This fest was a lot of fun as there were four stages that hosted a variety of concerts form old timey, folk, Hawaiian, vaudville, and hybrids thereof.

One thing is for sure, steel guitar sure was appreciated there.

Uke players came in all shapes, sizes, and levels of talent, not unlike every other instrument in existence.

Well, it was a blast, a lot of great music, friendly people, good weather, good pizza, nice t shirts and more ukuleles than I've ever seen in my life.

Here's Mike Neer with Joel Eckhaus of Earnest Instruments....

Joel is well known for his electric mandolins and particularly a double neck 5 string/4 course of which he recieved great acclaim. He is now making ukes and lap steels

Here's Gerald Ross & Joel with Marvin & Cathy Reitz.....

[This message was edited by HowardR on 01 May 2006 at 08:08 PM.]

Help me out Gerald, I don't know her last name. She was great.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 01 May 2006 at 08:25 PM.]

I had a great time at NY Ukefest. Notice the hats in the photos. We were all inspired to get hats while visiting Howard's shop (in the shadow of the Empire State Building). Mike, Kathy and I are all wearing ours, Marv was letting his head cool off a bit.

It was fun hanging with Howard and Mike and Andrew of the Moonlighters. Mike & Andrew took me out for a drink (times three) in a few "non-tourist" east Village bars. We were having a great time telling old vaudeville stories until they realized they had to be on stage in 30 seconds and we were four blocks away from the theater. We made it back in time OK.

Take a look at the ultra-cool steels Joel Eckhaus is making. They look like a cross between a Bakelite Rick and a Fender Telecaster. They are beautiful to look at with a perfectly executed translucent Fender-like finish. They sound fantastic and play like a dream. One model has an Aiello-Lollar horseshoe and the other has a Lollar Vintage Telecaster pickup. Needless to say Joel will only be producing the Tele model from now on. I played the Tele model and was blown away with how much it sounded like a Bakelite Rick. If I didn't have 5 steel guitars I would buy this guitar in a second. Joel Eckhaus' steel guitars are informally called Eck-inbackers.


Also notice in the bottom photo (in front of Joel) his ukulele bass. This is a solid body bass that uses nylon strings. Plugged in it sounds full rich and fat.

There were four steelers at the fest; Myself, Mike Neer, George Harper (with Shorty Long from Austin, TX) and Chris ? from the NYC area (he co-wrote the H Steel Book vol 2 with Stacy Phillips - name someone?). Four different steel styles that each went over like gangbusters.

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 02 May 2006 at 05:55 AM.]

The Hullabillys

[This message was edited by HowardR on 01 May 2006 at 08:51 PM.]

Move over Andrew...Doug's slappin' this doghouse....woof woof......

[This message was edited by HowardR on 01 May 2006 at 08:55 PM.]

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

Click Here

Nice stuff! No steels listed but he makes some very fine looking ukes and mando's.

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HSGA & RMSGC member
Play it with "Glass"
Boyett's Glass Bars

quote:

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Attn: Chris Aiello....eye candy alert

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Thanks Howard ...

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Slants of the Week
Hawaiian Steel Stuff
The Casteels

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 02 May 2006 at 08:41 AM.]

Attn: b0b......eye candy alert

marimba in da house....