Robert Randolph

Steven Black · From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

I had the chance to hear Robert Randolph's CD
and man was it good, this talented performer really touched my heart with his steel guitar playing, Joe Wright probably will sweat next to him, but anyways good modern steel work by Robert Randolph, just wanted to compliment him on his music. steveb Desert Rose Guitar 8+5.

Chris Forbes · From: Beltsville, MD, USA

And heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere we goooooooooo!!!!!

richard burton · From: Britain

I heard him on the radio, on a blues show. I have seen regular lead guitar players emulate a pedal steel, this was the first time vice versa.

seldomfed · From: Colorado

He's opening for some old blues guy in Denver at the Pepsi Center next week so thought it might be worth it to get a ticket and check it out. The main act is Eric C. somthing....

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Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"There is no spoon"
www.book-em-danno.com

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

He played in Buffalo last Friday nite with Eric Clapton. Local critics were quite positive.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Mike...

I believe that's:

AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400

Steven Black · From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

Hey guys, thanks for the info on Robert Randolph, I will try to make one or two of his concerts, didn't know he was performing for Eric Clapton. steveb.

Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

I also saw R.R.when he was with Clapton and my opinion was that he was a wonderful showman and a great musician but close your eyes and he was a slide player(allbeit excellent)but did not sound like Pedal steel at all.

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Maybe he should do a Jerry Lee Lewis routine and set it on fire! That would add to his act.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

ok..it happened and I was reluctant to tell what happened , but considering we now have a new RR thread here goes..

I was at the local GC store( Guitar Center) not all that long ago where I always stop in and see what new Tele's may have arrived.

Now I don't really know the folks in the store well but I do talk with them a little. One of the reps knows I also play Pedal Steel and as we were talking and mentioning Pedal Steel a young fella ( kid) says, " Hey,ever heard of Robert Randolph,? He's the best Pedal Steel Player in the World"..

I looked at the young fella , and the GC rep..I just said back .."yes I know who he is and he's a fine player, but NO he isn't even close to the best Pedal Steel Player in the World"..

And then naturally the kid says to me " Oh yeh, well then who is ?"

here we go..

now Jerry Garcia is no longer the best Pedal Steel Player in the world..

we new this was coming

t

Let me add a quick side note rather than another response. I like RR and I like many have started playing a little bit different on the Bluesy tunes, but my influence was seeing and hearing Paul Franklin Live not RR. I am glad of RR's presence and I hope he does makes a difference in the Steel World.

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 16 July 2004 at 01:41 PM.]

James Lutz · From: Wisconsin

I hear the frustration over this scenario. If asked of my opinion, I would have to agree with the majority here, it ain't your typical steel sound. It's how would you say, an acquired taste?

However, coming at the situation from another angle, isn't it at least positive that some young kid in the GC at least knows what a steel guitar is now. I'm taking this thing in baby steps. I'm willing not to quibble over who is better than who at this point, I'm just glad there is a person out there opening arena shows to a rock audience playing a steel guitar. Number one, it will eventually sell more steels. Number two, it will mean more students for local steel players to teach, even if they want to learn "the wrong things". And number three, let's have some faith in humanity. I was a young know it all kid once and I liked rock then, and I found my way back to country and whatever it is I like, and there is every reason to believe that these young kids that are getting exposed on a large scale by Robert Randolph, might make it over to our side. If not, it's still a big world out there, and why can't we make room for everyone??

Sorry for the rant, but I just try and see another way around a problem. Hope I didn't step on any toes, at least too hard.

BTW, I have enjoyed your posts on the other board for awhile now Tony, it's a pleasure reading them.

Jim Lutz

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Minds work like parachutes. It's best when they're open.

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

Bill Brummett · From: Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA

I picked up Robert's CD -- Robert Randolph and the Family Band -- at the suggestion of someone over at Scotty's.

I have to say I am impressed with some of his stuff. He plays a 13 string Fessenden single neck with 7 floor pedals and no knee levers. According to the album write up he also plays a Harmos no-pedal, and a Beard Dobro. There's some very good Dobro work on one of the songs on the CD

Most of the pedal steel work in this CD is very up tempo rock style but it actually sounds pretty good. (I understand that he has also put out some gospel stuff featuring his steel playing -- but I haven't checked thsi out yet.)

I've also seen him perform once on Dave Letterman and he put on a very good and antimated show.

I wouldn't go so far as to say Robert is the "best pedal steel player in the world" or even in the top 20. But he is a very skillful and talented player who brings a new dimension to our world.

Given the success of his current album and his national appearances with the pedal steel guitar being the major focus of the band, he is doing a lot to promote this instrument and show some of the wide variety of things it can produce.

This can only help the world of steel guitar.

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

I have to confess that since RR, I started bringing my Matchless Dirt Box along for some of my hired-hand gigs (never use it with my main band)

.

Please don't tell anyone!

Brian Wetzstein · From: Billings, MT, USA

Well, there is a PSG in the tiny store where I clerk sometimes. just the other day a young guy enters and said " is that a steel like Robert Randolph plays?" I said yes it is, this one is tuned different, but have a go at it! He was too timid to try playing it, but he seemed to enjoy looking at the underside and just checking it out.
I think the exposure is good.
brian

Russ Young · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Joe Miraglia · From: Jamestown N.Y.

