The Elite Few

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 31 Mar 2008 9:56 am

Here's one you can wrap your love around...

Believe it or not, I like being one of the elite few who plays PSG. You get to stand out in a crowd. I don't really want there to be too many players at any given time; in fact, there may be a few too many now. I like it this way. Its a big reason why I started playing the instrument to begin with. I mean there are six string guitar players on every street corner, many of them much better players than I will ever be, but steels? No. There's another guy here with an old S10 BMI and me. Two of us, and I wish he'd quit so I could stand alone.

Will the steel ever die out if we don't push it off on the young'ns? No. There will always be a few guitar players who are drawn to the sound of PSG regardless of how they choose to play it. But I'd just as soon keep that few down to a few hundred tops, and that might even be too many.

I don't suppose any of you guys would be willing to step down so I can stand out even more?

No? Didn't think so.

Stingy, selfish, self-absorbed, egotisical, self-centered,

Joe

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 31 Mar 2008 10:03 am

Joe, we need to party .....

John Jeffries · Post by **John Jeffries** » 31 Mar 2008 11:10 am

Yeah......I know what you mean...I'm a real good steel player - I do a fantastic job, better even, if I'm on stage or out in public - that is till another steel player shows up!! Oh well, I'm really only doin' it for my own amazement.....

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 31 Mar 2008 11:51 am

I am not going to quit playing in public for money until I'm past the point of being pitiful, and nobody feels sorry for me.

Harley James, a local friend, and much better player has made this pact with me. Neither one of us are going to.

Some have said that I've arrived, but I'm going to be the judge of that.

Sorry.

EJL

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 31 Mar 2008 12:51 pm

Thanks guys,

Its not that I don't like competition, I just don't like competition that is better than I am, which pretty much includes everyone but the brand spanking new still shiny day old newby who doesn't know how to wear the finger picks or hold the bar. On a good night, I can probably go up against that player and hold my own.

Joe

I might have Alzheimer's, but at least I don't have Alzheimer's.

Larry Scott · Post by **Larry Scott** » 31 Mar 2008 1:00 pm

The elite few ?

I thought ya'll was speaking of Gary Gimble

Jim Walker · Post by **Jim Walker** » 31 Mar 2008 1:31 pm

Funny Joe. As far as I know I'm the only working steel player in the little circle of clubs we play. It does give me some pleasure to be Numero Uno. The bands that I play with seem to have elevated their status by having me on stage. People around here go nuts almost every time I play a solo. A few times I even got a standing ovation. I've only been playing steel for 2 years and 3 months. It makes me wonder how the crowd would react to a Good Steel Player. Ha!

JW

www.myspace.com/jimwalkeronline

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 31 Mar 2008 2:31 pm

Jim,

Thats what I'm saying. Feels good doesn't it? Who needs competition?

Joe

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 31 Mar 2008 3:04 pm

What town in Montana do you live in?

I used to live in Red Lodge in the 80's.
Yep, not alot of steelers then either.
Two guys from Billings...
Jim Bob Garrett
Homer (I was told it was short for "Home Run"), he played fiddle, too.

Me, in Red Lodge.
Ric Epperle's Dad over in Cody.

A guy in Bozeman, I think?

Stone Mt Johnny had a steel playin' multi instrument guy, I think they were from Missoula.

A coupla guys played steel with Sawmill Creek outta Jackson Hole.... Jimmy C, and Steve.

Maybe there were a few more than I remember.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 31 Mar 2008 3:10 pm

Cool!

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 31 Mar 2008 3:29 pm

Stingy, selfish, self-absorbed, egotisical, self-centered,

That about says it all.

"Elite few"?

Now we're (excuse me...I will not include myself in that group) *you're* placing yourself in a category ABOVE other musicians?

In another thread you didn't want more steel players that are "dinks" because they'll ruin the image.

Now you're king of the hill. Now "hundreds" of steel players are too many. Maybe you need everyone else to quit so you can buy a gig?

