My weekend at ResoSummit

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 11 Nov 2009 4:18 pm

I spent last weekend at the Scarritt-Bennett Center (Vanderbilt) in Nashville, attending ResoSummit 2009. Teachers included Rob Ickes, Curtis Burch, Michael Witcher, Sally Van Meter, Orville Johnson, Randy Kohrs, Cindy Cashdollar, Dave Giegerich, Jimmy Heffernan, Megan Lovell, and Lou Wamp. Probably most of those names are unfamiliar to you unless you're a Dobro® player, but they are some of the best players and teachers around. As expected in such band camps, there was a considerable amount of late night jamming. There are some pretty white hot players out there, among them an Alaskan contractor named Greg Booth who volunteered to do a class in dropped E tuning (take your regular open G tuning and lower the bottom string to E. It opens up a whole world of chordal possibilities).

We saw three shows at the Station Inn featuring the Lovell Sisters (featuring Megan Lovell), Rob Ickes with Michael Alvey on piano and Robinella on vocals, and Missy Raines and the New Hip (featuring Michael Witcher). What a cool place to see a show. I'd guess they had about 100 people attend the four days of workshops and classes, so each night's performance was full. The contrasts between the three acts was very interesting, displaying in a way you couldn't otherwise learn the different contexts in which resonator guitars are being used currently.

I have to go back to Nashville just so I can see all the stuff I didn't see. Besides Music Row and downtown, I didn't get out and about as I would have liked to, but I can't complain.

My own crappy photos are over here:
http://web.me.com/wellvis/Site/ResoSummit_2009.html

Billy Gilbert · Post by **Billy Gilbert** » 11 Nov 2009 6:47 pm

Brad, your pictures aren't bad. Thanks for taking the trouble to post them. I have been in camps and workshops with Rob, Sally, and Jimmie, and Cindy gave a two hour lesson at another reso get together I attended. They are all good teachers but I think Jim Heffernan is able to get down to the level of beginner and intermediate students a little better than some, but those lightning fast single note scales he can do in his sleep are something else.

Did Missie play "Alabama Jubilee" on the bass?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 12 Nov 2009 7:01 am

What fun!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 12 Nov 2009 7:19 am

That is a summit of great people who just happen to be great pickers.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 12 Nov 2009 11:56 am

Missy did not play "Alabama Jubilee". Her band was far more experimental than bluegrass, with the guitarist playing a hollowbody Eastman jazz guitar for most of the set. They were about as far away from her days with Claire Lynch as you could possibly be. I heard elements of jazz, bluegrass, pop and funk mixed together quite well.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 12 Nov 2009 8:19 pm

What was Rob Ickes playing at his gig? It looks like a flat top guitar.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 13 Nov 2009 2:36 am

Rob plays a Scheerhorn. I've never seen him with another.

Nice meeting you there Brad.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 13 Nov 2009 8:32 am

That was a Scheerhorn acoustic slide guitar, with a regular guitar body and a square neck.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 13 Nov 2009 8:49 am

Sounds like a great time!

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 13 Nov 2009 10:33 am

Seems that reso players smile even less often than pedal steel players!

Thanks for posting those, Brad. I spotted Joey Ace in the crowd on a few of them. It's also nice to know that I'm not the only forum member with poor camera skills.

Glad you had a good time.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Nov 2009 10:45 am

Brad, did you meet Abbie Gardner? I saw her in a few of your pics.

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 13 Nov 2009 10:51 am

Abbie is standing in front of me (yellow shirt) in this group shot, by Lee Hier.

She is the vocalist in the "Backing the vocalist classes" and a Reso Student.

Of course she's a fine player, and writer.
http://www.redmolly.com/

I stand corrected about Rob's guitar. $:\$
Good eyes, Drew!

The young man in the front is Gavin Largent.
Do a YouTube search for him if you're not aware of his awesome talents.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 13 Nov 2009 1:03 pm

Yeah, I'm happy to say I met Abbie. She's a fine vocalist and dobro player, and a real sweetie.

Gaven is scary good on both dobro, banjo and guitar. I knew he was going to be when I saw him in line during registration.

And Joey's no slouch on the reso either!

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 13 Nov 2009 1:08 pm

Brad Bechtel wrote:Yeah, I'm happy to say I met Abbie. She's a fine vocalist and dobro player, and a real sweetie.

Yes, she sure is. I know her here in NY.

The Steel Guitar Forum

My weekend at ResoSummit

My weekend at ResoSummit

Reso Summit