One local player steeling all of the jobs

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 10 Jul 2005 4:40 am

That's right Doug Jones it the one. Oh sure he has great gear, oh sure he plays hot, oh sure he knows all of the songs for all 7 bands, oh sure he doesn't drink or smoke or mess with the girls that do. But is it really fair to the other guys in town, I doubt it. Oh well when you are hot you are hot and I mean HOT HOT HOT, I guess then you be the man of the hour.

Nice playing last night Doug, I am your biggest fan.

Your friend
Larry Behm[This message was edited by Larry Behm on 10 July 2005 at 05:44 AM.]

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 10 Jul 2005 10:20 am

Does Doug tune JI, or ET?

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 10 Jul 2005 2:07 pm

Go Doug!

JI rules!

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 10 Jul 2005 2:43 pm

Are you saying that no one else can get a gig because Doug Jones is too hot? In my experience, many times the not-so-hot player gets the gig because the singer and/or guitarist does not want to be upstaged or because the style or preference of the singer/band is a more ambient rather than aggressive style of playing. I guess that's not the case where you are.

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Jeff's Jazz

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 10 Jul 2005 3:16 pm

he doesn't drink or smoke or mess with the girls that do

Well, that explains it. Leaves more for the rest of the band.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 10 Jul 2005 4:27 pm

I know. It's downright unfair....

Seriously though, a couple of things.

Doug messes with girls. Drunk OR not.

That ugly rumor to the contrary was started during one crazy summer in outdoor school at Suttle Lake. Whether it was true or not, hey, it was forty years ago...

There's more work around here than there is steel players.

I know of two bands that are looking for steel players and I'm booked every weekend til '06.

I think Doug uses a secret tuning chart he got during his previous life which those of us that know are not allowed to talk about.

He always sounds better than the other people in the bands he plays with.

He always sounds better to me than I do.

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 10 July 2005 at 08:35 PM.]

Mike Winter · Post by **Mike Winter** » 10 Jul 2005 9:38 pm

I'd just like to say that it is a pleasure having Doug play with my band Blue Moon Highway from time to time...whenever he is available. He's a great player and an even better friend. It's cool to see him getting lots of gigs. Playing with him has raised the bar, and we all seek to be better players because of that. Thanks buddy!

Dang it, Eric...I was hoping to get you from time to time, whenever Doug isn't available.

We in the Portland area are truly blessed to have so many fine pedal steel players available to us. Some of the finest players in the country are right here.

Mike www.bluemoonhighway.com

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 10 Jul 2005 9:58 pm

And what's with a guy that can make my ShoBud Pro I sound just like his own Emmons P/P - he doesn't even have to tamper with my (NOT JI OR ET) tuning to do it!

Just because he can play circles around me, all my neighbors and friends want HIM to play their gigs. I mean REALLY, what's that about, anyway?

I suppose what really gets my goat is that he's such a genuinely nice human being, I know he's just got to be up to something.

Is there any hope for the rest of us?[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 10 July 2005 at 11:03 PM.]

James Martin (U.K.) · Post by **James Martin (U.K.)** » 11 Jul 2005 1:20 am

I'm with Jeff Lampert here.If you guys think it's bad where you are- you want to try living over here in the UK.A lot of the singers/bands I've come across over the past thirty years have been pretty mediocre and sitting in with these people you can't afford to play your best if you want another gig. If anyone shows more interest in you or your instrument rather than the lead singer you won't be back.There,I've said it!!James

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 11 Jul 2005 3:13 am

If Doug comes to Charlotte , am I doomed ?

You can look at it in the light that you do but maybe there is another side of what YOU do that folks don't know about..that may open a door...

but it sure appears that Doug has his ducks lined up all in a row..

being a high quality player, knowing songs with the appropriate signature Intros and licks and playing off the top of your head is not a bad thing...and being a good guy on top of all that..

well thats a pretty good resume..

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 11 July 2005 at 04:15 AM.]

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 11 Jul 2005 4:30 am

TP.

If he does;

Doomed, you are.

EJL

Todd Pertll · Post by **Todd Pertll** » 11 Jul 2005 6:04 am

It's good to see Yoda giving his 2 cents. I'm not sure why he used Eric's screen name. Maybe he isn't registered on the forum yet.

Todd

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 11 Jul 2005 6:46 am

Yoda wouldn't need to register.

'Ok,it is, for me to here be.'

