Am I a "steel snob" ?

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

My name is Roger Edgington and I am a steel guitar snob.

I can listen to music without steel in it. Like Jim Cohen, I hear and try to fit steel into songs that don't normally have steel. Sometimes I get steel ideas from horn or string parts. However, if I am listening to music that normally has steel in it,I want to hear steel,not sorta steel parts on guitar or keyboard. I,m sorry,but "Look at us" just don't get it for me on anything else but steel. I'm sure it's just as bad in reverse when I play guitar licks on steel. When I listen to music I mentally track along and hear possible steel parts or an instrumental.

Rich, I'm with with you too. I check at the door also to see if a band I don't know has a steel or at least a fiddle. No steel,I leave. Even if the guy is a newbe it's ok. as long as he plays steel and doesn't switch to something else.

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Welcome, Roger! I agree with you: if it's supposed to be classic country, it damn well had better have a steel in it, or I'm out de do' with you, pal!

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Lately I've become an "instrumental snob". I'm really tired of hearing singers. They always get in the way of the steel parts. My CD collection is about 75% instrumental music, and I almost never listen to the 25% that's vocal. I can't even remember the last time I bought a vocal CD.

Mike Archer · From: church hill tn

I TOTALY AGREE WITH BOB
GIVE ME THE STEEL AND BAND AND
LET UM PLAY GREAT MUSIC!!
I GOT A GREAT IDEA LETS TURN THE SINGERS DOWN IN THE MIX LIKE THEY DO OUR STEEL PARTS
LET THE SINGERS DO THE FILLS FOR A CHANGE
MABE IT WILL CATCH ON!!
NAW JUST KIDDING THERES A LOT OF GREAT
SINGERS JUST VENTING A LITTLE

David Pike · From: carter oklahoma

sometimes i feel like we are a dying breed i also feel like steel should be in every country band, all the big ray price hits etc had great steel. what happened?

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

I have played and/or engineered virtually every genre of music over the past thirty-odd years, from symphonic to reggae, and these days I mostly listen to pedal steel greats because it pleases me. When I worked with Rodney Crowell in Alaska a couple of years ago his band was playing funky jam versions of his tunes during sound check - I guarantee you've not heard anything like the rap version of "Ain't No Money" (nor are you likely to anytime soon)! I remember playing with the Brothers of the Baladi one night and we ended up doing a reggae version of "Bad Moon Rising" with pedal steel guitar and didgeridoo! I'll try anything if it's not abusive.

Perhaps the real issue at hand involves the mistake of correlating "country" music with the stuff that is played nowadays on "country" radio stations -- there is virtually no relationship whatsoever. Check out Joni Harms last four albums for instance, she is one of the most excellent country AND western singer/songwriters active today but radio won't touch her, they tell her she is "TOO COUNTRY" for their audiences. This is just as true of hundreds of great songwriters and performers out there.

You aren't a snob just because you know what you like and stick with it, you are just showing suspicious signs of good mental health!

Dave

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Joe Miraglia · From: Jamestown N.Y.

Right on about Steel Guitar and Country Music,I hope the band I,m working for keeps thinking that. I might add,that when it comes to 50's and early 60's Rock and Roll I think that a hot Sax is needed.

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Cool site Dave, and also a cool player! I haven't seen you on the Forum before.

www.genejones.com

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Naw Mark, It's not a hangup, it's a status symbol! SNOBSTERS UNITE!!!
For me, I started playing steel about 2 years ago. I would hear steel in country, but it never registered what steel really was. Then Somebody flipped my standby switch, and now I am a full fledged possesed steel freak!! Hardly will go to work unless I need money to buy new strings!(Well, maybe close to that.) All the old country tunes are new to me again because I now am interested in the steel parts that I heard forever, but really didn't hear, if that makes sense. I do listen to other types of music(only by accident, if some one else has the radio on, ect.)
When It ain't country, I'm with Jim C. and a few others. I listen for where steel would fit in that particular song.
I doubt I'd pay money to see live entertainment that doesn't have steel. I tried that once, tried to watch a 3 piece country band--drove me nuts and I left after 4 songs. I kept thinking "that's where the steel should do the turn around", or the steel needed to kick that song off", ect. Guess I'm a snob. Gee it feels great!

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Thanks for the kind words, Gene.

I have been playing PSG since 1973 or so, only discovered the forum as a side effect of recent (mis)adventures on eBay which received some attention hereabouts. Some forum members clued me in and here I am.

I had no idea there were so many steel pickers in my own neighborhood, I only knew of two or three - Larry Behm and Harley James. I play a gig now and then with Joni, a steel pickers delight -- EVERY song is a Pedal Steel song!

Best -- Dave

Tony Lehr · From: Carson City, Nevada, USA

The band I'm with has me doing some pedal steel and doubling on fiddle. All I can tell you is that people up here in the Big Sky country of Northern Nevada are starving for the traditional country. I take a little lead on the steel or fiddle and you can hear the people showing their appreciation by their happy hooting and whistling. The only way to keep it going is to stay true to what is real during the onslaught of the bubble-gum country garbage.

Mark Metdker · From: North Central Texas, USA

OK, we all need to meet at the Dallas steel show in the spring. We can start a "steel snob" support group.

We can do a Dave Letterman thing at the show....the top 10 reasons the steel guitar is the coolest instrument in the world.

We can also tackle tough questions like......"Why chicks secretly dig steel players more than the front man"

And, Why did Pearl Jam fire their steel man in the early years. I think they were jealous of all the attention he was getting!

We have a lot of work ahead of us boys.

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

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Mark, Might I make a suggestion to modify your plan of action at Dallas???? Instead of a "Steel Snob Support Group", It should be the "Steel Guitar Snobster Recruiting and Support Group Association"! It kinda rolls off yer tongue nice! Just think about it!! We could get our wives to sell "Ima Steel Snobster" and "Steel Snobsters Unite!!" tee shirts and buttons, news letter, therapy trips, ect. Think of the interest we'd all make off the membership dues! Awww this is great! Hey this could be big, man!! I nominate Mark M. for President of the "SGSRSGA" All in favor? OK, now we need some by-laws. Any suggestions?

[This message was edited by James Morehead on 15 November 2004 at 04:49 PM.]

Mark Metdker · From: North Central Texas, USA

The first by-law is, the association needs to make a lot of money so our second annual convention can be in Cancun!

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Now that's snobby!! I love it!

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