| Author |
Topic: Covention Reports |
Mike Weirauch
From:
Harrisburg, Illinois**The Hub of the Universe
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 7:48 am |
|
| Attendance seemed down this year but there was still a huge crowd. The sound coming from the mains SUCKED big time. If you sat more than 6 rows back from the stage, not only could you not hear the steel well but you could not understand what was being said by the performer. Those who sat on either side were doomed to reading lips. This was a 180 degree turn around from the past conventions. That was the only negative thing I noticed at the convention. Everyone's performance was stellar! No clinkers, just good steel playing. I'm always happy to get to put faces with names from the forum and this year I had the pleasure to finally meet Tony Davis from Australia and many more that I won't name for fear of leaving someone out. I didn't buy a new guitar this year as my wife told me I couldn't but David Wright's new guitar has to take first place in the beauty contest and if it sounds anything like Johnny Cox' new blue guitar then I want one for Christmas. Vince Gill showed up and surprised John Hughey yesterday (Saturday) and drew a large crowd while he signed autographs and talked with fans. Scotty had the entire show organized very well and it stayed close to being on time. My most memorable moment was when I watched a 12 year old blind boy swap licks with Butch Cornwell. This young man could barely reach the floor pedals and could switch necks as good as any pro. I didn't catch his name but I believe Johnny Cox had him on his set which was past my bed time and I missed it. It was a great convention and for those who attended it will make them want to come back next year. I remained sober throughout my entire time there and was able to enjoy not only the excellent performances but the people I was able to meet and talk with. If you weren't there this year, BE THERE NEXT YEAR! |
|
|
 |
Larry Behm
From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 11:02 am
|
|
Mike will not be happy with that report. Maybe he left it up to others and they missed the target. Last year was really good. For years past the sound there has not been good, with Mike at the controls it got better.
Best to get a seat on the stage with the band I guess, be part of the show.
Larry Behm |
|
|
|
Hap Young
From:
Yuma, AZ, USA
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 1:49 pm
|
|
| Mike. The 12 year old blind boy,s name is Jonathan Candler from Yuma Az. He is also a member of the southwestern steel guitar association. Believe it or not He hasent been playing quite a year yet. Pretty soon i,m going to sign up for some steel lessons from him. Ive only been playing for 30 years. |
|
|
|
Travis Bernhardt
From:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 2:48 pm
|
|
FWIW, I thought the sound was fine. I mostly sat close up to the stage and in the middle, though, since I like to avoid the big speakers. Having never been before, I have no basis for comparison, but the only people I had trouble hearing were Jody Carver and Bill Stafford, due to their much mellower tone (also due to Bill's sound not coming through the mains for his first song--just the delay signal; now there's a mellow sound for you...) which blends into the rest of the band.
I was amazed at the quality of the music. There was hardly a bad song, let alone a bad player. Just about everybody had some interesting angle on the steel guitar that separated them from the others. The legends all lived up to their billing, and there were a few great surprises (for me, anyways).
I was especially surprised by Randy Beavers, of whom I'd heard, but only through a couple of mentions in the Forum. His set blew me away (his duets with Russ Hicks were fantastic also). His tone and his ability to coax all sorts of sounds and styles you wouldn't expect from the standard E9 tuning really set him apart, in my books. I love music that doesn't sound like the usual E9 cliches--like his arrangement of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.
But when it was "straight" E9, I was no less impressed. Weldon Myrick's set was really moving. I can't imagine that crying E9 stuff sounding much better than that.
Doug Jernigan should get the Carpal Tunnel Award for his blistering speed picking. And that tune of his where he plays on both necks at once is gorgeous. He looks so relaxed and happy when he's playing. He doesn't screw his face up to make it look like it's really hard, he just sits there looking contented. He's the steel guitar Buddha.
I really liked Winnie Winston's style, too. He plays wonderful arrangements of some really good songs.
Meeting Don Helms was a highlight. The man whose sound helped shape some of my favorite songs of all time, sitting in front of me telling me a story.
Sarah Jory and Joe Wright were the crowd pleasing acts I was expecting. Super pickers and great showpeople.
