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 Air Steel"? (Page 1)
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 07:42 PM
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A guy I did some recording with a few years ago called to ask if I'd appear at a large arena-type gig with him this weekend. The catch is that I wouldn't actually "play" anything. I would just "appear" with him! And play air-steel guitar to the parts I recorded a few years ago (plus some newer ones he cut in Nashville). I dunno.... On the one hand, a gig is a gig and it would be fun to see the arena from the stage end of things (there will be thousands in the audience). On the other hand, I'm not really into faking my way through a performance (I do enough of that at home  )What would y'all do? p.s. I already did tell him that there was no freakin' way I was gonna show up for a rehearsal for cryin' out loud! |
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Bobby Boggs Member From: Pendleton SC |
posted 06 June 2006 07:50 PM
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I don't think I could do it.Just seems stupid.Maybe if I really needed the money.Why can't you take a real steel and pretend to play??? Or did I misunderstand? |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 07:54 PM
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Sorry, I misled you. Yes, I would indeed bring a real steel, and pretend to play. You're right, it isn't really "air guitar". But it isn't really playing either! |
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Tucker Jackson Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:10 PM
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Wow, Jim. You've really progressed. In just a few short years you've gone from being Mr. "Acceptable Tone" to... what... being paid to not play to an arena audience? Kudos, my brutha. Kudos. |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:13 PM
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Yup, that jus' about sums it up.  And if I practice really, really hard, maybe someday I can just give up the steel altogether! |
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A. J. Schobert Member From: Cincinnati OHIO WHO DEY??? |
posted 06 June 2006 08:15 PM
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So there would be thousands of fans right? A pretty big name, is everyone in the band "lip sync" like you? two words ASHLEY SIMPSON if I was a major artist to fill up thousands of fans I wouldn't risk it you would go from hero to zero overnight, make sure the tape does't skip! |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:17 PM
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Actually, the artist will be singing live, but to his tracks, not to a live band. The whole rest of the band would be present, and also fakin' it, jus' like me. |
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Chris LeDrew Member From: Newfoundland, Canada |
posted 06 June 2006 08:17 PM
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Jim, I'd go ahead and do it without question or thought. Being cooperative and a good sport usually leads to more work, in my experience. |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:22 PM
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quote:Yeah, especially if I'm fakin' it to Paul Franklin tracks and they think it was me playing it. I might get a lot of gigs! And then, when I show up for them, I'll just tell them that "Oh yeah, I used to play that way, but I'm over with that phase now..." |
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A. J. Schobert Member From: Cincinnati OHIO WHO DEY??? |
posted 06 June 2006 08:23 PM
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I was talking more towards the lead vocals, but what if tracks skip it would be the major name that would suffer its tempting |
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Chris LeDrew Member From: Newfoundland, Canada |
posted 06 June 2006 08:25 PM
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Oh, it's not you on the originals? Even better......here's where the humor comes in....I'd do it just for the laugh. Edit: So it's not you on some of the tracks........still funny. [This message was edited by Chris LeDrew on 06 June 2006 at 08:26 PM.] |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:27 PM
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Chris, I was on 3 or 4 of the originals, but not all of them. The rest of them he cut in Nashville. I don't really know who played on them. Yeah, it'd probably be a hoot. (Groupies? Did anyone say Groupies??) |
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Chris LeDrew Member From: Newfoundland, Canada |
posted 06 June 2006 08:28 PM
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Steel groupies? Now that's funny.......... |
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Rick Schmidt Member From: Carlsbad, CA. USA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:35 PM
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Jim...after playing professionally for almost 30 years, my most high profile gig of all last year (maybe ever for that matter) was as a "finger-syncher". You at least played on the original recording. Scroll down to "Liver Spots in TJ" to read my sad story.... [This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 06 June 2006 at 08:39 PM.] |
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Tucker Jackson Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:35 PM
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Actually, Jim, this is a good kind of problem to have. It means you're big time. Those of us in small-potato bar bands aren't ever faced with this dilemma (although I did fake it in a music video once, but everybody knows the score on those deals). This one is a tough call. I'm guessing folks mostly are coming to see the singer -- who is actually going to be singing live. So maybe not that big of a deal that you're air-steelin'. They pay you, and you have a front row seat for the show. You have a good time and sound fantastic all night long. There are worse ways to spend an evening. The main downside as I see it: we might start calling you Milli Vanilli Cohen. |
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Ron Kirby Member From: Nashville ,Tennessee USA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:36 PM
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Jim, Just for fun !! Are you a good actor? This could lead you to the big silver screen!!! - OR- Like a rich farmer once said,,,,every field can be hoed !!! |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:38 PM
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Yeah, and every hoe can be field...  |
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Ron Kirby Member From: Nashville ,Tennessee USA |
posted 06 June 2006 08:42 PM
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HEEEE HEEEEE !! That"s Funny!!! |
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Bobby Boggs Member From: Pendleton SC |
posted 06 June 2006 09:00 PM
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Do it.Just pretend you're with a big time artist on an awards show.Piece ah cake... |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 09:00 PM
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quote:Sure it's funny; it's the best line I've had all year. Even HowardR is jealous that he didn't write that line. Thanks for the setup, dood. [This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 07 June 2006 at 05:58 AM.] |
