Swelled-headedness And Cowboy Hats

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 9 Mar 2010 7:06 am

You all look great! Chris those are some cool boots!

Some people enjoy an argument. I do sometimes. Just remember it takes two (or more) to participate. If Bill is upsetting you, no need for threats or to call for his banishment from the forum. If you think he's a troll , dont feed him, click on a thread that might have something of value for you in it instead.

Lifes kinda short to be worked up over what the OTHER guy is wearing or what he thinks or says about what YOU are wearing. who cares? thinking about thats gona ruin your lunch today? not mine

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Mar 2010 7:42 am

Ray Campbell,

Like the gypsy moth spreading over state borders, sayings spread about from state to state among musicians. Someone mentioned the Webb Pierce sayings. Webb failed at trying to run his own record label, but he did achieve notable firsts. "SLOWLY", released in 1954, was the first to feature a pedal steel. Bud Isaacs featured his new pedal arrangement that created a rush by other players to duplicate his sound. Webb lost in a long battle with pancreatic cancer in 1987. One of Webb's humorous sayings was directed at Ray Stevens, when he said: "If I bought him for what he's worth, and sold him for what he says he's worth, I'd make a big profit". The reason for mentioning the quippers found among groups of musicians, where steel guitarists recurrently gather, is to call attention to a fitful hypercritical slight of build drummer we met near the Connecticut border; further east from Pittsfield. I didn't witness his remarks made to the steel player whom I visited there. His favorite thing to do, was to remind the musicians that "You're no so-and-so", (fill in a name). He suddenly became "The broad side of a barn" in my eyes. More on hand-me-down cowboy boots to follow.

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 9 Mar 2010 9:29 am

5135 Hankey Posts and Nothing Understandable

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 9 Mar 2010 9:48 am

Is this an all hat and no cattle moment ??

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 9 Mar 2010 9:59 am

Chris, if your initials weren't on those boots, I'd say you had been down on Melrose Avenue doing some boot shopping ....

Joe Miraglia · Post by **Joe Miraglia** » 9 Mar 2010 10:19 am

If you want to be well known,post on Bills topic,over 5000 people will get to know you,I'm Joe Miraglia

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 9 Mar 2010 10:20 am

Maybe Mr. Bill likes SHEEP instead of cows. Bet he remembers back when Men were men and sheep were nervous. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 9 Mar 2010 10:20 am

Does this put me on the Shiplist???

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 9 Mar 2010 10:27 am

Aw Joe, You're just wearing that to hide your cone head.

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 9 Mar 2010 10:43 am

Barry Blackwood wrote:Chris, if your initials weren't on those boots, I'd say you had been down on Melrose Avenue doing some boot shopping ....

The make of these particular boots is Brent McCaslin, a vaquero in Arroyo Grande on the Central Coast of California near San Luis Obispo. He is a one man operation called Slickfork boots, named after the kind of saddle often used outside of both Texas and Berkshire County, Mass. Brent knows how to measure your feet, ankles and calves so his boots fit each of your feet like socks, and even with heels over 2 inches are a pleasure to wear for a four mile walk and support you in an oxbow stirrup.

In the 70s I got a pair from Charlie Dunn at Capitol Saddlery in Austin. Far less colorful than Brent's boots, but on the Charlie Dunn boots my name is stitched in cursive in mirror reflection fashion along the vertical piping if the tops' four side seams.

There is nothing like a custom fitted pair of boots made in a one man shop with every cut and stitch and wooden peg handled by the man who measured your feet, shaped your personal lasts (foot patterns or molds the boots are built around) and knows how to fit a stirrup as well a a sidewalk. And, is not afraid of color.

Incidentally, the boots with red tops and the music for "Home on the Range" inlayed around the tops were specifically made to fit playing pedal steel.

Do any of you know Tex Robin in Abilene, TX? I like the looks of his boots. Good balanced appearance and 66 years of experience.

Support your local bootmaker.

