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 Question about...Robert Randolph.. (Page 2)
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Nathan Delacretaz Member From: Austin, Texas, USA |
posted 09 January 2004 07:39 AM
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Amen, Bob H. - I reported for duty to a (country) rehearsal last night, and the first thing out of the piano player's mouth was...had I heard of RR. |
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Terry VunCannon Member From: Randleman, North Carolina, USA |
posted 09 January 2004 08:08 AM
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I think that the comparison of RR to Jimi Hendrix is the best way to look at this. When Jimi came along in the 60's, a lot of people said his music was nothing but noise. A lot of traditional guitar players said he was a no talent. Here we are some 40 years later, and his mark is on rock, blues, jazz and even country style guitar playing. I think that RR will do the same for steel guitar. He is reaching so many new people with his music, that it has to be good for the instrument,both PSG & LS. |
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Savell Member From: |
posted 09 January 2004 09:19 AM
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. [This message was edited by Savell on 31 May 2005 at 01:12 PM.] |
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Joe Henry Member From: Ebersberg, Germany |
posted 09 January 2004 10:54 AM
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quote: I haven“t really heard a whole lot of Robert“s playing yet, but one tune immediately comes to mind, "Garden Of Love" by the Demolition String Band, a big favorite of mine. Even though it“s a driving rock song, RR plays some real sweet, unobtrusive, clean background licks. I“m sure he can do a lot more than what he“s usually associated with. Regards, Joe H. |
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Dan Tyack Member From: Seattle, WA USA |
posted 09 January 2004 11:08 AM
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Charlie said: quote: I have heard this from a number of country players. While I suppose there are some superficial similarities between some aspects of Roberts playing and the rock stuff that Joe does, they are completely different. I understand how people who don't like this kind of music might say that they sound alike, but it's like classical (or rock or jazz) listeners who hate country listening to country and can't hear the difference between Pete Drake and Buddy Emmons or Bashful Brother Oswald ('sounds like twangy noise to me'). Trust me, there is a difference. I'm not saying one is good, and the other is bad, they are just completely different animals. ------------------ [This message was edited by Dan Tyack on 09 January 2004 at 11:09 AM.] |
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Ron Page Member From: Cincinnati, OH USA |
posted 09 January 2004 01:42 PM
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quote: Well, yes and no, Bob. He's definitely raised the bar as far as diversity of the pedal steel. However, the fact that he's put it in a different room, as you say, means I don't have to play like him anymore that he should have to play like Lloyd Green, Weldon Myrick or (fill in the name of any great country steel guitarist). Have a great weekend everyone and let's all hope that Robert Randolph's success continues for many, many years. Pull for the guy because he's one of us. ------------------ |
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Gene Jones Member From: Oklahoma City, OK USA |
posted 09 January 2004 01:51 PM
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I would approach it the same way that I always did when someone wanted to hire me to play like Chalker or Emmons.....and that was, to go ahead and hire Chalker or Emmons! www.genejones.com |
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Frank Parish Member From: Nashville,Tn. USA |
posted 09 January 2004 05:57 PM
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I've heard Joe Wright play some r/r on his guitar but I don't remember it being in the same vain as RR. That's not to say Joe couldn't do it but that I didn't hear it that day. All r/r isn't the same believe it or not. If there can be rock, jazz, country, folk, etc, 6 string guitarists, bassists, horn players, just whatever, then why is RR so criticized because he plays a non-tradional style? It's an instrument that can be played in any style depending on the person behind it. For all of the hardcore country fans or just the anti-rock steelers, (that would be a little more like it I think) why would you want to keep the intsrument in just one or maybe two vains of music? Let me see here, if the drums originated from a log some African tribesman was beating on a gazillion years ago,(and it did) then where would Buddy Rich or Ringo Starr have been if it hadn't gone any further than the jungles of Africa? You can't just hold the thing in this place and time forever and RR thankfully doesn't think that way. You don't have to like the mans music or that style of playing but it broadens the instrument into other fields not yet explored. He's unique in that he plays a pedal steel in a not too traditional tuning in a different setting than most of us are used to seeing and he's also black. For all of the years I worked downtown Nashville only once did a black man come in and play my guitar. I know that this is probably bouncing right off the hardcore country guys here but just tell me if this guy can't play or has no talent then why is he drawing such huge crowds, playing on Letterman and just about every gig any one of us would die to do? I know Nine Inch Nails played some big gigs too but I think this guys a cut above. Sometimes being tradional can get you stuck in the mud. When I first started playing the PSG I played with a band that did mostly r/r and a whole lot of Elvis. Just about every steeler that walked in (no every one) didn't care for what I was doing. I think you should play in the context of the music and if you can't then you're in the wrong place. Now don't you know it would've sounded just great to play a lot crying steel guitar or maybe something that sounded more like it belonged in a Jack Green tune when we did Hunk Of Burning Love..or Hound Dog? Yeah Right! I think the steel guitar can blend into any style but it never will if the person behind it closes their mind and only plays everythig that's already been done. |
