Robert Randolph

Jerry Warner · Post by **Jerry Warner** » 22 Jul 2004 9:58 pm

I THINK THIS GUY SHOULD TRY PLAYING LIKE JIMMY DAY OR BUDDY EMMONS AND SOME OF THE GUYS THAT KNOW HOW TO PLAY WITHOUT USEING ALL THAT GLITTER OR WHAT EVER YOU CALL IT TO MAKE IT SOUND OTHER THAN A STEEL GUITAR, ASK JERRY BYRD HE KNOWS WHAT A STEEL SHOULD SOUND LIKE AND NOT THIS CRAP I;M HEARING AND EVERYONE IS RAVING ABOUT ON THIS FORUM YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT STEEL GUITAR SHOULD SOUND LIKE JUST MY 2 CENTS.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 23 Jul 2004 2:09 pm

Well RR is making more headway with the younger generation than any of us.

I had the young niece, 14 years old, of my friend's sister here on vacation. She is from south Florida.

She plays guitar in a group, but is still learning etc.
She was totally blown away by my Sho-Bud.

Well she had heard of Robert Randolph, but wasn't sure where from,
which didn't surpise me, why would one expect most 14 year old grils to be into jam band music.
BUT she had heard of him.

She did try the bud on C6 and liked it a lot, got into 2 or 3 pedals and had a sense of chord placement... better than most adults too.

Well I then put on the RR/Letterman mpeg...
Well she, her aunt and the teenage boys in the studio went nuts.

Alison was :
" I KNOW this song, WOW I was just listening to it before we left on the radio, It is SOOO coool!!"
" He's playing that in one of those (pointing at RoseBud) WOW. I want to try it again"

I then had her on my supro 6 and she was into it.
I explained prices for lapsteels, a Carter starter new and used and about converting a regular guitar for lapslide on the cheap.

A bit on tunings and TAB, and that I was pretty sure I could find a steeler in Florida to give her an occasional lesson.

She is likely to now raise the nut on a beater guitar, get a bar and a teacher for E7 lapsteel when she gets back home.

She had been mostly silent the several times I had met her this week, even if I was one of the few english speakers around, but she was totally talktive about RR / steeling / and every instrument I had.

So if RR and myself have helped sprout another Cindy Cashdollar, I will be most pleased.
( the young lady is quite cute too)

And so very glad RR is around making a splash for the PSG.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 24 Jul 2004 8:53 am

Hijacked from Scott Houston's thread on Bob Dunn and Buddy Emmons:
(Bob being one of the acknowledged masters of his generation), Someone apparently played him a cut with Buddy Emmons on Steel and Bob puportedly said "It Ain't supposed to sound like that."

Food for thought....

------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 26 Jul 2004 1:14 am

Mark hit the nail pretty good with this one.

Bob Dunn played one way and thought that was how it was supposed to be..
for him it was.

Big E played differently and that was right for him... and moved the instrument forward another notch or three.

RR plays like RR, and has brought the PSG to a unheard of popularity in segments of the public who had no clue it existed, let alone it's awesome beauty : in some hands.

Too this new generation of steel fans, it IS beautiful in his hands,
and he sounds like RR not anyone else.

As a steeler this would be my fondest hope.

_____________________________
The young lady above is now spending the week with a raised nut acoustic, tuned low to high
E A Db E G Db, and my Stevens bar.

She has gotten several picking techniques started,
gets reasonable intonation when she thinks about the left hand instead of the right,
and seems to be having a blast with some blues patterns.

And she is excited to see two manouche guitar swing bands all this week.
Mine thursday on a stage in central Nimes for the city sponsored music evenings,
and a VERY hot 10 years old one tuesday in Avignon.

Oh yes and RR's CD is on constant rotation with reggae in the household she is staying at.
Cool![This message was edited by David L. Donald on 26 July 2004 at 02:17 AM.]

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 26 Jul 2004 7:58 am

Saw Eric Clapton on Sat. in Denver - great music from a musical ledgend. EC has still got it! Great chops, soulful tunes well performed. The whole band was amazing!

