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Topic: So where will we be in 10 or 15 years ? |
Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 4:46 am |
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I recently was invited to play a Sr's Country Music night every other week on Steel. It's a great gig, 6 to 8, we are playing songs from 3 ,4 and 5 decades ago, I am really working at pulling out those old tunes that I learned way back. The room is packed with amazingly appreciative folks who stand in line to greet the players/singers at the end of the two hr show. I also play Moose/Legion dances now and then, same music, same age group .
So....in another 10 /15 years or so, what happens to all this music when the older crowds diminish ? Unless of course we are playing in Nashville on Broadway where the songs will far outlive the players.
When our local audience of traditional music disappears ,The Legions, Moose Halls etc... what then ? Because as of now, they are our audience and we are NOT going to get the new twitter generation to go backwards and start to appreciate the great songs from decades back .
Me, I guess I'm just going to enjoy the ride because I'm pretty much in the same age group or close !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 4:56 am
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This is not a thread about how bad country music is today, we can all agree that most of us DON'T like it but we also have to agree that the generations that are younger than many of us DO LIKE IT. This is not new news... The question is, what do we feel is going to happen to the local traditional country music scene ( other than Nashville) in 10 or 15 years when our audiences diminish or when the players who know these old songs are no longer performing.
Last week, No One Will Ever Know and Danny Boy (in F) magically appeared with no notice during the set, Yes I got thru them both , but thats what I'm talking about here...
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 9:36 am
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fwiw, Here in Portland, Hardcore Country is incredibly hip with the 20 something crowds.
I regularly have beautiful 20 something women come up to me at gigs and say "I love Pedal Steel!".
I am not making this up.
I think things will be fine.
We have a 26 year old girl here who just bought a Pedal Steel and is already playing with a band. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 10:05 am
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ok, on my way to Portland !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 10:28 am
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I think it has alot to do with the fact that Records and Record Players are coming back in style.
We have about 40 Pedal Steel players in our area, and as far as I know, all of them that want to gig are gigging. |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 11:15 am
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It's funny Tony, I had the same thoughts not too long ago. When I moved to upstate NY, 4 yrs ago, I thought my playing years were over. But, I got hooked up with a local band, that, plays older traditional country and am playing more than ever. The only reservation is that, the crowd is older than I am at 65. Yes, there are some, who, are around me and younger, but, most are older. I wonder if the whole thing will crumble when they pass or by some miracle continue. We are surrounded by colleges around here, but, the kids love blues and who knows what else. As you, I'm thankful to be playing what I like and will ride it as long as I can or until I can't anymore.
When I lived on Long Island, there was no viable venue for country music. Yes, once or twice a year there would be a gig at a hall or a park job, but, there would be several bands competing for the gig. It mostly came down to who you knew or how cheaply you would work. But , the blues were everywhere. The gigs we did, again, were populated by an older crowd. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for your question. I'm in the same boat, just rowing along on the lake. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 11:23 am
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In the last month I have met a bunch of young new players. They have varied interests. Some are into the singer songwriter rock type band scene and play in a somewhat traditional style. And a bunch more are into an ambient sound effect thing. Neither of those groups are much into the forum. There music and personal interests don't fit into general discussion here.
Then there is another batch of young hot shot players that are kicking ass in the country scene. They do not participate in the forum either. We are just a bunch of old cranky dudes who don't know what is going on as far as they are concerned.
The forum does not particularly represent what is going on in the world of steel guitar as far as I can tell.
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Bob |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 3:17 pm
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I'm not talking about the players, rather the listeners...! I'm not even really talking about Steel guitar !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
Last edited by Tony Prior on 19 Feb 2015 2:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 3:51 pm
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Tony has really hit on something here. I used to play in a band that did classic country. The only gigs we could find were the critter clubs. The audience was usually all older than me (and I'm 60). We used to play one Moose lodge, one Friday/Saturday weekend gig every month. Then it got cut to only one night, then they had to stop live music altogether except for special occasions. The membership was/is dying off, and there is no effort being made to recruit new members.
Younger people today like the newer country. And, if they had a choice of going to see a live classic country band or stay home, they would probably stay home and Facebook and twitter with their friends.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 3:59 pm Re: So where will we be in 10 or 15 years ?
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| Tony Prior wrote: |
| Because as of now, they are our audience and we are NOT going to get the new twitter generation to go backwards and start to appreciate the great songs from decades back. |
I don't know where the twitter generation is at all. The Beatles is awfully far back.
I have a friend who suggested I write fifteen second ringtones.
| Quote: |
| Me, I guess I'm just going to enjoy the ride because I'm pretty much in the same age group or close ! |
That's the problem I have with we.
What I got from Bob is that the youngers aren't represented here and we have no idea what they're playing or hearing. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 4:04 pm
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Sorry if I misinterpreted your post, Tomy. I'm getting older you know!
So to try to answer.... I guess in 10-15 yrs from now, the memorable songs from the last 10-20 yrs will be played. Most of the ones from my generation will be forgotten as will be most of the artists. And, I suppose those who play them will be eyed as old and playing, the THEN classic country, maybe. It seems to hold true for most genre's except for classical music. Look at all the tribute bans there are today. Sheet, I was there when that music was popular. I mean, we have Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Gram Parson tributes today. Who knows what will come in years to come. |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 4:12 pm
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| Jim Cohen wrote: |
| I figure this is gonna be me in 10-15 years... |
Which one of those guys are you?
That kid is laughing at us.... |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 4:36 pm
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"I liked the Stones a lot yesterday, but my doctor told me today that I had....'