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Chris Lasher Member From: Athens, Georgia, USA |
posted 09 January 2004 07:03 PM
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quote: Different context, but it still applies here. Music is not a competition. There is room enough for everyone to play. I have Robert Randolph and the Family Band's Live at the Wetlands CD and I do enjoy it; listened to it today. I will continue to explore his music, and will catch his shows that come through here. I will say that RR has done wonders in exposing the instrument to people of my generation. The few friends of mine who have heard the words "pedal steel guitar" know what it means because "that's the thing that Robert Randolph plays." He is a hard working musician and an excellent ambassador, in my opinion. I find likening him to Jimi Hendrix is off. I think Hendrix blew people away not because of his fuzzed-out guitar and onstage energy, but because of his songs. I feel Hendrix composed, whereas I feel Randolph finds grooves and jams with them. Different approaches to music. |
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Chris Walke Member From: St Charles, IL |
posted 10 January 2004 07:26 AM
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"this is not a race" - Jerry Douglas Yeah! Easy for him to say!! |
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Jack Musgrave Member From: Rogersville, Missouri, USA |
posted 10 January 2004 09:21 AM
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All I can say that if I was a steel guitar manufacturer, I would be burning the midnight oil to come up with a student model RR guitar to sell in the music stores along side the six strings. look at your customer base that is just sitting there waiting on guitars inspired by this guys playing, not to mention future customer base. do it NOW before a big guitar company grabs the idea and runs with it and makes millions. A good friend once told me timing is everything. I would do it now |
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Gene Jones Member From: Oklahoma City, OK USA |
posted 10 January 2004 09:54 AM
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"This is not a race." --Jerry Douglas One of my first employers in the music business 40 years ago said about the same thing..... "Play for the people and keep it simple and close to the melody. Pay no attention to that two or three musicians that may be in the audience....they don't sign your check!..... |
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Mark van Allen Member From: loganville, Ga. USA |
posted 10 January 2004 10:26 AM
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These RR threads fascinate me with the divisiveness they bring out- It appears the only place Robert's music is really controversial is within the steel community! The Steel guitar, pedaled or not, is an instrument, a type of guitar perhaps, that can play, be, or represent anything. I truly understand the love of one style or genre above others- but the masters of every style I can think of drew from the styles and ideas of past masters and their contemporaries in other genres. Jazz, Country, Bluegrass, Western Swing... were all born from several/many styles and continue to evolve via assimilation. Buddy Emmons would certainly not be the player or influence that he is if he'd stuck to copying, say, only Joaquin... his explorations into Pat Martino's guitar stylings brought a lot to the Steel Guitar table that many other players have appreciated and accepted as "Steel stuff". What if Jeff Beck, Marcel Dadi, Lenny Breau, Danny Gatton, Mark Knopler, or any number of other greats had chosen to confine their influences to Chet Atkins? The beauty and emotional content of original playing owes much to exploration, openmindedness, and the freedom from fear of new ideas and directions. I would think we'd all welcome any succesful new stylist as a breath of fresh air. ------------------ |
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Bobby Lee Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA |
posted 10 January 2004 11:10 AM
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Gene Jones wrote: quote:Today's audiences are less impressed by simple melodies, and more impressed by energy and showmanship. The people who "sign the checks" know this, which is why Robert is making a lot more money than you or I, Gene. Dan Tyack wrote: [quote]I have heard this from a number of country players. While I suppose there are some superficial similarities between some aspects of Roberts playing and the rock stuff that Joe does, they are completely different. ... I understand how people who don't like this kind of music might say that they sound alike, but it's like classical (or rock or jazz) listeners who hate country listening to country and can't hear the difference between Pete Drake and Buddy Emmons or Bashful Brother Oswald ('sounds like twangy noise to me'). Trust me, there is a difference.[quote]I understand what you're saying, Dan. Joe's approach is more rock'n'roll, and Robert comes at things from more of a gospel/blues/funk direction. Their hand techniques are radically different. Joe uses a distortion effects unit, while Robert uses an overdriven amplifier - a big difference, tone-wise. ------------------ |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 10 January 2004 03:44 PM