Get over yourself, dude. You're just a guitar player who happens to sit down and use a bar. You're no better than a drummer, harmonica cat, or someone who plays 4 notes on a homemade ocarina.

One thing you're sure as hell not is a team player. With that kind of attitude, you'd be the first guy I'd fire as a bandleader, no matter if you had the greatest chops on the planet.

"Elite few" my a**...

All I see is "Keep the riff-raff away so I can be cool"

The door is over here

Don't let the knob hit your gold-plated tushie on the way out.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 31 Mar 2008 3:48 pm

Jim,
Whatever...

Joe

Wally Taylor · Post by **Wally Taylor** » 31 Mar 2008 4:30 pm

Well, I'll tell you guys what!! I for one, happen to be the best steel guitar player at my house. I also happen to be the worst steel player at my house. wonder if being the only steel guitar player at my house has anything to do with it
Hey Jim, I think Joe was really kinda talking tongue-in-cheek there. Hells bells, I wish there were as many steel players as 6 string guitar players so that I could pick up a few pointers. Wouldn't hurt my feelings any. I will consider it a real milestone when I am good enough to be able to pass on information to others and help them out.
Wally

Ron Frederiksen · Post by **Ron Frederiksen** » 31 Mar 2008 4:37 pm

Hey Joe, I sure am glad there are some good steel players around me , Like Jerry Roller, Jerry Newberry, Austin Stewart, Jerry Knapper and several more. I can go and get some help any time I need some. Still stay busy every Sat. night +.. Have a ball out your way.. Ron

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 31 Mar 2008 5:02 pm

Jim,
Whatever...

Joe

No real response as you have nothing to say that doesn't prove that you have a fully closed-minded attitude about the steel guitar and the music that should be played on it.

Wally, it was not tongue-in-cheek. Go read his other posts in the "drawing young people to shows" thread.

I've never read such a run of posts that discourage musicianship...ever.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 31 Mar 2008 6:22 pm

Jim,

Thanks alot for all your kind words. I feel the same way about you.

Have a nice evening.

Joe

8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)

Ron,
Jerry Roller is a really good guy. When I was replacing the pickups in my Magnum a while back, Jerry offered to be near the phone in case I needed some help. I wish I had some guys like him around here.

Joe

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 31 Mar 2008 6:41 pm

KUMBAYA, MY LORD, KUMBAYAAAAA.....

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 31 Mar 2008 7:03 pm

Jim S., I disagree with a lot of stuff Joe says. But you are completely misreading him here. He's just saying he enjoys playing an instrument not many other people play (at least around where he lives), so there's not a lot of competition. Look at these statements. He even admits many 6-stringers are better than he will ever be. And he's not saying he is an elite top steeler, just that he's elite because he is the only one around. Didn't you notice the laughing emoticon?

Joe Drivdahl wrote:...I like being one of the elite few who plays PSG. ...I mean there are six string guitar players on every street corner, many of them much better players than I will ever be, but steels? No. There's another guy here with an old S10 BMI and me. Two of us, and I wish he'd quit so I could stand alone...I'd just as soon keep that few down to a few hundred tops, and that might even be too many.

I don't suppose any of you guys would be willing to step down so I can stand out even more?

No? Didn't think so.

Stingy, selfish, self-absorbed, egotisical, self-centered,

Joe

I'm sure many of us have felt grateful at times that there was not another steeler in the house to hear what hacks we are at our instrument.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 31 Mar 2008 7:07 pm

Jim Cohen,

I love it! Thats great!

Thanks Dave,

I said it before and I'll say it again, you are one fine gentleman. I am trying to emulate your patience.

Joe

Stuart Legg · Post by **Stuart Legg** » 31 Mar 2008 7:25 pm

Jim Sliff...

I've never read such a run of posts that discourage musicianship...ever.

Nothing discourages me more than a running post.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 31 Mar 2008 7:38 pm

Jim S., I think you've misplaced your sensayuma.

