and it's Norwalk Connecticut....not California

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 10 November 2001 at 07:42 AM.]

Dick Meis - switches back & forth, equally adept on both

Bob Hoffnar - shows us that pedal steel has no boundries

Doug Beaumer - excellent player & technician

[This message was edited by HowardR on 11 November 2001 at 08:07 PM.]

Sharon Denny on Sierra Keyless 14

Joe Wright - the ultimate player,instructor,
entertainer,comedian

[This message was edited by HowardR on 10 November 2001 at 05:04 PM.]

Western Caravan-what a group! The highlight of the day.

Jerry Brightman-another highlight of the day

Herby Wallace

[This message was edited by HowardR on 11 November 2001 at 08:37 PM.]

Only a few things have changed like my tone
control,,,,same strings,,,same guitar,,,everything else the same,,,cept I had to meet up with a clown like you.

Oh yeah I got a haircut since then,,,,take a close look,, its the hair of the "right side"

Herb Wallace-John Hughey

Joe Wright-Jerry Brightman

[This message was edited by HowardR on 11 November 2001 at 08:45 PM.]

Get off that computer and get in your car. The show starts in 3 hours. Put down that coffee, you'll be making too many stops along the way.....

Jody- you knock me out man...your playin' AND your sense of humour...

Some new faces were present on Sunday.

Jon Graboff playing sweetly

"Jimbeaux" Master of Acceptable tone...NOT!
Actually, Jim's tone is not at all acceptable
.....it's exceptional

Jeff De Maio - that Emmons tone

The other De Maio's...dad Nick, brother Nick

[This message was edited by HowardR on 11 November 2001 at 09:16 PM.]

I really want to thank Bob Maickel, Mike Gross, and all the rest of the people who put on this fine show every year.

I think that everyone was at the top of their game. It was a wonderful lineup and those whom I'd seen before more than lived up to my expectations and the ones that were
new to me were great to hear as well.

I was sorry that I missed Bob Hoffnar's set. My buddy that always goes to these things with me overslept and we didn't get to the show until about 12:30.

Everybody knows how great the greats are, so I won't comment on them other than to say that's why they're well known.

I will say that John Hughey's new Zum is about as good looking as it sounds. I like the cross, by the way.

Jerry Brightman was fantastic. He not only rips up and down the fretboard with some fine chicken' picken' but he's a real personable guy as well. And no, Jerry, you don't talk to much. People at these shows love to hear the behind the scenes stories.

Jon Graboff was another new face who blew me away. He played a beautiful old Sho~Bud and played very cleanly and got a terrific tone out of it. And he also referenced one my personal idols, Tommy Hannum. I wish Tommy would come play at some of these shows.

John Widgren and his group were another of the many highlights of the show. It's really amazing how much great country comes out of the NYC area. You could knock me over with a feather!

And also from the that area is Jeff DeMaio, treasurer of the PSGA. If he watches the PSGA budget as well as he plays that old P/P Emmons, our treasury must be in great shape. Jeff gets an absolutely wonderful tone. It sounds exactly the way I like to hear a steel sound. It's not harsh, it's not muddy. You can hear every note and it's just that classic steel tone. A lot like that guy who plays with the Everly Brothers. Jeff has worked up a lot of twin stuff with his six-string buddy, Scott Tyler and that's most enjoyable and impressive as well.

Those are some of the things that struck me. I'll cut if off at this point so others can comment. But by no means have I anywhere near covered the great stuff that was at that show.

I drove five hours to get there and it was well worth it!

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Rick Richtmyer
Good News

[This message was edited by RickRichtmyer on 13 November 2001 at 07:21 AM.]

Thanks to all that sat and listened, played on stage, and the great help behind the scenes.

Also, thanks so much for the kind words about my set with the group Gunsmoke including Scott Tyler, my Dad, brother Nick, Fooch, and Larry Eagle.

Jess Hurt - mighty fine....my apologies for inadvertinly overlooking this fine player and gentleman.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 13 November 2001 at 05:43 PM.]

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My Site

Doug's Free Tab

Met John Hughey in the mens room,,,what a place to meet,,,I guess its better than meeting in the ladies room,,,I could have been arrested.

I heard one guy ask Bob Maickel where I was?? he said,,,,in the Mens room,,,,what was that all about Bob?? I wasnt trying to sell CD's
I was waiting for the bus,,,,,get out of town" CU Mr.Van Allen,,,,,,missed your unique
playing style.

One guy walked in the mens room and asked me for a towel,,,he thought I was the bathroom
attendant,,,must have been that white jacket
the hospital let me use for the weekend when they let me out for a few hours.

I only made for the Saturday daytime show, but man, what a show it was.

Bob Hoffnar's set was particularly good, I thought. I don't know if I was more impressed with the fact that he had the balls to play such "outside" music to that crowd or the fact that everyone in the crowd stuck around!

...and what can I say about John Hughey's set? Just amazing. At the end of his last tune, I looked over at the guy standing next to me, and he had tears running down his face. Now that's some powerful steel playing! (or maybe just some bad allergies... )

I had many memorable times as I got questions and comments from not only the performers, but the folks who come out and support this fine event. The ride over and back with Jess Hurt and Doug Rolfe was an event in itself. Without Doug's navagation skills, I may have still been driving.

The Jam was a real kick, with Herby, John, Joe, and myself. Joe's a show in itself especially where I was sitting. Bob Brocius made me aware of the fact that the WWVA Jamboree show I played on was well heard in this area. He also said he had tapes of me playing at various times from the broadcast's...(I tried to buy em all up to keep from being too embarresed

I saw people I haven't seen in years...and as always, made many new friends. Thanks to all of you who took the time to email me and I'm trying to get back to each of you. Your messages mean a great deal to me..probably more then you could ever imagine...

Thanks to all of the players who provided such great back up. I got to hear Herby play some tunes I know he doesn't normally tackle, and that's a true confirmation of how great they play.

I'm looking forward to next year and all the other show's I'll be attending...
Jerry Brightman http://www.slidestation.com

[This message was edited by Jerry Brightman on 13 November 2001 at 12:09 PM.]

When was the pic of Dick Meis taken? I've followed Dick since the early 70's but haven't seen him or his wife Lois for a while.

What a steeler! He actually started playing lead guitar when his wife was singing professionally and he at some point expanded to the steel. He been playing since dirt was invented and he sounds like it! A great steeler.

The icing on the cake appeared when Jody Carver entered the room. It made my day. Perhaps next year he will play steel on the show???

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Bobby Brocius, ZumSteel D-10, 8x8, Blue, BL910 PUs

I met some real nice people and I got to hang with some of the best players around, including Jerry. My moniter is broke and I'm at work, so I gotta git before I git my butt in trouble.

Talk to y'all(thanks Doug R.)