Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2000 11:28 am |
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Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association's
annual Joliet, IL convention this week.
Oct 5,6,7. Holiday Inn Express, Joliet IL.
The HSGA convention is a great get together of all types of non-pedal
steel players. This will be my third consecutive convention.
At the show, I have heard six string lap steels, Weisenborns, Dobros,
National Tri-Cones, Rickenbacher Fry-Pans and Bakelites,
1, 2, 3 and 4 neck Fender Stringmasters, Excel Fry-Pans and consoles,
Sierra Lap steels, E Harps, National consoles etc etc etc.
Yes, the focus is primarily Hawaiian music but I've heard much Western
Swing, Pop Standards and C&W at this gathering.
One of the nice things is that everyone stays at the Holiday Inn. This
leads to many impromptu jams that can last until dawn (my average
nightly bedtime at this convention is around 4:30 AM). Everyone is
welcome at the jam sessions. The only thing holding you back is you.
The main show is held in the large meeting room of the Holiday Inn.
Comfortable seats are provided but many people circulate through
the room during the day chatting with friends, asking questions of
fellow steelers and checking out the merchandise for sale around the
perimeter of the room. CD's, vintage LP's, sheet music and instruments
are usually for sale. For example last year I noticed a Jerry Byrd
Fry-Pan, a double neck Rickenbacker console, a Gibson lap as well as
Hawaiian LP's from the 1950's, Oahu sheet music and hand made paper
leis. Don't expect bargains when it comes to instruments.
Everyone knows what these instruments are worth and they're priced
accordingly.
There is a rumor circulating that Alan Akaka will hold a Q&A session
during one of the evenings of the show. I hope this happens. Alan is
one of the world's premier Hawaiian steel players and it will be great to
pick his mind.
I have been to many musical gatherings in my life and have never met
a group of people as friendly, outgoing and willing to share information,
tunes and friendship as the HSGA members.
p.s., Isaac Akuna wrote a wonderful article about his first impressions
of Joliet. You can read it at the HSGA website... http://www.hsga.org
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 02 October 2000 at 12:35 PM.] |
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