Lookin' For The Best Reply..

[Alan Brookes]

The response to "...I don't like Country and Western"
is "Nobody is perfect."

[Marc Mercer]

Bill, I'd whip out some Shakespeare on 'em -

Statement: "I don't like Country."

Reply: "The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils."

Cuts as good today as it did 400 years ago!

[LJ Eiffert]

Let's see,it all starts with Country Radio Dee Jay's that most of them are rock N Rollers & can't get a job in their field so they have to do it somewhere for a livelyhood,Country. Here just in L.A. alone was had Charlie Tuner and before that was our late friend Gene Weed and then came along was the histoians Peter Tilden for Country Music all by reading it from a computer with a little help from real country artist who figgers it well help his or her career by kissing up to them as country Dee Jay's. But this is all across the United States and, it starts where? It's just big big business for the one's who run the game and have the name & fame. Go Country,we are Young Country, so what's missing? Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. & Pigeons with Clip Wings.

[John Steele (deceased)]

I usually just say:
"Which country ?"

Thank you, Monty Alexander.
-John

[Bill Hankey]

The responses suggested by forum members, to date, are literally worth their weight in gold. It just goes to show that many hands make light work, and a dozen heads are better than one in the thick of battle. The condemnation of traditional country by experimental individuals, who test the waters of a proven medium of entertainment, leaves much to be desired in definitive musical tastes. The certainty of taking notes from the proffered seismic responses is assured.

[Ken Metcalf]

Wrinkle nose, smile and nod knowingly.

[Bo Legg]

Most times I don't know what Mr Hankey's posts are about... but I can't help but check it out when he posts and I can't help but reply. Mr Hankey gets more lookers as you can see it's already over 17 hundred on this post and just look at all the replies. I have to say that Mr Hankey's posts are like an ON GOING SOAP OPERA FOR THE INSANE and since we all reply, "I THINK THAT MAKES US A LITTLE SUSPECT."

[Theresa Galbraith]

What does this have to do with Steel Players?

[Brint Hannay]

Theresa, good question. Many Steel Guitar Forum members play "country" music--some of them play ONLY "country" music. Some play "new" "country", some play "classic" "country". However one may feel about this phenomenon, a large percentage of steel players have one or another connection with and/or interest in "country" music. Hence, a thread about public reactions to "country" music, and how a steel guitar performer might respond to same, does have at least SOME relevance here. IMO only, of course.

Your larger point (is this your point?) that steel guitar and country music are not synonymous or joined at the hip is enthusiastically endorsed by me and many others.

[Bill Hankey]

Theresa,

You can't be serious! Steel players thrive on a sense of pride, especially complimentary feedback from attending audiences. How would you feel if I asked; what does make-up have to do with feeling beautiful? In all probabilities you would be hard pressed to say: Oh nothing! Quite often, I don't even bother with using make-up! I don't really care what people think of me in my professional life! From what I gather, your association with steel guitarists, commands more intuitive restraints than the brevity of your inquiry. I would love to pursue this notion that you have entertained, regarding relevancies in their order of importance. Between catnaps, before I read your rejoinder, another response paraded as more prominent than business as usual. I had thought of what may be a rejoinder as effective as many that were submitted by forum members. When a spirited attendee waltzes up the steel, glowing with pretenses, I will shuffle about with hesitation, waiting to hear what the stranger has to say. It's "funny" how most steel guitarists possess uncanny abilities to spot true captivation. The small percentages who wish to decend upon a steel player's pique, will utter; "I don't like country music!" In the first instance, I'll reply; I hope it's not "catching"! Trying to deal with captious 1nquiries is even more difficult, as they probe with a deeper resentment into a meaningful form of entertainment.

[Paul Papanek]

Mr. Hankey -

You state (and I quote you verbatim) "As you must know, most forum members are of the friendly types...". But, as I pointed out in one of my previous posts, you began this thread by asking the Forum "friendly types" for mean-spirited rejoinders to use to make people feel bad (but to make you, yourself feel good) when they make what you perceive as a negative comment about (your preferred style of) country music or country music in general.

Waaaaahhhhh! She said she didn't like country music! Waaaahhhh! She ruined my day forever! Waaaaahhhh!! She's a...a...a.. doodyhead! Yeah! A doodyhead!!

