All irony aside, this is one possible future for steel guitar.Anyway, fast forward to 3 months ago- got a phone call to audition for a Stevie Nicks tribute band. Tribute bands pay better and are usually more fun than cover bands
Tribute acts for legacy pop, country, and country rock artists are a way to recognize the steel’s role in the popularity of the songs that made an artist famous. Obviously, the younger a tribute performer is, the more believable they would be portraying an artist in their prime. I’m not sure the Old Man version of a Neil Young tribute would sell as well as the 20- or 30-something version. But, older band members can cosplay themselves up to whatever degree is necessary. Steel players, hell…we just sit around most of the time anyway
And to their credit, younger musicians don’t seem to have the primal-scream-level resistance to joining tribute acts that I had when I was their age - to which I say bravo little brothers and sisters! You are more sensible!