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Y'know, I think one of the most important things about Robert's success for the rest of us who are not sacred steelers, is that he has proven beyond a doubt that a pedal steel guitarist, sitting down can successfully front a band and reach a major level of public notoriety. You have to play with confidence, energy and connect with your audience in a way that most steelers have not committed themselves to do. But the lesson here is that it CAN be done. That's a big deal, in my book. |
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Eric West Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA |
posted 10 January 2004 04:22 PM
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Jim. I Just noted this in an above post in this section. It probably will destroy my Career. I can only hope.... EJL |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 10 January 2004 08:24 PM
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Well, Eric, I don't claim to have any "new" ideas; I just try to state them a little more succinctly...  |
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JB Arnold Member From: Longmont,Co,USA |
posted 10 January 2004 09:12 PM
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jeez this gets repetitive. "Someone's gonna get famous, make a bunch of money and do wonders for the advancement of pedal steel in modern music. But they'll be more well known to the general public than Emmons." "Get a rope...." JB http://www.nrpsmusic.com/index.html [This message was edited by JB Arnold on 10 January 2004 at 09:13 PM.] |
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Chris Erbacher Member From: Sausalito, California, USA |
posted 12 January 2004 11:13 PM
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i have seen and heard RR play a the fillmore here in san fran and the guy, i think, can play just about anything he wants to. i saw him with a nash 1000, a fender twin, and a mesa boogie with a 4x10 cab. he had a switch on the right leg of his steel and was going back and forth all night. for my tastes, i am not into his tone, blues wise. i am not too much into the blues and generally prefer a major scale oriented, clean sound than a minor blues overdriven sound, my ears just can't take too much distortion. he was lightning fast and very charismatic, destined to be an all time great and maybe the buy who takes the steel to the next level as far as people noticing it and knowing what it is. he reminded me of hendrix with his playing and had the crowd worked up, which i guess, is good entertaining. any time anyone causes this much controversy with the traditional crowd, you know someone is doing something right. with music, there aren't many rules, and beside the general rules of time signatures and keys, the rest are meant to be broken, that is why there are so many different types of music to choose from. to each his own, the guy can pick. |
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Tony Prior Member From: Charlotte NC |
posted 13 January 2004 02:24 AM
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Well I would just say that Eric was dead on many entries up.. Someone stated that if RR got on the Opry because of his new style that would be noted as a positive change of the times..and don't get me wong, I think it would be awesome for him to get some Opry TV time..just as Austin City Limits etc.. But.. We wouldn't need the change of the times to acknowlege our Instrument if it had been given the respect it is long overdue. Yes, why not Buddy Emmons , Paul Franklin or Loyd Green etc..given a spot out front playing one of the thousands of tunes that probably everyone would be able to identify with..I suspect this would bring the house down... RR is a great talent for sure but if the future is to separate the Steel from it's roots..then the branches and leaves at the top will be the first to whither... I have a family member ( not immediate) that tells me that I need to play like RR and get out of this awfull Country Music mode that I have been in for 30 years... And I said " And you can go... (censored)" I suspect that even RR learned how to play Sleepwalk..what does that tell ya.... Let there be another "Sleepwalk" and I suspect even RR would play it on his gigs ! Even the largest ship in the sea can be turned around... t [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 13 January 2004 at 02:29 AM.] |
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Rainer Hackstaette Member From: Bohmte, Germany |
posted 13 January 2004 07:54 AM
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quote: This month's edition of the German guitar magazine "Gitarre & Bass" features an interview with Robert. G&B: At your concerts, do people ask you what it is that you are playing? (My translation) Rainer ------------------ |
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Chris Erbacher Member From: Sausalito, California, USA |
posted 13 January 2004 09:48 AM
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if you guys get a chance to see him live, you will see that he has good intentions, smiling all the time. maybe someone like b0b can interview him and post the interview here, asking all the questions we ask and debate about here, to put things to rest a bit. i'm starting a new post to take questions to ask him, and i will get ahold of him and do the interview and post it here  |
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Tony Prior Member From: Charlotte NC |
posted 13 January 2004 10:08 AM
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statement from above... "That is why I am in the process of starting my own company. I want to have inexpensive instruments built that everybody can afford" ok..sounds like a plan.. [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 13 January 2004 at 10:09 AM.] |
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John McGann Member From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
posted 13 January 2004 11:02 AM
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wasn't there also a lot of bitching and moaning when the steelers of the 70's started using phase shifters, fuzz boxes and Mutrons, etc.?  |
