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Topic: Weekend Opry performances....which is best? |
Joe Alterio
From:
Irvington, Indiana
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Posted 9 Jun 2003 10:01 am |
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Hi all,
The wife and I may be taking a trip down to Nashville next month, and were planning on taking in a show at the Opry. My question is this.....as there are three performances each weekend (Fri. night, Sat. early night, Sat. late night) is one typically better than the others? In other words....does one "bring the house down" or feature better performances than the others? Perhaps one that might feature Tommy White a bit more on a regular basis?
Thanks in advance,
Joe |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 9 Jun 2003 5:42 pm
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| Joe, I think it all depends on the schedule. Check the schedule at the Opry web site and go to the performance that has the stars you want to hear. Also check to see where the Opry will be. Nowdays they sometimes have it at Opryland and sometimes at the Ryman. Again, their schedule tells you that. Good luck. |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 9 Jun 2003 8:38 pm
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Joe,
the Opry is at the Opry House in the old Opryland area and will be there for the biggest part of the year. We generally go to the Ryman late in the year and extend into the new year and then return to the Opry House. They are doing some "matinees" on Saturday afternoons at the Ryman, but all the other matinees and Opry shows will be at the Opry House. There are Tuesday matinees, so if you'll be around on a Tuesday be sure and check the Opry website.
The Opry is in basically three hour shows. The Saturday early show is the segment that the TV show is recorded from. So if you want to see what is going to be on the TV show catch the early Saturday show. Many times the second show on Saturday will pretty much have most of the same cast.
There is nothing like seeing the Opry live. The TV show in no way represents the Opry or even comes close.
Look me up when you go. I'll be in my usual spot for the last ten years, playing steel behind "Jean Shepard."
Dave |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 10 Jun 2003 12:09 am
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Dave,
Yeah, I love the way they get a closeup of the piano when the steel player is playing. Vince Gill was doing a swing song one night and the band was trading 4's.. well, the cameramen were lost, always going to the guy who wasn't playing. They finally switched to a long shot until Vince started singing again. You have to be there in person to appreciate what is really going on.
C# |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2003 6:27 am
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| Dave, I caught your set at the GOO Saturday. You sounded great. I wanted to get a closer look at that Emmons P/P. I believe that is the most beatiful guitar I've seen. Tell me about it. |
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Lem Smith
From:
Long Beach, MS
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Posted 10 Jun 2003 6:09 pm
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I got to hear Dave Saturday before last when I visited the Opry, but didn't get to meet him. Great playing behind Jean tho! Of course, that was no surprise, as he always does a heck of a job! Tommy was also in fine form that night, but it wasn't the best night for featuring him.
Lem |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 10 Jun 2003 6:53 pm
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| Hey Dave, you ever run across a keyboard player, used to work with Jean Shephard, named Ed Synan? Real good piano player, good guy. I played lead guitar in a band with Ed back in the 80's. |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 10 Jun 2003 9:30 pm
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Chris,
thanks for the kind words.
The guitar I was playing was my old '64 push/pull (dated 1264017 as verified by Ron Lashley Sr back around 1990). It originally was Buddy Emmons' guitar and can be seen on Buddy's website. It was the first/prototype "split-tuneable" Emmons. Stu Basore bought it directly from Buddy and played it on the "Kitty Wells" albums until about '68 (according to Stu). It was sold a couple more times to various different steel players, including Joe Goldmark. In later years I found it. A few years ago Mike Cass and I restored it after which I retired it.It still has the original "dual coil" pickups wound 10-11K on one side of the pickups and approximately 19K on the other side. At the Opry, I play the E9 on the "light" or 10-11K side. It is the only guitar "I" personally have ever owned that sounds great without any reverb at all!
Somehow, it just seems fitting to play it at the Grand Ol' Opry. I rarely ever play it anywhere else now.
Thanks for asking about it. Be glad to show it to you anytime.
Dave
[This message was edited by Dave Robbins on 10 June 2003 at 10:31 PM.] |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 10 Jun 2003 9:43 pm
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Lem,
thanks so much. Sorry I missed ya. Always enjoy meeting and talking with steel players.
Stephen,
haven't met the piano player you mentioned. I'll be sure to ask Jean about him though. Thanks.