It was fun to hear various tributes to Speedy West. I LOVE those songs, and the players did them justice (special mention to Bobby Caldwell, whose freakishly good guitar playing made the entire show that much better).
The non-pedal highlights were the amazing feel and swing of L.T. Zinn--my favorite Hawaiian player of the show--and Kayton Roberts' jaw dropping, absolutely inspiring run through all sorts of songs and styles--my favorite all-round non-pedal player at the show.
Oh, and everything they said about Bill Stafford's ability to play Hawaiian on a pedal steel is 100% correct. Somehow he manages to play music with mostly the A and B pedals that doesn't have a hint of country in it. It left me scratching my head a little (he makes great use of E9's built in A6 tuning, and uses the pedals and an occasional knee to add appropriate movement to the notes; it's fascinating to watch).
Arguably the best part of the weekend, for me at least, was Buddy Charleton's set. Hearing him and Bobby Caldwell trade fours on those really fast swing tunes made me giddy. I wish he'd had more time.
I bought way more stuff than I meant to, but I don't regret it (I only regret having not taken out enough money from the ATM the first time, to avoid paying that approx. $5+ service charge more than once...).
From what I could tell, every pedal steel being made was good. It looks like it really does come down to one's personal preferences and priorities. Each guitar had something that made it special. If I had to pick, I don't think I could based on mechanics and construction. Based on sound, I think that many people would probably like the Zumsteels. On stage, I thought the Zumsteels sounded pretty good--very strong, clear tone--but keep in mind just about every guitar had something in the tone to recommend it. From my limited experience of Emmons push-pulls, the Zum sound seems to lie somewhere in that direction (please, no arguments!). They project a real strength and clarity. I'm not sure if it's the tone for me--there were other guitars that had a kind of... richness (warmth, maybe?) that I really liked--but there's no denying that it works well on stage. Strength and clarity.
Steel guitar heaven, all weekend long. Not much sleep, though...
-Travis
P.S. I bought a six-string Twister bar, I can't wait to get home and try it out...[This message was edited by Travis Bernhardt on 05 September 2004 at 03:51 PM.] |
|
|
|
Travis Bernhardt
From:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 2:53 pm
|
|
Oh yeah, and did you see that brand new Emmons push-pull? the first one to be built in what, thirty years?
-Travis |
|
|
|
Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 3:52 pm
|
|
Was it really an Emmons push-pull?  If so, tell us more. |
|
|
|
Steve Matlock
From:
Bentonville, AR USA
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 4:31 pm
|
|
Yes, it was a "new" Emmons PP! It was an
S-10 wood body with a metal neck (split-tail). Ron had rounded up some PP parts from around the factory and made up this one to bring to the show. The bodies and most of the parts are from the original production runs. I think he said that particular body was an early 80's make. Sounds like he might make more if there is enough market demand. Sounded pretty good as you might expect. Of course I heard it while Jay Dee was playing it and that didn't hurt. The last ones I knew of that were made were the silver anniversary ones in 1989. Pretty neet to see another new one!
Steve |
|
|
|
Steve Matlock
From:
Bentonville, AR USA
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 4:34 pm
|
|
| BTW, I thought the sound was very respectable, except that it was very hard to understand some of the people speaking on stage. Very muttled. But most of the music I thought was pretty good. |
|
|
|
Tony Rankin
From:
Land O’ Lakes, FL
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 5:01 pm
|
|
A couple of things I didn't see mentioned here were Laney Hicks singing with Russ, (she's awesome and I loved the vocals she added to Buddy's "Nameless Shuffle") and Dicky Overbey's playing. Dicky was something else!
I totally agree about Randy Beavers sounding great and about the sound being poor off to the sides of the stage.
Great show and lots of neat stuff to look at. |
|
|
|
Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 6:56 pm
|
|
We didn't mention Laney because SteelRadio was talking with or about someone during most of Russ and Jimmie's set.  |
|
|
|
Craig A Davidson
From:
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA
|
Posted 5 Sep 2004 10:21 pm
|
|
Jerry Brightman also had his new Performance Brand steel there. It is quite the guitar. And it sounds good too.
