no outlet you remain a closet picker. Don' t be fooled with all the steel shows. As good as they are and helpful to the players the exposure is light. As an example....I hold an Airline Transport pilots license. In the US alone there are under 300,000.........well under. That's less than the total population where I live.
So yes we have Youtube and audio and Sirius/ XM, but where's your audience ?
Here on the Forum. And thankful for that.
So true country and the steel are not dead but living in unrequited retirement .
With the latest installment of Vince and Paul I look forward to seeing the light at the end of this very long tunnel.

Keep Pickin..

JD

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

Tommy White · From: Nashville

Well, again and however somewhat unfortunate for pedal steel guitar, Donny's posts make the most sense to me and we are of the same opinion. Sad

Ben Lawson · From: Brooksville Florida

Other than the Time Jumpers, where do we hear accordian anymore? I used to play a sax years ago but just like the washboard and many other "instruments" tastes change as the marketers push the trends. Music, like fashion, is driven to where those at the top of the money pile send it.
Each generation follows a trend that is set usually by bean counters and where they want it to go.
We will probably never see our favorites at the top of any Billboard charts again.

Terry Miller · From: Hammondsport NY USA

I understand things change, and they have to. But I am insulted when they call some of this stuff on the radio country. Country music that I knew always had a good melody and a story to it. Now it's a lot of noise, pickup trucks, party on Friday or Saturday night looking at some girls booty, well that part might not be bad. But you get my point. Give this its own genre of music. Don't insult us by calling it country. just my opinion.

Terry Miller · From: Hammondsport NY USA

I understand things change, and they have to. But I am insulted when they call some of this stuff on the radio country. Country music that I knew always had a good melody and a story to it. Now it's a lot of noise, pickup trucks, party on Friday or Saturday night looking at some girls booty, well that part might not be bad. But you get my point. Give this its own genre of music. Don't insult us by calling it country. just my opinion.

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

Terry, what is "your" country music just happens to be the style that was popular at the time you started really listening. In the early days (my grandfather's time) it was the Possum Hunters, Vernon Dahlhart, and the Skillet Lickers. In my father's time, it was Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, and Roy Acuff. And in my influential years, it was Ernest Tubb, Buck Owens, Ray Price, and Faron Young. Each generation has their own style and stars, and each has their own likes and dislikes. I enjoy the stuff of the past more now because it's no longer really popular. Relish it. We all understand your lamenting and frustration, but try not to let it get you down. As for me, I'm tickled to death that I can see videos now of stuff that I watched live back when I was young. I've also grown to appreciate, even more, what we had back then...the players, the singers, and their songs. Some share these sentiments, and some don't. That I have them to see and hear sometimes is enough for me. I no longer expect the busy world of today to march to my drummer, or recreate my memories.

You're not alone, my friend. Oh Well

Bill L. Wilson · From: Oklahoma, USA

Folks, I don't know what's going on in your world this weekend, but Mumford and Sons, is in Guthrie, Oklahoma. And as I recall, they are an all acoustic band. The Alabama Shakes are with them, and they've brought in 50,000 people to witness this extravaganza. I played my bar gig in Kingfisher Ok.(birthplace of Sam Walton, the Wal-Mart founder) and decided to come home thru Guthrie. This town is usually deader than a door nail at 2am. But I'm here to tell you, the streets were buzzing with young folks who are in town to support all this acoustic music. They are camped out at a giant park called Cottonwood Flats, and it's like a mini-Woodstock out there. Said all that, to say this. After seeing all of these kids coming to see some real musicians, play some really good music, I do have hope in our music living on. I mean, I didn't really care for country music much after I heard Elvis Presley sing Hound Dog. But changed my mind, when I heard Waylon, live on Panther Hall out of Ft. Worth TX. on Sat. evening, when I was young. There probably won't be but one steel guitar playing in Guthrie tonight, but it will be mine, at the other end of town, at the VFW. Good Day All.

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

I agree with Donny. Generally, we love best the music we listened to in our adolescent years, when many of our likes and dislikes were formed.

