The Aloha International Steel Guitar Club held it's annual convention in the tiny farming town of Winchester, Indiana this past weekend. A wonderful time was had by all.
Non-Peddlers take note: 99.99% of the music performed was on non-pedal steel guitars.
Here are a few highlights:
Headliner Herb Hanawahine's incredible mastery of his twin neck Stringmaster. Flawless intonation, tasteful phrasing and crystal clear harmonics on his signature numbers: Hula Breeze and Moana Chimes.
A beautiful rendition of Estrellita by Georgia's Phil Bender. Like a soft soft lullaby.
Minnesotian Dirk Vogel playing Sol Hoopii numbers on a vintage National Tri-Cone.
Doug Smith from Ohio going acoustic and reminding everyone where the music came from. Playing traditional Hawaiian melodies and Tin
Pan Alley tunes on his Dobro and National Tri-Cone.
A Friday night happy hour gig at a local chicken restaurant with the irrepressible Duke Ching. Duke MC'ed and gave the crowd a Las Vegas style Hawaiian revue. Making the rounds of the tables with his microphone, he schmoozed the crowd, did the hula with a waitress, taught the locals a few Hawaiian words and got them to sing along. A bit out of place there in the middle of the Indiana cornfields, but Duke made it work. The locals ate it up!
Ohio's John Tipka coaxing beautiful tone out of a twin eight guitar, that he built himself. John makes outstanding steel guitars. Top notch work. He does everything, winds his own pickups; shapes wood, applies flawless finishes and builds his own cases.
Mike Scott from Toronto on his jet black and gold Rickenbacher frypan. Mike plays in a very swingy 1940's/50's style. Always tasteful and inspiring.
Steel guitarist Sharon Denney's nine-year-old nephew Kyle playing his lap steel on stage.
Florida's Ivan Redington's Western Swing influenced melodies on a 10 string E Harp.
An ethereal duet of 'Moon Of Manakoora' by Virginia's Don Fulmer and New Jersey's Warren Slavin. Twin steel guitars.
Drool factor at 110% with the countless vintage frypans, bakelites, Nationals and Stringmasters in attendance.
If you've never attended a Hawaiian steel guitar convention, I would highly recommend you go to next year's Winchester convention or this October's HSGA convention in Joliet, Illinois (Jerry Byrd will be the artist in residence). The people are incredible. Always open and friendly, willing to share information, tunes and playing tips. You will
have a wonderful, inspiring time. You'll learn some new songs and rethink some old ones. You'll feel welcome and at home.[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 18 July 2000 at 12:36 PM.]