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 9 Mar 2010 10:55 am

In Texas my guess is only about 40% of country players wear a hat on stage. If you chose to wear a cowboy hat you need to know when to wear a straw hat and when and how to properly shape and wear a felt hat. Same thing with western wear clothes. If we wear western shirts and jeans here they will both be starched much like you commonly see George Straight wearing. Most of the people that come to see us also wear cowboy hats. Our band tries to go the extra mile with dress,lights,pa and most songs arranged. Not bad for a weekend band that lives well over 200 miles apart,but the roi has been worth it. We are all being inducted into the Texas western swing hall of fame this coming May.

As far as chicken wire goes,I've never seen it. No dout though you can find a rough tough place and loose a tooth if you must. Many dances here out in the country are all ages. Sometimes you see families show up with 3 or 4 generations and they all dance. This is a dancing state for shure. Boys here learn to dance and wear a hat at a very young age. They quickly understand that girls like dancing and hats and good manors.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Mar 2010 11:23 am

Many of the steel guitarist living in sparsely settled lands, travel miles over roads broken up by water leaking into the cracks and freezing. This results in a lifting force more powerful than a hydraulic system. The pavement is forced upward and is then subjected to the crushing power of huge trucks so common in remote wooded areas. Asphalt is ground to bits and chunks of flying debris. As a consequence, steel guitarist living 50 to 100 miles from Moose Lodges or the like find a tiring experience dodging potholes to and from the nearest booking. I wouldn't attempt to stir memories that have crept deep in the recesses of our minds. Not for any reason, other than the display of total disregard by highway crews who receive notification well in advance of making repairs. Getting to the city service stations to pump your own gas at prices that absorb any chance of rubbing nickels together at the family dinner table is unfair. Where does the full time musician come out in goods and services. Imagine getting charged a hundred bucks just to lift your hood. As for the boots and stylish cowboy hats, sales taxes keeps me out of that line of expenditures.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 9 Mar 2010 11:25 am

Hey John I resemble that remark,I still have some hair:lol: Roger ,Is it Ok to wear this straw in Florida?

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 9 Mar 2010 11:32 am

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Mar 2010 12:02 pm

Joe Casey,

I wish you lived up here in the North. I want to do a rendition of "SLOWLY" to "break the ice" with members who have never heard five fingers chord melodies. Capturing octaves gives an enrichment boost to melodies that have been featured since day one with triads.

I hope you are maintaining good health habits.

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 9 Mar 2010 12:05 pm

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 9 Mar 2010 12:07 pm

Bill Hankey wrote:Joe Casey,

I want to do a rendition of "SLOWLY" to "break the ice" with members who have never heard five fingers chord melodies. Capturing octaves gives an enrichened boost to melodies that have been featured since day one with triads.

That's nuthin'. Hound Dog Taylor could do SIX finger chord melodies.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Mar 2010 12:26 pm

Chris,

I'm "antibrevity"! Could you tell me more? Does Hound Dog Taylor play "SLOWLY"?

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 9 Mar 2010 12:31 pm

IKYD A.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 9 Mar 2010 12:43 pm

August night in Bolton Lake CT..1994.Charley one horse Hat.And the last Mash Bash..400.00 Stetson..Boots Priceless...

Notice there is a Steel on the bandstand to keep the thread topic honest.

...

And some people love to wear the same head gear..

The Nashville Bar assn.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 9 Mar 2010 12:48 pm

Bill,I could only sing Slowly with Three Chords..

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 9 Mar 2010 1:02 pm

Mr. Bill,Now it's road crews,pot holes,pumping gas,paying taxes on hats and boots.Please give this old country boy a clue. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Mar 2010 1:29 pm

Joe,

When Webb sang that song, you'd be surprised to know how half pedals can create augmented chords. There are at least a dozen or so of augmented, and sevenths, that fit in that song. Three chord Charlies are things of the past. It's high time to serve notice on chord sandbaggers. Diminished and variations of minor chords, plus ninth chords used extensively will result in a big shifting of proper melody lines; long overdue.

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 9 Mar 2010 2:16 pm

Hound Dog Taylor, Bill.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 9 Mar 2010 2:19 pm

Bill,I have always felt there is a time and place to feature a lot of chording ,Like when entertaining strictly musicians at places like Steel shows and musician jams..The other is when one is featured and doing an instrumental..However to the average person that has favorite songs and the melody in their heads, not a good thing..I was taught that its not always what one plays that counts..Its knowing what not to play..The KISS system has kept more people working steady..