'Yeah, them beatles were bad that year....' |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Jerry Hedge
From:
Norwood Ohio U.S.A.
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Posted 18 Feb 2015 9:23 pm
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One of the bands I play in is a Honky Tonk and Rockabilly band. Our base of operations is a local club that books a lot of different types of music. They have three rooms, one holds about 100 people, one holds about 500 and the have a smaller room. We are are the only band that has a regular gig at this place. In the big rooms they book national and regional acts. The small room has regional and local acts. They book every thing from punk rock to heavy metal to alt rock to Americana acts. Our audience is usually people from their 20's to 40's. They LOVE US!!! I'm constantly surprised at how well we go over. They book Dale Watson about twice a year, always a sell out!!! And the cool part... sometime the headliners will come out and sit in! There's a lot of people in all forms of music that love and respect classic country music. I also sub a lot with a another band that plays about 90% classic country and the other material in originals in a classic country vein. They have a great following. You've got to hit the right fan base and don't try to be what your not.
P.S. we get to open for Dale when he comes to town. What a nice guy!!! It's a lot of fun to swap Sho-Bud stories with Don Don. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 19 Feb 2015 2:25 am
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I'm talkin about in 15 years, not today..Our gigs are reasonably packed today , especially the bi weekly Country Music night, but it is the exact same listeners in attendance, every week. The age group is my age and older.
Of course there are pockets of people listening and some nice gigs still around, but Richard is correct, above, in my mind. The weekly gig circuits for Mooses/Legions/etc are slowly diminishing, the crowds are getting smaller, not younger. The 50 and up crowd does not go out to bars/clubs to hear music that starts at 10PM. The dances most of us play END at 10 pm !
When I came back to Steel after a self imposed layoff 12 years ago, I was busy every week on the circuit, the halls were packed. That is not the case anymore. the weekly dances have turned into once a month and the attendance is still down. One major gig in our area had dances every fri and sat night. A few years back they cut back to just one night and now I have been told that those one nighters are only half full. A far cry from both nights being packed a few years earlier. The dance club owner also cut the BAND PAY back, sighting attendance is down. When we played that room, on rotation for almost two years, we were pulling $1000 a weekend, and the owner was happy. Now the band pay for one night I was told is $400, take it or leave it. He also tried to get the bands to play new Country to try to stir things up, that didn't work. The crowds are still down.
It's not about the players it's about the regular listeners coming out.
Another thing worth mentioning, ( Steel guitar related) and I don't mean this to be uppity...the depth of music many of us come from is over whelming, many new players that are not entrenched in this music will NOT be able to cut these gigs, as good a player as they may be. These gigs are about songs, not solo's...songs that many of us cut our teeth on 30,40 years ago...you can't fake them...you either take the solo on Danny Boy or you will not be back.
And I get it, many new players don't want to play those songs, and thats part of what I am saying, the music is slowly dying out .
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 19 Feb 2015 3:15 am
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Tony speaks true about the depth of music many working steelers come from.
It's not obvious to a casual by-stander on the Forum, one who isn't steeped in the traditions of steel music.
The talent on this forum may be unusual for musical forums, but somewhat representative of the total picture,
that of a workforce of musicians who enjoy what they do, need to make money to keep it going,
and face aging audiences, whose numbers naturally decline.
I would have to have been in my teens to begin learning the literature and repertoire of pedal steel music to grasp it.
One really has to know the musical history of two or three generations to be able to play it.
It's no wonder we might wonder if there can be a generation to follow, or if tradition will be out the window.
When the crowd doesn't remember 'Good Lovin', what shall we play?
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Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 19 Feb 2015 4:57 am
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| Charlie McDonald wrote: |
One really has to know the musical history of two or three generations to be able to play it.
It's no wonder we might wonder if there can be a generation to follow, or if tradition will be out the window.
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WOW..well stated...
Apply that to the listeners , not just the players. In my small mind, that's the bigger issue, the listeners are dropping out..
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 19 Feb 2015 2:24 pm
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| It might be a case of one door closing and staying closed... |
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Niels Andrews
From:
Salinas, California, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2015 3:24 pm
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It really doesn't matter does it? Most that read these pages will be gone. What does matter is that through this forum, and other resources on the internet, that we leave a legacy for future generations.
More could be done, but appears there is little interest. Just think how nice it would be to find a video of Speedy West, Curly Chalker or any of the many that have gone on. I really enjoyed what Jim Vest did a few years back. It wouldn't have to be that sophisticated just a talking head video would be nice. Just my thoughts.
_________________
Die with Memories. Not Dreams.
Good Stuff like Zum S-12, Wolfe Resoport
MSA SS-12, Telonics Combo. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 19 Feb 2015 5:31 pm
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| Quote: |
| It really doesn't matter does it? Most that read these pages will be gone. |
In that case Niels, none of it matters.  |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 20 Feb 2015 6:55 am
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| Niels Andrews wrote: |
| but appears there is little interest. |
We don't know that, regardless of what seems.
Certainly, it requires the individual to have the interest.
However, the times are changing for the old guard, so to speak, from whom seem to come all knowledge. 
The standardized copedent could become a thing of the past.
Music for steel will definitely change, and we could guide it by action, but I don't know.
Certainly, a door could close. I only look on it as the same case with young folk, sorry they didn't grow up with melody. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 21 Feb 2015 11:43 am
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there will always be someone playing good old classic country stuff. probably those young and old who love it.
as for nashville...isn't it their industry that has done the most to damage the genre by discarding it disrespectfully? |
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