I'm sure that when Ernest Tubb added the electric guitar to the act, somebody somewhere yelled out "that ain't country! Mad

"
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Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Joseph Napolitano · From: New Jersey, USA

I listen to the 4 country stations on Sirius/xm during my 30 minute commute to work in the morning.If I don't hear pedal steel I keep changing stations until I do.Then I stay on that station until I don' here steel.Now I'm not fond a lot of the so-called "new country" but some of it is ok.But some mornings I listen to the new country station the whole commute because there is steel on every song.Now it's not steel on the entire song,like Together Again,but those songs stopped happening a while ago.I don't see steel becoming extinct.And I've yet to meet a musician up here in New Jersey that doesn't love the sound of live steel,even when it' the feeble attempt of a new player like me.I know times have changed as they always do,but I'm am very optimistic for you guys that can really play.

Terry Miller · From: Hammondsport NY USA

Donny and Herb, I understand what you are saying but my point is not directed toward any specific instrument. It has to do with the songs and their lyrics and melodies. Country songs whether it be the Carter family,Ernest Tubb,Kenny Rodgers or Alan Jackson they all sang songs that told a story or painted a picture to the listener and the melody could be followed. Todays country music offers neither. My point is give this new country its own genre. They did it for country rock and southern rock. Give this music its own don't throw it all in a mixing bowl stir it and call it country.

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

It isn't so much that the melody can't be followed nowadays--indeed, it's easier to follow than ever because it commonly consists of short motifs of three or four notes relentlessly repeated while the chords change behind their singsong monotony--but that such melody is hopelessly banal. Ditto the lyrics.

But is it country? Just as Donny said, it's pretty hard to come up with a definition of what "is country" that would cover all the musical styles that have been called "country" over the years; it's not just recently.

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

we lived through 'countrypolitan'...we can live through 'country hippop'.

Barry Blackwood · Posted 8 Sep 2013 9:51 am

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

Music is a form of politics...Humans Gravitate to like a persons opinion by who they are and their credibility status, it's a club thing...You can say something GREAT and be a nobody, nobody likes what you say or it isen't heard loud enough...But if your a MR somebody, and you say the same thing...It's Great!

One of the secret reasons for today's Country being based off of 'Trashy-Ness' ala Trailer park parties... is because those people are a plenty, and they make up the major population in just about all societies...They are easy to attract and easy to control, they also spend more money than anybody else on music, based on peer pressure etc...It's sadly simple, and i beleive schools have a lot to do with it, and home life but...Loud/simple/headbanging/anti Government/anti society propaghanda sells bigger than a true heartfelt song loaded with emotion and truth...Big companies and Music Biggie's know this!!!

Do you really think they like it?? Laughing

Most of the singers out there don't even like it, but...It pays the bills!

When was the last time a 50 year old rushed and spent $50.00 on music out of their paycheck and then did the same week after week...It's ALWAYS been marketed towards the KIDS.
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Robert Harper · From: Alabama, USA

Lately, I been thinking about the changing trends in commercial radio. Recently, I head that within 5 years. Radio Stations as we know them will be gone, replaced by interet radio. well think about the business model, No hight power transmitter, no engineer. What about expensevie DJs I know some will say it cant happen. At one time planes flying into buildins was thought to be something that cant happen. So if the trend does in fact emerge. Where and how are the artist going to be noticed. If the trend des occur, couldnt an internet radio station specialize in its own mix, say the old country style except not the old music. You know Patsy Loretta an Johnny were great, but there time passed. Younger performers, can com up wit traditional sounds, right. lastly, the need for bulky recording equipment is gone. Recording studios need not be overwhelmingly expensive. Although the acoustics would have to be excellent. So we see new models of radio stations, new modes of recording. what is to prevent the revivl of the old sounds with newer artisst taking their talent to a new medium not controlled by big business and big Corporations? The big problem I see would be attracting listners. Wel i it just crossed my mind TV can done in the same manner, right/ Well anyway some thought for you guys to dis and throw rocks at
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Fred Thompson · From: Zephyrhills, FL

How long has it been since you heard a "Country" song with a melody that would make a good instrumental? Oh Well

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