RR opened with a short ~30 min. set. His tunes that typically have been 20 min. jams, were shortened for the concert setting - well done. The sound was powerful. Then he came back for the last two songs of the nite and jammed with EC. Trading licks with EC and Billy Preston - amazing show.

RR got a standing ovation after his first set. Most of the boomers were wondering if he was a local band

Some guy in front of me ask that question to me. The youger folks in the audience were on their feet and screaming the whole time. Went with my sister and brother in law - they both were amazed - had never seen him. They're in their late 40's and were instant fans.

At the end of the nite EC and RR faced and bowed to each other. Clearly mutual respect between both. EC pointed to him and acknowledged RR to the audience "Robert Randolph ladys and gentlemen". Then the band bowed 4 times to the audience.

Not many young players (steel or otherwise) get a chance to open for, tour and jam with EC - give that man (RR) a biscuit! He wins.

RR played again on Sun. at Mishawaka - a small bar on the Poudre River 20mi. west of Fort Collins - have not heard how it went, I was bummed I had committed to some studio work so could not go. I'll bet it was fun.

Chris

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 26 Jul 2004 8:28 am

QUOTE "Yeah, in this one song he clear kicked away his seat while he was playing. And on another, he tipped the steel over and just before it landed on the floor, hegot his foot underneath the front of it and kicked it back upright and continued to play it without missing a beat."

I don't know how old he is, but it sounds like he saw Lucky Oceans with Asleep @ The Wheel back in the 70's.

Quote "RR needs his own identifiable " Commercial" tunes to maintain the rocket or to get it to the next level to survive the decades. Thats all.

When I saw this, the word "Commercial" caught my attention, not anything to do with RR. It's cool RR plays a steel guitar. Altho, I haven't heard anything in his playing that warrants a bestowal of any greatness. Note: (I have a friend that plays steel that can get Way out in left field and I do mean WAY OUT)

Back to the word "Commercial". I guess the word Commercial would mean "appealing to the masses or majority of buyers" Altho all music, television and movies are Commercial at any given time. I find that the word Commercial does not apply to me anymore. Mainly because I'm now in the minority catagory. There's a whole lot of music out there these days. Some good, but mostly bad in my opinion. But the times, they are a changing. Folks my age (53) and older remember a time when life was simple and young folks were taught respect and had values & morals. Conservative values are fastly becoming a thing of the past. Music, television and movies are the Sodom & Gomorrah of our time.

I didn't mean to hi-jack your RR thread. Just an observation on the word "Commercial" then & now. I don't play steel and even if I did, I don't think RR would have any effect on me one way or the other as far as padding my pockets. I know Clapton's attempt at recording a blues record didn't raise my stock any. I seriously don't think a Rock & Roll funk steel player will convert any hugh masses of people to Troubadour fans.

Some people consider RR a kind of messiah for the instruments. Some could care less. I lean toward the later. But when he puts out something thats shows some versatility, ie R&R, swing, jazz, country. Well maybe then he would warrant this kind of attention.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 26 Jul 2004 8:54 am

I thought that "I Need More Love" was pretty commercial. At least I hope it was.

Robert's lyrics are uplifting, in sharp contrast to the lyrics of many of his contempories on the charts. Funny how few of the conservative steel players here notice that fact.

Robert's success is not because he's a hot rock steel player - it's because he's a wholesome young man bringing a positive, energetic message to today's youth. It may be too noisy for most of us old coots, but I would appreciate his music on any instrument. It's a welcome change from the pervasive "Gangsta Rap" trend.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 26 Jul 2004 9:00 am

i hear ya' Cap't

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 26 Jul 2004 9:12 am

I know Clapton's attempt at recording a blues record didn't raise my stock any.

I thought Eric was a blues musician, guess I was wrong?