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 11 Jul 2005 9:38 pm

Thanks for the kind words from my fellow Portland area pickers. These guys know I'm not out to blow any doors off unless I'm given the green light. I'd like to think I play appropriately for the band I'm with and for the song at hand. I've heard the hot players in St Louis and when I lived in GNashTown. I don't feel I'm in their league. Like all of us, we have our flashy cheater licks and I consider the 16th note stuff to be challenging and fun, but really more machine gun playing than anything else. I'd much rather play a gut-wrenching solo with feeling than some fast chickin' pickin' run or meaty C6 swing solo. I guess I get more than my fair share of gigs because I'm more available and willing to take on more work. It's a balance between the almighty $ and the need for a creative outlet. Thanks, DJ.

Todd Pertll · Post by **Todd Pertll** » 12 Jul 2005 4:30 am

Doug,

I think you are cheating yourself out of a lot of material if you are not even trying to work on the faster material and the "C6 swing" part of your playing.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 12 Jul 2005 6:26 am

Todd, Doug's being humble concerning his playing. Last time I heard him play, they opened with a C6th steel instrumental that was definatly in the Convention players league. He's a well rounded verteran player, all day long. I was glad to send a few gigs his way when I cut back on the gigging scene.
Keep Steelin'!
~pb

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 12 Jul 2005 8:16 am

Maybe I'd better state it right here and now for the benefit of all the non-Portland pickers reading this thread:

First, it's an undisputed fact that Doug Jones can flat out burn down the barn anytime he wants to (we're talking 16th notes TWO AT A TIME that actually say something!) but he plays with admirable restraint and taste constantly. He and Harley James are both top-flight in every way, we all love to see and hear that and dream of the day....

Second, the local guys have our tongues pretty much super-glued to our cheeks here, none of the Portland pickers who have posted here so far are hurting for gigs:

Larry B. is highly respected and has played with his share of fine bands for years, his Cross Country is possibly the premiere CW band in the state; Pete B.'s many quality gigs have given him plenty of great exposure and respect amongst pickers and non-pickers alike; Eric really IS booked until 2006 and would be double-booked if he could just remember where he left his alter-ego; I'm personally living the dream, playing regularly with both Keeter Stuart and Jon Koonce, two of the finest front men anywhere, backed by the best musicians to be found on the planet, I played some great shows with Joni Harms before she went solo and I am still asked to do more gigs with other good folks than I can fit into my schedule, a situation we all share.

Then there's Ray Montee, who hasn't chimed in yet, but he's keeping the late Mr. Byrd's spirit alive and lively on a regular basis himself.

It's all in good fun, but we wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong impression...or would we?

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<img align=right src="http://www.pdxaudio.com/dgsept03.jpg" width="114 height="114">Dave Grafe - email: dg@pdxaudio.com
Production
Pickin', etc.

1978 ShoBud Pro I E9, Randall Steel Man 500, 1963 Precision Bass, 1954 Gibson LGO, 1897 Washburn Hawaiian Steel Conversion

[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 12 July 2005 at 09:22 AM.]

Doug Jones · Post by **Doug Jones** » 12 Jul 2005 10:31 am

Grafe has a good point about the number of players and gigs. Here are the 15 that are most visible: Wes Bakken, Larry Behm, Paul Brainard, Pete Burak, John Carter, Mitch Gilbert, Dave Grafe, Dale Granstrom, Harley James, Doug Jones, Ray Montee, Mark Simpson, Lynn Stafford, Robin Suskin and Tired old Eric West. The gigs range from lodges, festivals, the downtown scene, truck stops, private parties, etc (just like any other large city). The work is out there, but nowadays it's just weekend warrior stuff; not like it was in the 70's and 80's.

Barry Westerfield · Post by **Barry Westerfield** » 12 Jul 2005 1:18 pm

If anyone gets a chance to visit the Pacific Northwest you will thoroughly be entertained by several country bands and some mighty fine steel players. I just wish I was back home being one of them..

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Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 12 Jul 2005 2:55 pm

Well.....Dougie is a very good friend of mine and I know him pretty well and if you want him to lay back and let some of you guys have the gigs, feed him some really good stuffed peppers and he'll be to full to want to play and if he does play, he'll probably fall asleep on the bandstand. I love this guy as a friend and a picker and he's as good as they come and one great person too boot!!!!!
Gene

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 15 Jul 2005 8:52 am

So if I was to move to Portland and start a band, I could find a steel player? Hmmm... Don't tempt me!

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 15 Jul 2005 8:57 am

Paul, We're all Deadhead steel players, too!
I'll be steelin' at the Jerry Garcia birthday bash, 1-5pm, 7/31: http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=3&id=484&eventid=28687

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 15 Jul 2005 10:59 am

Tempt, tempt, tempt....