------------------
1985 Emmons push-pull,S-10 Marlen,Evans SE200,Hilton pedal
|
|
|
|
Bruce W Heffner
From:
Payson, Arizona
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 2:31 am
|
|
| The sound did seem to start off shakey; however, it did improve. I was burned out by 4:30 AM Saturday morning, having sat through Dickeys "Monster" performance with Jake Hooker and the boys. Dickey plays with great passion and expression and is on my favorite players list who I would go out of my way to hear. I got a few hours sleep and made it until 2 AM Sunday morning, upon where my ears broke down and I could absorb no more and had to sleep. Scotty sure keeps coming up with great talent at these conventions and I must thank him and his family for all their hard work. [This message was edited by Bruce W Heffner on 06 September 2004 at 06:12 AM.] |
|
|
|
Tony Palmer
From:
St Augustine,FL
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 6:22 am
|
|
I sat in different spots all through the convention and I didn't notice a problem with the overall sound at all, but a couple of players just didn't seem to have enough STAGE volume, probably due to personal style of playing.
I don't believe that is "fixable" for a sound man.
Speaking of sound, I give overall best tone award (!) to Tom Brumley this year.
|
|
|
|
Nick Reed
From:
Russellville, KY USA
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 6:34 am
|
|
| The best part for me was seeing & meeting many of you guys who we only know from the Forum. I got a real kick out of Jimmy Queen's thursday night HOF show. He's so funny on stage. Also getting to hear Dickey Overby was a definate plus to my list of highlights. It was great to see that NEW Emmons Push/Pull Ron Jr brought to the show. NR |
|
|
|
Dennis Detweiler
From:
Solon, Iowa, US
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 6:48 am
|
|
The balance seemed inconsistent. Bobby Caldwell's volume was above everyone else's sometimes. And the fiddle wasn't up enough on rides. And yes, the vocal mic's needed to be up a little and the delay off of them when used for conversation and presentations. I stood at the sound booth to make sure I was hearing it from their perspective. Maybe the headphone balance is different from the room? Overall it was good. And the tone on all seemed good.
Scotty and his family deserve compliments for the work and perfecting the event every year.
DD |
|
|
|
Rick Garrett
From:
Tyler, Texas
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 7:15 am
|
|
Sorry to hear the sound had problems but glad to hear yall had a good time up there. I couldn't go again this year due to work load but I hope to make Dallas in the Spring. Thanks to all the folks who work hard to put on a show like that.
Rick |
|
|
|
Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 8:38 am
|
|
Mike,
I really dislike the word SUCKED! I agree with ya, though.
|
|
|
|
CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 8:58 am
|
|
i'm w: ya' Theresa, i find the use of that word to be quite vulgar but has unfortunately become so anodyne
|
|
|
|
Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 9:45 am
|
|
Thank goodness someone else agrees with me - that word is one the most unfortunate and ugly slang words to find general favour in a long time.
RR |
|
|
|
Stephen Gregory
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 12:21 pm
|
|
| I agree the sound was very poor in every respect, very dissappointing. |
|
|
|
bruce fischer
From:
florissant, mo. 63031 USA
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 1:12 pm
|
|
imho, the sound "sucked", for want of a better word. i sit in the rear left and it was poor through out. but what a wonderful show! even the hotel seemed to have done a 180! to all who performed, " a job well done". bruce fischer
------------------
sho-bud super pro II and fender 6 string |
|
|
|
Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 1:44 pm
|
|
| . [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 07:49 PM.] |
|
|
|
Russ Wever
From:
Kansas City
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 7:25 pm
|
|
Jim,
Yeah, I met Gonzalo this year, as well as last. He and some of his family made a presentation on stage, as well as he brought me a gift from Mexico and a flyer on you, which I can't read as it is in Spanish!
A fine fellow, Gonzalo is.
~Russ[This message was edited by Russ Wever on 07 September 2004 at 06:31 AM.] |
|
|
|
Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
|
Posted 6 Sep 2004 8:39 pm
|
|
| . [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 07:49 PM.] |
|
|
|
Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
|
Posted 7 Sep 2004 3:31 am
|
|
| * [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 21 January 2005 at 04:22 AM.] |
|
|
|
