CA: Bay Area Steel Guitar Jam - July 26, Alameda

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 17 Jul 2008 7:10 pm

Unfortunately I'll be out of town that weekend. Have fun, everyone.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 20 Jul 2008 4:53 pm

Hey, everyone who will be coming to jam:

What songs do you want to play?

I'll be bringing my laptop with BIAB for the rhythm tracks. It would help to know in advance what songs to have queued up.

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 20 Jul 2008 7:46 pm

Hey Bobby, I'll be there. How about Steel Guitar Rag for starters?

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 21 Jul 2008 8:09 am

Hiya Bob, yup I'll be there on Saturday.

I've never been much for playing instrumentals, so I don't know what to tell you. I wanted to ask what you have so I might be thinking about it.

Look forward to meeting you and checking out your guitar as well.

SS

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 21 Jul 2008 8:42 am

Stephen Silver wrote:I've never been much for playing instrumentals, so I don't know what to tell you. I wanted to ask what you have so I might be thinking about it.

I have Jim Baron's BIAB files, which include most of the country and western swing standards (Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Bob Wills, Buck Owens, etc.). I also have some Hawaiian songs.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 22 Jul 2008 7:34 am

Hey b0b,

If it isn't a buncha work for you, would it be possible to post a list of the available BIAB songs for attendees to peruse ahead of time? You could even email me a text file and I could put it upon my ISP.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 22 Jul 2008 7:51 am

That's a great idea.

Speaking of Hag, how about my favorite tearjerker prison ballad, "Sing Me Back Home."

I would also enjoy (now speaking of Townes Van Zandt, and specifically the Emmylou version) "Pancho & Lefty."

Ron Wright · Post by **Ron Wright** » 22 Jul 2008 3:29 pm

i"ll be there if it's ok to just sit and watch and learn and enjoy steel music..i'll be coming from modesto if any wants a ride from this way .Ron

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 22 Jul 2008 4:01 pm

Is David Wright coming? Maybe you two could carpool.

Ron Wright · Post by **Ron Wright** » 22 Jul 2008 4:07 pm

not that i know of since he moved to dallas

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 22 Jul 2008 4:47 pm

Since this is the Bay Area, maybe we should have a couple Dead songs: Like Ripple and/or Friend of the Devil.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 22 Jul 2008 5:14 pm

Have fun guys. I wish I could be there! I'm swamped!

Dave Z

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 22 Jul 2008 6:06 pm

Well guys, early in the morning I load the stuff in the car and take off for OR. Wishing you all a great get-together!. Please do post pix, and I'm already reserving my calendar for next year..... whenever that is

If b0b's Jim Baron BIAB includes the one called "David's Blues".... I suggest this as a great warm up tune

For you steelers thinking of going, but not taking your ax.... I would reconsider... this is a whale of a good time!!!

Thanks so much Eric for picking up the gauntlet, and keeping this annual jam alive!!! Look forward to meeting you sometime in the future.

Marc Friedland · Post by **Marc Friedland** » 23 Jul 2008 12:36 pm

I can make it after all, as Saturday's gig was cancelled.
I will also be bringing one of Tom Bradshaw's Webb amps for anyone who would like to see, hear and or test it out.
Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
-- Marc

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 25 Jul 2008 2:44 pm

I found out it's over 21 only for anyone else that was thinking of bringing kids.

Bob, as for songs to do, how about "B. Bowman Hop"?

Raybob

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 Jul 2008 10:36 pm

In the past Al Vescovo and I have driven up. But this year, the price of gas has made it too expensive.

We both want to go, but it's just bot in the cards this year.

When did David Wright move to Dallas?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 26 Jul 2008 7:37 am

Mike,

David moved a couple months or so ago. You must have missed his post about it. I can't make the jam this year either, but it was always a treat seeing you and Al.

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 27 Jul 2008 8:21 am

It was so nice to meet many fellow steelers at the jam yesterday (my first one btw). Good times!

Thanks to Eric for settng it up and Bob for keeping the tracks coming.

I hope we can perhaps do this a couple times a year....brush off the rust on all those instrumentals I don't know! lol

See you all next time!

SS

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 27 Jul 2008 8:25 am

Yeah - it was big fun - and it's never occurred to me before to attempt to play Sentimental Journey on a dobro! Talk about being outside of one's "comfort zone"...

Don McClellan · Post by **Don McClellan** » 27 Jul 2008 9:59 am

Mark, I had just played Sentimental Journey on a reso on a gig Saturday morning before I arrived at the jam in the same key and I still screwed it up. So don't feel too bad. Your reso was beautiful and sounded real good.
b0b's Crossover Williams is beautiful and there were some very good psg players there.
I saw one or two guys there with quite a bit of gray in their hair. Everybody else's hair was completely white or gone! I also saw one or two guys with big beer guts. The rest of the guys were fat as hell.
I kid.
It was fun and the food was good but the whole thing didn't last long enough. I spent a lot of money on gas coming all the way from Oakland.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 27 Jul 2008 10:01 am

Thanks, Eric, for being a willing and gracious host!

Some photos of the Alameda jam have been added to http://www.rahul.net/thinker/steeljam_photos.html.

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 27 Jul 2008 12:04 pm

It was a long drive but I'm really glad I came. Sure is great to be in a room full of steels! Thanks Eric for getting it together and thank you Bob for keeping our 'backup band' in line and directing everything.

Great to see you Don. I can't believe it's been 30 years since we saw each other last. Listening to you made me feel like I was on a beach in Maui! What ya mean a lot of gas from Oakland?

Eric Jaeger · Post by **Eric Jaeger** » 27 Jul 2008 7:06 pm

It was fabulous just to see so many steelers making good sounds and having a good time. I couldn't stop grinning.

Some call out for thank yous:

1) Bill Llewellyn, whose experience and moral support in these things was critical.

2) Bruno and Darby Brandli for helping get us into the CBA newsletter and getting McGrath's on board.

3) Reza, our bartender and cook who provided the great (free!) pulled pork and salads.

4) And not least, our own b0b for getting the backing tracks together and MC'ing the herd.

Thanks to all, and we should do it again.

Though we may need another venue. Another 4-5 steelers and we'd have been setting up on the sidewalk

-eric

Marc Friedland · Post by **Marc Friedland** » 27 Jul 2008 7:09 pm

I’m so glad to have had the chance to get together with everyone on Saturday.
It was certainly much fun to hear so much talent, put some faces with the names I’ve read here on the Forum, and for the camaraderie.

As always, playing instrumental versions of country tunes and standards is not in my comfort zone or area of expertise, but today I had a gig and was glad to be reminded that there are things I do well on the pedal steel.

Bob had some neat ideas that I think worked out pretty well –
everyone playing together at the same time during Crazy Arms and that surf style music was cool too and you don’t hear that very often on psg!

Thanks again everyone,
Marc

btw
I guess I’m supposed to return those Webb amps to Tom, huh.

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 27 Jul 2008 7:22 pm

Marc Friedland wrote: btw
I guess I’m supposed to return those Webb amps to Tom, huh.

Hey Mark,
Good to meet you. Those Webbs are super, don't you think? I've never tried one before but I just plugged in and really didn't need to adjust much of anything. I think the tone was as good as I've ever heard with my Sierra.

Raybob