I know what Joe is saying. I have people who hire me for steel, and I live in a relatively large metropolitan area. I am conflicted between my genuine wish for the best for all humanity, including those people, and my hope that they never discover the other local players who are so much better than me! I feel guilty, but Hey, they seem to like what I do--if they don't know any better, who am I to disillusion them?

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 31 Mar 2008 7:57 pm

Thanks alot for all your kind words. I feel the same way about you.

Joe, I haven't discouraged you from playing your music, dissed you style, or told you your dress or music are not "appropriate" for the steel guitar.

But that's exactly what you HAVE said in this and other threads about anyone and everyone outside what YOU personally like.

Guys, to get the full context you have to read his posts in other threads, He has a running commentary regarding the purity of existing steel players, insults musicians outside his style, and says he'd rather have the instrument disappear than have...let me see if I can get it close from memory..."...a dink with a cap turned backwards and his pants halfway down playing it".

Really an encouraging fellow for other musicians to emulate. Very open minded and loves to hear new approaches to steel playing.

Sarcasm fully intended.

This is a fellow who would rather see steel companies go out of business and use of the instrument shrivel and die than see it used in a (for example) hard rock band.

Why?

That's what I'd really like to see answered in an intelligent way.

Why does it matter to you, Joe, what OTHER players do with the steel guitar? How does it affect your quality of life...and do you care at all that these other players (and listeners) may get enjoyment from THEIR music?

Or does the "purity" override your respect for others?

Please answer with something more than "whatever" - because I am truly curious why you have such a vehement disrespect for other musicians.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 31 Mar 2008 8:05 pm

Jim S., with all due respect (seriously), I think your remarks in the foregoing couple of posts belong in a different thread than this one.

Joe, I haven't discouraged you from playing your music, dissed you style, or told you your dress or music are not "appropriate" for the steel guitar.

But that's exactly what you HAVE said in this and other threads about anyone and everyone outside what YOU personally like.

If you reread Joe's post that began this thread, I think you'll see it has nothing whatsoever to do with what you're talking about in the post quoted above.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 31 Mar 2008 8:47 pm

Why?

That's what I'd really like to see answered in an intelligent way.

Jim,
My better judgement tells me to ignore you because this might just be a ploy to entice me into a fight with name-calling and what have you, and although I have induldged in that sort of behavior before, I will not anymore. So I will try to explain my position to you.

First of all, I can find nowhere on the post you mention where I attacked you personally. It was you who came at me with malice about what I said about the hippies ruining the fiddle meets. But this is not the issue. You want to know why feel empowered to judge what is music and what isn't.

Ok, when I took music theory in college, I learned the rules of Western (hemisphere) music. I didn't write these rules, but they are what music was based on during certain periods in history:

Renaissance 1450-1600

Baroque 1600-1750

Classical 1750-1820

Romantic 1820-1910

Modern 1910-Present

Each of these periods had its own set of rules that became more relaxed as we progress closer to the present. These rules were observed by all composers. A trained ear can tell you what composition is from what period just by listening to it. So as we have progressed forward in time, music has moved further and further away from the rules until almost anything is considered music if its played on a musical intrument. I don't want to be a proponent of this "decomposition" (pun intended) of music.

So what I am saying is that for me, music should conform to some of these rules to be considered music. Its no more of a personal choice than 3+2=5. We can say we perfer 3+2 to equal 7, but its not going to. Its going to be 5 everytime.

Now I realize this might be an idealist point of view, but thats what I know; its how I was trained.

So this is seriously how I feel I can decide what is music and what isn't. Its not a personal attack on anyone, I am just following the rules setforth by the great composers who came before us before all the rules of music had been broken.

Now there is another school of thought that maybe you subscribe to: "Its close enough for rock and roll."

Ok.

To each his own.

Joe

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 31 Mar 2008 9:28 pm

Joe Drivdahl wrote: I don't suppose any of you guys would be willing to step down so I can stand out even more?
Joe

Well I will, Joe, but you probably won't notice any dramatic change.

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