Cal, ol'buddy,
I got a great idea! Let's get a bunch of the ol' gang from Gabe's together and go have a big ol' jam back at Gabe's like the old days,eh? 
Dave [This message was edited by Dave Robbins on 10 June 2003 at 10:44 PM.] |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 11 Jun 2003 3:04 am
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Dave, thanks for your comments, always appreciated. We missed you the last time we came to town, you went out with JS somewhere for the weekend I think..we'll try again next time.
Concerning the comment about camera's on the wrong Insruments, that has nothing to do with the camera man or gal..They are directed to set up the camera shot for the "SHOW PRODUCER " in the booth to choose for TV viewing. The one holding the camera does not call the shots..they are told what to do, where to do it and when to do it. So if the Steel Player was pickin' the licks and you saw the 88's on your TV screen then you need to call the show producer and ask whats up with that .
tp |
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Stephen Winters
From:
Scobey, Mississippi, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2003 4:58 am
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Joe Alterio,
My wife and I have been to most all the different opry performances, and I beleive the Second show on Saturday night to be the best. Everybody seems to "let their hair down" so to speak. If someone like Ray Pillow or Charlie Walker is on late, Tommy White usually blows your mind with awsome Texas swing steel guitar.
------------------
Stephen Winters
Carter Starter
Peavey Deuce |
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Butch Foster
From:
Pisgah, Alabama, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2003 5:21 am
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Dave, thanks for the background info on the guitar you were playing. I really enjoyed your sound on the Bakersfield tune Jean did a couple of weeks ago, believe it was " Love's Gonna Live Here" (?). Thanks for all the great music!
Stephen, great point about Tommy doing such great work behind Ray Pillow & Charlie. He also shines behind Jeannie Seely. |
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Dave Robbins
From:
Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)
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Posted 11 Jun 2003 12:59 pm
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I have to admit, almost everybody "picks" better the second show on Saturday nights. Since you don't have much time for setting tones, volume levels, and just plain getting settled-in, the second show gives you sort of a "second shot". Don't forget, on the first show you just really never know what to expect until you're out there!
For the TV show, there is a rehearsal for everything (right down to "programming the monitor mix"), but nobody lets there hair down since it is an empty room and it goes fairly quick. That is when the TV shots are supposed to be set up. Everyone is there taking notes, etc.
It is up to the "artist" to get with the "director' and stage hands to inform them what is going to happen, who will be featured, and what songs they will be doing before hand! Now if an artist should decide to play something else or change there mind about the show once they're out there on stage during the TV show, the "features" can get all screwed up!
Occasionally there is a mis-cue and camera shots get missed. One thing is for sure, if Teresa White is on the camera, the steel will not be missed! She is very good at what she does. Just as we steel players "critique" ourselves the next day, so does Teresa! She is very conscientious and maybe a little partial to us steel players, eh Tommy? Many a time Teresa has been so close with the camera that I could have reached out and touched the lens!
I know that someone always comes to us before the rehearsal/TV show and ask us what we will be playing and who will be featured. "Jean" is very good at making sure we get the camera time.
By the way, any of you who visit the Opry backstage, be sure and come up and introduce yourselves. Go out of your way to do so! A lot of times we who play the Opry can be preoccupied with the artist we are working with, but there is always time to visit with a fellow steel player once our "spot" is over. Be sure you say "Hi!" and let us know who you are, especially if we have never met face to face. On Saturday nights when we are doing two "spots," there is usually time to visit at some point maybe between them.
So, thanks again for all your support and kind words.
Oh yeah, that is Tony Paoletta that plays behing Jeannie Seely! Unless of course Tony isn't there (rarely). In that case it would be Tommy playing in his place. Ol' Tommy's not bad for a "sub" eh?
Dave[This message was edited by Dave Robbins on 11 June 2003 at 02:01 PM.] |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2003 1:46 pm
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| Was that Teresa with the camera onstage? Yeah, she won't miss a steel spot. She was right in my face. My daughter watched our segment and said there was a lot of me. I'm not sure that is a good thing, but it's good for steel. |
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Joe Alterio
From:
Irvington, Indiana
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Posted 17 Jun 2003 10:48 am
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Thanks so much everyone for your input. I appreciate it 
Joe |
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