Mr. Hankey, how old are you? What are you trying to accomplish here? Geez!

pp

[Bill Hankey]

Paul,

This is the second time you've twisted wording to apparently ridicule anything that I might have written. Firstly, you cleverly twisted the original statement that I made about cylinder recordings, which BTW put me on constant guard by reviewing your quotes made out of context. If anyone wishes to find verifiable written material, it will prove beyond doubt, that the intent of a critic, who resorts to this sort of duplicity, may be contriving or setting out to somehow discredit viable subject matter.

[Pete Finney]

never mind...

[Dave Mudgett]

Steel players thrive on a sense of pride, especially complimentary feedback from attending audiences.

Bill, I think everybody likes a certain degree of complimentary feedback. However, I don't think it's remotely reasonable to expect everybody to like what I'm doing. In fact, a large number of people close to me just flat out don't like country music in general and steel guitar in particular. These are not cold, shallow people who, as several have suggested, are too stupid to appreciate it. They just like different music. What's the big deal?

Even more pointedly - how come it's OK for many here to frequently exclaim "Hey, I don't like [insert your favorite style to hate] music - in fact I don't even consider that rubbish music.", but argue that someone who says they don't like country music is an insensitive moron?

[Paul Papanek]

Mr. Hankey -

Would you mind giving me examples of how I've twisted your words? I'm using your quotes. I'm not making anything up. Nor am I taking anything out of context, as you suggest. I think that you're avoiding responding directly to my replies because you have no responses that adequately address the issues that I've brought up.

[Bill Hankey]

Dave M.,

There is one point of interest that you've "skirted" around. It is a rare occasion to witness a true country music fan approaching a rock oriented misfit in a country band, and troubling that individual with abrasive comments. This is the injustice of having to absorb snide remarks made by those who purposely chip at the walls of a well established musical genre.

[Bill Hankey]

Paul,

I choose to refrain from becoming involved with characteristic sniping, that is recognizable through the symbolical verbiage in one's terminology. My main attraction to the steel guitar has been from the start, it's incomparable compatibility with country music. A lot of diversified experimental figures are finding no satisfaction in attempting to rearrange this distinction.

[Dave Mudgett]

It is a rare occasion to witness a true country music fan approaching a rock oriented misfit in a country band, and troubling that individual with abrasive comments.

I'm not sure what that has to do with what I said. I was talking about people who tell me, for whatever reason, that they don't like country music, which is what I thought this was about. I reread your OP, and I don't see any reference whatever to "rock-oriented misfits" in a country band.

But even what you're saying is not true, in my experience. I play lots of styles of music, including country, blues, rock, and others. Believe me, if I'm playing with stone-cold country players and interject a long Albert King style blues bend, I may well hear about it, positive or negative, depending on their proclivities - audience OR band members - and they're not always diplomatic about it, to say the least. Similarly, if I'm playing with blues or rock players and I throw in a bunch of pedal-steel style Tele licks, I may hear about that, again positive or negative. Whatever.

There are times when I, personally, like to bend genres. Some people like it, others react violently. It's about personal preference and "When in Rome". If you go into a rock club and play nothing but stone-cold country, you should expect some negative feedback. Similarly the other way. Sometimes, one can skirt the boundaries just fine. Again - whatever.

IMO, most of the "hard genres" out there now got there by mixing earlier genres into something new. Are you really opposed to musicians mixing them? That would seem fairly narrow-minded, to me, not to mention the fact that some people are gonna like and do just that, regardless of what anybody here thinks or says about it.

I've seen plenty of "rock-oriented misfits" in country bands, and "country-oriented misfits" in rock bands. Too rock for country, too country for rock and roll - oh well, that probably describes me pretty well at times too. Sometimes I fit in just fine, sometimes I get hell. If I had a thin skin, I'd have just folded a long time ago.

In a band, it's about developing a consensus about what and how to play. As long as there's agreement, and one can find an audience, what's the beef?

All my opinions, of course.

[Bo Legg]

Theresa Galbraith...

What does this have to do with Steel Players?

Much to do about nothing as usual.