Music, television and movies are the Sodom & Gomorrah of our time.

you must get all the good channels

Chris

Terry VunCannon · Post by **Terry VunCannon** » 26 Jul 2004 9:26 am

This whole RR with EC & RR on the cover of GP mag is really having an effect on people. This weekend I played lap with two different bands, one on Friday & another on Saturday night, & both nights someone came up to me and asked if "that thing" that I was playing was what RR played. I told them that I played Lap Steel vs. PSG but that the instruments were played much the same way, with a steel bar. All of this attention that RR is getting seems to be making folks take more notice when I show up with my lap. Way to go RR!!!!

Tommy Roten · Post by **Tommy Roten** » 26 Jul 2004 10:57 am

"he tipped the steel over and just before it landed on the floor, hegot his foot underneath the front of it and kicked it back upright and continued to play it without missing a beat."

I tried that with my MSA d-10. I'm still not walking...

www.tommy-steel.com

Charles French · Post by **Charles French** » 26 Jul 2004 11:11 am

I thought Eric was a blues musician, guess I was wrong?

That's quite alright Chris. Evidently you just don't know any better. Now repeat after me, slowly. Eddie Taylor, Louis Myers and Robert Lockwood are blues musicians. Eric Clapton is not!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 26 Jul 2004 11:22 am

I thnk what b0b said is quite true, I see no praise for his message clothed in funk rock music.

I see critique of him not playing like people from other more entrenched genres of the steel world.

But nothing about his near gospel feel on some tunes, or the generally uplifting words. and uplifting is the right word.
The band can sing too.

They put a good message into a music for people who REALLY could use the good message.
They have made church message music accesable without trying to cram it down anyones throut, whole cloth. They have made it fun.

Never a comment on his very solid national steel playing either.
Maybe few have taken the time to listen to the album, only hear a few mpegs, or the Letterman vid. And so thing : that's all there is to him.

When was the last time a 14 year old got excited about any of our playing....[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 27 July 2004 at 01:40 AM.]

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 26 Jul 2004 12:36 pm

Charles - I respect your opinion - but I still think EC is a blues musician, as well as rock, folk, and pop. Sort of a versitile kinda guy.

Here are some other opinions.

W.C. Handy Awards:
1) Contemporary Blues Album of the Year 2001
B.B. King/Eric Clapton-Riding with the King

2) Crossover Artist of the Year 2005
J. Geils and Magic Dick
Eric Clapton
Maria Muldaur
Bonnie Raitt
Dann Penn

3) GRAMMY Winner Eric Clapton,artist.
Genre Blues
GRAMMY Category Best Traditional Blues Album "From The Cradle"
Year 1994 - 37th Annual GRAMMY Awards

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 26 Jul 2004 1:21 pm

EC is not a blues man---mmmmm.

You don't have to be an old black man from the delta to be a blues player.

You don't have to be black to be a blues player.

You don't have to be ANYTHING to be a blues player, you don't even have to HAVE the blues.......YOU JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY THE BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clapton has always played the blues.
He also played 60s psycho-delic rock---which was infested with blues licks.
He also played ska and reggae stuff.....which was also infested with blues licks.
He played 70s rock with Duane Allman which was infested with blues licks.
He played 80s and 90s and 00s pop stuff which was infested with blues licks.

Clapton might not look like or act like the person that YOU think fits the bill as a blues player, but from his earliest to his latest, he has been nothing more than a rock player playing the blues.

More people who aren't what they seem---

Hendrix was not a blues player.
Robert Randolph is not a blues player.
Stevie Ray was not a blues player.
Wes Montgomery was not a blues player.
Buddy Emmons is not a blues player.
Miles Davis hired and liked musicians who could play the blues---but he hired NO blues men from the Delta.
Steve Cropper is not a blues player.

Add your own favorite blues player who is not supposed to be one because of the blues police profile.

Eric Clapton is pretty much just a blues musician no matter what he plays.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 26 Jul 2004 1:46 pm

Eric Clapton is not a steel player, nor is he the subject of this thread! Let's get back on track, folks.