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Jim Palenscar Member From: Oceanside, Calif, USA |
posted 06 June 2006 09:05 PM
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do it |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 06 June 2006 09:08 PM
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OK, but I'm not bringing a tuner! |
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Roger Rettig Member From: NAPLES, FL |
posted 06 June 2006 10:41 PM
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Do it, Jim - it's tough enough to get any kind of gig these days. At least there's precious little chance of screwing up.... RR |
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David Mason Member From: Cambridge, MD, USA |
posted 07 June 2006 01:04 AM
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You might want to put in some serious mirror time, working up some appropriate "guitar faces." Suggestions: "Sad & Lonely" "Sultry" "Rockin'" |
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Rick Garrett Member From: Tyler, Texas |
posted 07 June 2006 02:23 AM
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I think you should go for it Jim. Just think, a gig that you can totally relaxed for and not one worry about a breaking string or sour note. Plus you might get some more work from it. Have fun man. Rick |
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Bo Borland Member From: Cowtown NJ |
posted 07 June 2006 04:02 AM
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Jim, I agree with the rest of the guys, just do it!.. David Mason has a great point, work on your guitar face...since we usually spend the entire time staring at our hands.. this will give you a chance to mug a little bit.. or in your case a lot. Watch a couple of Marx Bros. flicks and copy everything Harpo does. |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 07 June 2006 05:57 AM
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Oh, so at various points during the show, I should get up and grab the singer's arm and throw my leg over it? Gee, I hadn't thought of that, but I'm sure the audience would enjoy the performance more... |
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billy tam Member From: baton rouge, louisiana |
posted 07 June 2006 05:58 AM
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Jim, I really think you should do it, but complain a lot about the tone on stage and in the mix. Billy Tam |
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Terry Edwards Member From: Layton, UT |
posted 07 June 2006 06:48 AM
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As long as they don't pay you with 'air money"! |
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Bob Blair Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
posted 07 June 2006 07:03 AM
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Go for it Jimbeaux! As I recall, Al Brisco did some TV gig like that a few years ago - someone commented on the Forum about it and he confessed that he was just pretending to play some Dugmore licks. And don't let Chris LeDrew fool you - my impression the other week was that there were lots and lots of steel guitar groupies out there in St. John's! |
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Chris LeDrew Member From: Newfoundland, Canada |
posted 07 June 2006 07:07 AM
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Sorry, Bob..........I know you barely got out of there alive!  |
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Bob Blair Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
posted 07 June 2006 07:10 AM
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Morning Chris! Yeah, it was a tough job but someone had to do it.... |
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Chris LeDrew Member From: Newfoundland, Canada |
posted 07 June 2006 07:22 AM
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You're up early, Bob.........it's almost noon here. Jim, just think of all those Youtube videos from the 60's-70's with some of the steel legends synchin'. You can be a legend, too. |
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Bo Borland Member From: Cowtown NJ |
posted 07 June 2006 08:43 AM
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Jim, I was thinking more about Harpo's great faces, double takes, and of course his incredible harp chops and the way he would add physical embelishments... but if you must throw a leg over the singers arm... make sure he has warm hands. |
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Ron Page Member From: Cincinnati, OH USA |
posted 07 June 2006 09:06 AM
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These days I thought it was more typical to have the singer faking it. I'm curious as to how the drummer fakes it. What do they use, foam rubber sticks? Sure seems like the symbols would be particularly hard to fake-- tough to fool those in rows 1 and 2. ------------------ |
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John McGann Member From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
posted 07 June 2006 09:16 AM
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Homework assignment: Look at some of the Beatles promo videos (tons on YouTube)where they are synching to the record, and watch Lennon messing around- BROADCASTING that "this is total BS" and laughing the whole time- so maybe you can practice juggling 3 BJS bars during the solo, play behind the bar,throwing thumbpicks into the audience, etc. Naw, really: Smile and collect the $. I've been much more of a hoe actually playing an instrument live (in the disco era)... ------------------ [This message was edited by John McGann on 07 June 2006 at 09:18 AM.] |
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Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 07 June 2006 09:16 AM
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Jim, it sounds like you're qualified to play at the Super Bowl half-time show! Wouldn't it be a hoot if someone like Buddy did this? We could get him to "hand-sync" (I guess that's what you'd call it?) the entire Steel Guitar Jazz album behind a Multi-Kord! That would really freak 'em out when someone found it on "YouTube" about 25 years from now! |
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John Lockney Member From: New Market, Maryland, USA |
posted 07 June 2006 09:24 AM
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I would say go for it. You've already cleared your conscience and you would be faking your own playing. And, just imagine if you decline you might see me up there with a huge grin faking your C6 licks on my LDG. ;-) |
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Mike Perlowin Member From: Los Angeles CA |
posted 07 June 2006 09:28 AM
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Go for it Jim. But see if you can borrow Reece's transparent acrylic guitar for the occasion and show up in a bikini. ------------------ |
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Frank Parish Member From: Nashville,Tn. USA |
posted 07 June 2006 09:37 AM
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Appear with a white cane and sun glasses pretending you're blind. That would be a show stopper! |
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