Will there ever be a pedal steel guitar player better than --------???????. When it comes to someone saying -he is the best- ,or the greatest,sometimes being influenced by the type of music they are playing has alot to do with who they like best. If you like country you say ---, if you like the blues it may be someone else. Joe

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Joe-Your post makes a lot of sense to me...al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Mark Krutke · From: Tomahawk, WI USA

I work at a music store up here in Wisconsin and a 60-something retired guy came into the store. He said all he has now is time, so he bought a Cah-tah Stah-tah steel. I told him "Oh? I've never heard of that brand." Then he clarified it and said "I'm originally from New England....it's a CARTER STARTER."

Anyhow, he said he went to 30 music stores in the area and not one knew what a steel guitar was, till he came in by us (I'm glad he made it).

Later on a guy came into the store and seen me sitting at the steel and right away brought up RR. Guys, even though he's not playing the style many of us love, he's bringing the steel out of the mainstream closet, and I think there's going to be a revival of pedal steel. It may take a generation, but RR can be used for the positive....So maybe you'll see more people buying a cah-tah stah-tah

.

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www.authenticrecording.com

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

it often bugs me when i see certain steelers reactions concerning "another" Robert Randolph thread
Ok Ok, so he's not Country, he's only playin' slide guitar or guitar licks on a steel. So What !
how many of us remember what we were playin' and doin' at 24 years of age ?
i doubt many were in the spotlight like Robert and gathering a faithfull fan base.
Even tho' Robert is not necessarily my cup of tea on everythang he plays, i still consider that he's a talented and hard workin' young man !
that's more than i can say for myself and many of us here.
So Robert, you keep on goin' if you're sure you're right !
(and i believe he is)
i'm sure glad to see him contributin' into gettin' the steel guitar more popularity.

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 17 July 2004 at 02:09 AM.]

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Guys, like I stated above and on previous RR threads, I like him and I'm glad he is out there..

BUT

I don't really think he is going to do anything to increase the visibilty of Steel all that much. Especially on the POP/Country
side of the business. Will he have an effect on the Blues sorta Rock side, yes I think so.

But I have read countless times that we are upset with producers and artists who do play what we love, COuntry and pop styles, and they leave out or ignore the Steel all together. I guess it is possible some producer may ask you to play like RR on a Kenny Chesney tune..or a Tim tune I suppose..

Now some will say he is branching out and that we should move over to that side as well, ok , some truth to that, but the reality is we play Country Music, and there is still a very significant presence of Country Music going on around the planet , quite frankly there is probably more global presence to Country Music on the charts than Blues, I'm talking CHART tunes, ya know Billboard and such.

How many Alan Jackson tunes, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley etc.. are on the charts as opposed to Blues artists?

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss where the Steel fits in and jump ship. Should we learn a different approach and use it ? oh yes..

I'de put a few eggs in the RR basket, but not all of them.

Play the blues on the C6th, or E9th..it's good stuff..and fun..

ya wanna hear some very intense Rock and Blues on a typical C6th or E9th ? Check out Paul with the Players..theres no turning back from that ...

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 17 July 2004 at 05:02 AM.]

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 17 July 2004 at 05:03 AM.]

Jim Marconi · From: Richmond IL. / Summerland Key Fl. USA

Hi my friends at Warner Brothers records told me that RR is one of there hottest artist they have out there and he is setting a major impression for steel guitar..
Lets face it you have to be very special to tour with Eric Clapton on all these tours..
and just think of the exposure he is getting now.. I tip my hat to him he is letting people see what a steel is..and now people ask me if I am playing a steel instead of a keyboard. O well keep up the good work RR.
Jim

Terry VunCannon · From: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

Just wait guys & girls...I predict that some record company or country star will see all the attention around RR, and we will see him invited to play on a country single with Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, or even Tim or Faith. Some one will cash in on him in the country market if RR will do it. Then RR will bring a lot of his new fans to the country scene!!!
It's all good!!!

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

I had a 4 am 700 km drive up north mid week with my reggae singer buddy EASY.
He insisted we bring the RR cd and it went on around 5:30 am, and kept us up and rockin' for ther worst part of a much too early sleepless night.

I always like funk and rock and have played my share on several instruments. So his style fits with me just fine.

Easy is mostly into reggae, but the RR cd grabs him bigtime.

What again impressed me is his clean blocking of VERY fast single note lines with a strong distortion sound. Rarely a double note he didn't intend.
Now from trying such things my self I know how hard it is. The cat is very, very clean.

As a sacred steel player he surely knows large chords, but in this gig he doesn't need them, though in the long run I am sure they will come out.

quote:
At least they have discovered that steel guitar can be "cool".
And that's cool!

Amen to that.

I like what he does, but I like MANY things besides country.
He is raising the awareness of the steel to the young, and that means the salvation of the instrument from the obscurity of it being limited to styles out of favor with the young at this tiime.

Not in the country market, where there are many fine players, but in the general world presence of the instrument.

But this is not a bad thing, because the Jerry Garcia effect will again take hold.
Just like fans of Jerry, the kids who take up or just listen to steel will grow up and eventually get into Chuck Campbell, and many other steelers, start getting into the roots of steel , just like Jeff Beck, Keith Richards and other have done for roots blues music etc.

It may not be even close to your choice of style, but he is a godsend for the instrument and is a fine technical player. Just because he doesn't at this time play some techniques makes little difference,
what he does play he has mastered.

Carp all you want about style, but he is good news... period!

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 17 July 2004 at 08:44 AM.]

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