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 26 Jul 2004 3:34 pm

Well, after reading all the pro's and cons of RR and his style or lack thereof, I went out and bought one of his CD's. I understand those who say "That ain't the way a steel is supposed to sound." I also understand those who say he's an awesome tallent. I guess someday when Im an old fart I won't be as open minded as I am today but for me I'm really digging this music. I think any musician who's obviously playing from the soul is a credit to the instrument that he's playing. RR is playing from down deep in his soul and in his genre of music he rocks!

Yeah I know it doesn't sound like some would like to define the steel guitar but why put our beloved instrument in a box. I say stretch the sucker out and lets see what happens. Rock on Robert!!

Rick Garrett

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 28 Jul 2004 7:40 am

The cover of GuitarPlayer features a closeup of Mr. Randolph hovering close to his steel guitar, with his bar hand in the foreground. The top of the cover (above the words "Guitar Player") has an overhead shot of what is described as "Robert Randolph's custom 13 string Fessenden".
Is this a bad thing for steel guitar?
My favorite quote from the article is below.

"My whole thing? Play what you feel, and don't let people discourage you from being the musican you want to be."
-Robert Randolph in Guitar Player, September 2004

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 28 Jul 2004 9:45 am

A double "what Brad said". Part of the "hook" that all of the articles and press that Robert's getting is that he is coming from a different direction than "traditional" steel has been perceived as, (even if his own sacred steel tradition arguably precedes modern country steel by a good bit). As his popularity builds, the attention from youngsters about "that thing you're playing", as well as new venues and expanded horizons in recording and performance gigs for all of us will be some obvious benefits. How any of that can possibly be bad, or sad, for steel guitar is absolutely beyond me.

------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Jeremy Moyers · Post by **Jeremy Moyers** » 30 Jul 2004 9:13 am

Diddos Mark!

Jeremy

Ron Sodos · Post by **Ron Sodos** » 30 Jul 2004 1:58 pm

If I hear another word about RR I think I will throw up......

[This message was edited by Ron Sodos on 30 July 2004 at 02:58 PM.]

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 31 Jul 2004 6:46 am

Ron, you might want to consider avoiding threads named "Robert Randolph ... "

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 31 Jul 2004 6:59 am

Also bi-carbonate of soda, and smaller meals might help.

Roland Buras · Post by **Roland Buras** » 31 Jul 2004 10:25 am

I played blues and country guitar most of my life. I played Bourbon street N.O. LA. many years. I played the 509 club , Papa Joe's, the Dream room, Gunga Den and many more. I finally heard a steel player that caught my attention 'Mr. Hal Higgins" Hal played for Connie many years. I began to hear and play the steel instrument over and over in my head. i finally decided this must be phase two of my musical calling so i bought a GFI E9th and went to work. My children [5] who or all accomplished musicians booed me and said dad give it up, get back on what you know best.. well i stayed with it and Today i play and Excel SD12 8x5 .. still not much response from the family..when one evening my two daughters and two of my son's heard Robert Randolph's album. surprisingly they brought me a copy and said dad this guy is pretty good you need to hear him.. from that day on my children hardly miss a steel guitar show and finally paying me some attention. Sera My baby girl just finished a tour in Europe she sings Pop & Blues..now sitting in with David Easly Steel pro from new orleans ,,sang with Joe Wright on stage and now my oldest daughter's boyfriend wants to learn steel.. all i can say is R R has helped me to be at peace again in the family.. brought the interest of the steel to all my children and there younger friends.. What can i say..but 'you go Robert R.

Roland Buras [Gulfport, Ms]
PS.our steel show next saturday Aug. 7th features Mr. Doug Jernigan, Johnny Bonvillian, David Easley and many more Ya'll come if you can

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 3 Aug 2004 8:59 am

Even though everyone who plays traditional pedal steel may not like the new style but if you tried to attempt to play it it too is tricky to perform and requires just as equal skill to bring out the notes, I have tried this using Joe Wrights techniques on e9th tunning in his power slide techniques, hands can get achy, the sacred steelers tunning has some changes but some of the strings are still there at the front of the guitar that the E9th has, so I tip my hat to Robert Randolph's playing abilities. steveb.