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JB Arnold Member From: Longmont,Co,USA |
posted 13 January 2004 04:19 PM
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Yes, and as you can see, nothing has changed. You are occasionally permitted the use of an approved minor chord, but only once a night. JB ------------------ |
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Chris Lasher Member From: Athens, Georgia, USA |
posted 13 January 2004 04:20 PM
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They had phase shifters in the 70s!? Wow, I didn't know they had that stuff all the way back the!. I thought all they had was, like, just amps that were kinda loud, but not as loud as the ones today. ...I KEEEEEeeeeeed, I keeeed! |
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Carter York Member From: Austin, TX [Windsor Park] |
posted 13 January 2004 04:43 PM
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...and didn't they use the ...... "TALK BOX" in the 60's!?!?!? It still haunts us today. At least if you listen to classic rock radio. or cheesy old steel guitar records. or L7. or Pong. but anyway, now isn't Pete Drake considered to be one of the 'tamest' players of his generation? Carter |
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Drew Howard Member From: Mason, MI, U.S.A. |
posted 13 January 2004 07:42 PM
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JB, Ouch, thank you! thanks, ------------------ |
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JB Arnold Member From: Longmont,Co,USA |
posted 13 January 2004 10:11 PM
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Hi Drew! Sorry, I don't make the rules, I just make fun of 'em. To apply for change, you'll have to file a request with the council of reverse advancement, dept OAITW, in Scranton. At least you'll be ignored with the best of 'em. peace JB
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Savell Member From: |
posted 14 January 2004 08:07 AM
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. [This message was edited by Savell on 31 May 2005 at 01:11 PM.] |
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CrowBear Schmitt Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France |
posted 14 January 2004 10:06 AM
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Robert will be playing the 2004 Grammys http://grammys.com/news/academy/2004/0113perf01.aspx gonna be Fonky  (i'm on the side w:all those who dig Robert  ) |
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Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 14 January 2004 11:16 AM
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Yowza! You go Robert!! |
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Donny Hinson Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A. |
posted 14 January 2004 03:00 PM
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quote: I don't think it's the fact that he plays what we call a "non-traditional" steel guitar style that bothers people. It's the simple fact that he's gotten so much attention and so many accolades playing this style. Well folks, that's "show business" for ya'. That which is new and different just sells a whole lot better. If RR played and acted like the vast majority of our favorite steelers, he'd have never seen the light of Leno's and Letterman's stages, regardless of how good he was. To put it quite frankly, John Q. Public don't know squat about talent and ability, but he can spot "different", "style" and "showmanship" a mile away!
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Chris Erbacher Member From: Sausalito, California, USA |
posted 14 January 2004 07:22 PM
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right on donny! |
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Wayne Cox Member From: Chatham, Louisiana, USA |
posted 14 January 2004 08:02 PM
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What little notoriety I have is based on my pedal steel playing, but recently I had an interesting experience. I'm sure there's a message in this story...but I'm not exactly sure what it is. I was called to do a short 2 hour job with a local R&B band,so I showed up with S-10 non-pedal steel and played the gig. A fellow came up to me and said "Wow, you are great;you sound just like RR!" I thanked him,but I really had mixed emotions about it. I highly respect Robert Randolph,but I've always been known primarily as a country picker. The experience left me wondering if I did something wrong or did something right! ~~W.C.~~ |
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Chris Erbacher Member From: Sausalito, California, USA |
posted 14 January 2004 11:35 PM
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sounds to me like you did something right, i mean, from your description it sounds like the guy liked your picking. as an entertainer and musician, i would think that anytime you make someone listening to you feel good, you did something right, no matter what kind of licks you were playing. when i was first playing banjo with my friends around campfires and informal gatherings, people would remark at how they enjoyed it, but in my mind wasn't doing anything special, and kind of got embarrased from their remarks. in my mind i wasn't that good. then one day someone told me that i needed to learn how to take a compliment, i had never had anyone tell me that before. i guess beauty is in the ears of the beholder.... |
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Bob Stone Member From: Gainesville, FL, USA |
posted 15 January 2004 06:36 AM
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Robert Randolph has been nominated for TWO Grammys: Best Rock Instrumental and Best Rock Gospel Album. I'm sure he'll win one of those and he may win both. Frankly, I believe all this dialogue on the Forum is good--not always pleasant, but good. People are speaking their minds and being confronted with ideas and opinions that might get them thinking about some relevant issues. Go Robert! |
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