[Bill Hankey]

Dave M.,

Priorities can easily be moved about to satisfy just about any nameable quirky demand originating from biased flame throwers. Albeit management, will move to gain control of staging, bandmembers will opt for a setting that may resemble a squeeze play in major sports, A good bandleader will be there in an instant to quell insubordinate behaviorisms should they surface. Playing another's repertoire grudgingly is the shortest route to defeatism. Competition if heavily concentrated, will invariably reduce total earnings, and force a wider range of prospective employment.

[Paul Papanek]

I laughed out loud. Thanks for brightening my day (unintentional as it was, I'm sure).

"...through the symbolical verbiage in one's terminology...". You are, of course, talking about yourself, I assume?

And, later in the same post you state "A lot of diversified experimental figures are finding no satisfaction in attempting to rearrange this distinction."

Are you implying that Paul Franklin, for example, is experimenting with the PSG outside of traditional country music against his will? Is that why he has downloads on his website of his experimental music? So everyone can listen to it, hate it, and go running back to traditional country? I don't think so. Did Paul Franklin find no satisfaction playing with Dire Straights? Playing with "The Players?" And don't you think that some of the great jazz PSG players of our time successfully stepped beyond the boundaries of traditional country music to the betterment of all music and the PSG? Did Buddy Emmons find no satisfaction in doing that? I hardly think so. Does Mike Perlowin play Westside Story and find no satisfaction in that? I'm sure that other forum members have many more examples as equally valid, if not more so.

Bueler? Bueler?

pp

[chris ivey]

bill,
you can't be serious...

[Bill Hankey]

Paul P.,

I am curious about your insertion of Bueler? Bueler? They appear at the very end of your partisan comments that essentially trend to faddish endeavors. I presumed you may be referring to the Rancho Cotate High School versus Tim Bueler conflict. My main interest is to work toward meeting newcomers, who have a zest for the pedal steel guitar, and hopefully have a little knowledge of rhythm, timing, and a better choice of musical selections. It takes little time establishing which part of town an individual originated from; mainly through his music, and conversation. Those who have felt the grip of hard times, as opposed to the silver spoon jutting from the mouth cavity of personages, react in a much different manner to proffered friendship. Nothing can surpass the excitement of a student steel guitarist, when a new pattern of melodies are played for the first time. The same reactions can occur with seasoned musicians, who may be top of the class, save for a technique or two that slipped by their exhausting searches, to ferret out every detail. Chris Ivey commented after you that; "I can't be serious." When it comes down to trashing the country music, that I've enjoyed so long, I can be very serious. The popular consensus within the general populace is a noticeable change in support groups who proclaim to abound with integrity. I'm referring to radio, television, recording studios, and people who have been led to believe that people who prefer listening to country are lacking in making important distinctions. Franklin is intimidating, as his musical prowess constantly expands, like flood waters, searching for the vast outreaches of peripheries. Keep in mind that the beat goes on, and New England is far from lagging in producing some of the best pickers in America.

[Pete Finney]

your partisan comments that essentially trend to faddish endeavors

So NOW you're saying that all the many, many great players who've been playing pedal steel in ways outside YOUR narrow definition of "country" music are merely indulging in "faddish endeavors"??? Including of course Buddy Emmons and Paul Franklin who have been doing just that for many years (while at the same time setting many of the standards for playing country as well). That would be news to all of them of course. But then, you're the expert...

We've already learned from some of your previous posts that you believe:

That anyone who bends a string (!) on a six-string is showing a disrespect for the instrument equivalent to smashing it.

That anyone who uses fingerpicks on a steel has only themselves to blame for string breakage.


To me it's a wonder how anybody could ever take anything you say seriously...


Just my humble opinion of course!

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

" When it comes down to trashing the country music, that I've enjoyed so long, I can be very serious.

But was the young lady actually trashing it? Or merely expressing what kind of music she likes?

If I say "I don't like anchovies on my pizza" to somebody who loves them, is that challenging or dissing them?

Again, we don't know what the girl's attitude was. Maybe she really was being condescending and snotty, and maybe Bill you're reading something into her comment that wasn't there.

All I can say is that the anchovy industry isn't going to go belly up because I won't eat their product. Country music will survive despite this girl, and I think it's not worth getting upset over.