Law of Steel and Resonator Guitar on the same Stage?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 8 May 2008 1:00 am

I play every Sunday in the house band for a jam session. While it is the responsibility of the jammer to fit in, it is also the resposibility of the house band members to give him his/her moment to shine. We have a fiddle player come in and often times the guitar player or I give up our solo or fills for the jammer to do his thing. Our jam is limited to 2 songs per jammer unless it's someone like another steel player or this fiddle player (he's pretty good). Since they have to haul in equipment, we usually let them play more. There is usually no more than one jammer at a time on stage.

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 8 May 2008 4:35 am

I've played with dobroist Jack Loree lots of times in jams in our area and it's always been a blast. As long as the regular jam rules are maintained (giving room to the vocalist and alternatively the soloists) every thing is fine. If there's 3 leads you might want to split up the steel and dobro for the sake of contrast. Also in a jam, we tend to turn down for the dobro solos as he's not usually as cutting as the other instruments, even with a pickup.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 8 May 2008 10:01 am

someone should give the steel man a copy of 'Slidin Smoke' by Mike Auldridge and Jeff Newman. Or 'Corn Pickin and Slick Slidin' by James Burton and Ralph Mooney. or how 'bout that version of dueling banjos with steel and dobro?

One of my favorite country songs of all time features steel and dobro: "We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds" by George Jones and Melba Montgomery.

there are so many great examples. that steel player sounds very unprofessional (that's putting it nicely)...

Derrick Frank · Post by **Derrick Frank** » 8 May 2008 10:09 am

Just sit back and listen, if the band or the other instrumentalist thow you a bone, go for in, if the other musicians take all the frills, you will be conspicuous by your absence, and sooner or later someone will notice and throw you a space.
Some of the best playing together I ever heard, was the Desert Rose Band, on the album, Life Goes On,and I saw them live, and they were just the same, Brill, what fun it must be to play with a bunch of guys like that.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 8 May 2008 10:31 am

It's unfair to compare a recording to a live jam situation,The studio is a controlled environment .If I'm the new guy on stage I won't play any fills or solos unless there is some sort of eye contact,or someone throws me the ball.If a couple of hot heads are trying to out do each other,Take it outside.

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 8 May 2008 11:17 am

The Big E is all over Josh Graves' Sultan of Slide album.

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 8 May 2008 1:41 pm

A player is either bandwise and knows when to play and when to stay out of the way or he/she doesn't and it makes no difference what instrument the "musician" plays. It is my opinion that this attribute is as important as being able to play well and even more so. Two steels, two lead guitars, twin fiddles, steel and dobro, doesn't matter as long as one doesn't walk on the other. I think a person can be an average player and be a good musician but I don't consider a great player who continuously plays over everyone else as much of a musician.
Jerry

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 8 May 2008 2:47 pm

Right on Jerry!

Gary C. Dygert · Post by **Gary C. Dygert** » 9 May 2008 8:17 am

It looks like everybody's right!

Just one question for Bo: argent? As in silvery white? I too have luxuriant argent locks. Maybe it improves our playing.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 9 May 2008 8:36 am

I think Jerry nailed it,,,

I nominate Jerry's comment as law!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 9 May 2008 8:48 am

i second the emotion...

Carroll Hale · Post by **Carroll Hale** » 9 May 2008 8:55 am

all of the above comments and reasons are good arguments for "playing in small groups of folks you know who can share the spotlite with others"...always leads to a better time...lots more fun and a whole lot less headaches/stomach aches...

too many musicians have egos that are bigger than their talents

jmho......

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 9 May 2008 9:14 am

you're right carroll...there's nothing better than a small group of like minded pickers who can produce a beautiful sound!

Dale Bessant · Post by **Dale Bessant** » 9 May 2008 12:55 pm

Great responses gang, I feel the same as most of you and I think a professional attitude is a must ....being an open jam everyone should enjoy the moment and possibly learn from one another as well...thanks guys...keep pickin....

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 9 May 2008 1:26 pm

is the offending steeler a forumite?

Dale Bessant · Post by **Dale Bessant** » 9 May 2008 4:52 pm

Steve,I am not 100 percent positive on the status of the offending steel player as far as membership is but I did check the forum list and did not see his name there... $:\$

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 9 May 2008 4:59 pm

that would be awkward.....

be interesting to see his take on things tho

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 11 May 2008 11:14 am

I think Jerry's got the right perspective... along with other factors in musicality, a little subjugation of personal ego, and a willingness to leave room for other players, not only makes a jam or sit-in situation more fun, it lays the groundwork for what might be magic.
Here's a couple of pics from last Friday night at the Day Festival in Buckhead, GA., when my pal Roosevelt Lee from the Lee Boys Sacred Steel Band sat in for our set with Blueground Undergrass. You probably can't get more different in style and approach than our two bands, but it was truly one of the most fun gigs I've EVER played. No clashing, no stepping on each other, just a great flow of steel from different worlds. Not only was it major fun for the crowd, but there was truly magic on stage. What a wonderful treat.

This one just kills me- Fiddler extraordinaire David Blackmon egging us on. Life is good!

Bobby Caldwell · Post by **Bobby Caldwell** » 11 May 2008 1:27 pm

"The Big E" and Shot Jackson recorded alot of sessions with PSG and Dobro and it sounded wonderful. One year,at the ISGC in St. Louis, LLoyd Green and Tommy White played PSG and Dobro and sounded awsome. I don't get it. I for one like that sound. Bobby

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Law of Steel and Resonator Guitar on the same Stage?

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