Well, I finally got a chance to bring the Rains out of the house and it really shined...Yes it is shiny....My playing wasnt real great with a few mistakes here and there but I survived... Anyway, it was my first gig since 1990. Wow...this time on pedal steel, lap steel and guitar. What a difference playing a steel live vs. my basement. tough playing with monitors as well. At first I couldnt hear so I came in late or too early on a few songs ...I rehearsed with the band 3 times before Fridays gig...Got alot of compliments and baffling looks from people who have never seen a steel guitar. My 19 year old nephew from Houston bailed us out on sound. He is a wizard behind the board and jumped in without ever hearing the band and mixed it up well.. Fun time..really not used to staying out until 2:30 with a bunch of drunk bar folks...somethings havent really changed since 1990..it was worth getting the experience playing with the band....lots of fun. I must send out a big thanks to Doug Beaumier who started me out on the steel and helped me through lots of songs.
GOOD LUCK BRIAN, I STILL REMEMBER MY FIRST GIG WAS SO SCARED I WAS SHAKIN IN MY BOOTS SWEATIN MY #$%*&*() OFF, FINALLY GOT MY ACT TOGETHER AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR
TOMMY YOUNG
MAX-TONE MODIFICATIONS
BMI dealer,Classic VIBE 100 amp... SIT strings..
Hey dude - your the first one (other than myself) that I've seen using cheater cards lying on the tuning pegs !!!
No matter what song it is, I keep them there in case I get a brain freeze and it is more of a comfort / confidence knowing I have them ready to help me.
With so many newer songs using chords structurely not in the base key the cheaters are a must !!
Rich,
I use the cards for songs I havent memorized or when to come in..certain lyrics, etc. or if I'm padding chords I'll right out chord patterns for tonal purposes...overall lots of fun playing the steel out...that rains guitar plays really nice.
How do you like the NV112 ??
I'm sure you mic it but do you hear it well enough ?I'm considering buying a new amp as a back up, see my thread on "amplifier idea input please".
Richard Marko wrote:Hey dude - your the first one (other than myself) that I've seen using cheater cards lying on the tuning pegs !!!
I've recently started using index cards on the keyhead as opposed to a stand and sheet music. Gotta say, it's working out pretty well so far and setup time's a lot faster! I can also sit closer to the edge of the stage without worrying about my stand slipping off
the NV 112 is pretty good but I'm competing with a fender twin reverb tube amp the guitarist uses..I placed a senneheiser mic in front of the amp and ran it through the PA. It has the burr mod chips in it and sounds quite nice. Also, if you notice I'm using new Walker Travellite seat...wow..real nice and super light.
Right on Brian. I played my first gig on steel 2 years ago now but the feeling of sitting behind it on a stage with a band and a good crowd hasn't changed at all. I love it.
Yeah, I'm wearing an old Red Sox hat from 2004..playing saturday night in town...btw...the band wants to play Big and Rich with Cowboy Troy Rap music...Hmmm, what do I do on the steel? Should I scratch some strings needless to say my interest is dwindling... another song is the new Kid Rock song...wow..what happened to Nashville??? I said "lets play some old george strait" and didnt get much of a response.
I always wondered what the country scene is like in New England. It must be hard to play a full set of standards there. Those new country songs that cross the line have a lot of room for improvisation. I play in a contemporary country band and the music is what you hear on Sirius 60. On the crossover songs where there is no steel you have got to be creative and come up with something that's not Nashville sounding but something that no one else in the band can do. I think that's the funnest part about the new music.
I always wondered what the country scene is like in New England. It must be hard to play a full set of standards there. Those new country songs that cross the line have a lot of room for improvisation. I play in a contemporary country band and the music is what you hear on Sirius 60. On the crossover songs where there is no steel you have got to be creative and come up with something that's not Nashville sounding but something that no one else in the band can do. I think that's the funnest part about the new music.
Great advice, Matthew! Take it and make it our own, eh?
thanks matt for the comments...The bands in my area tend to be new country rock which could have steel or not,,mostly not...we do some early 90s stuff but the band is trying to shy away from that.. I guess creativity is a must with this new nashville sound...I'm sure it could make you a better player creating licks and steel runs. It's just good to get out and play and get experience no matter what the situation or song being played. However, I would always like to blend in some strait or chesnutt stuff...perhaps I can bend some arms
I am trying to get my band to do All My Exes... but our standards list pretty much only includes '90 music. We may work up some from way back in the 80's for our Classics set.
I always wondered what the country scene is like in New England. It must be hard to play a full set of standards there.
Actually... the country bands that work the most in New England are "classic country" bands. I play about eight gigs a month with two traditional country bands. Audiences really love the classic stuff: Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Ray Price, J. Cash, etc. And newer stuff that sounds traditional: Alan Jackson, George Strait, etc. Most bands will play a couple of top-40 country/rap/pop songs, but there isn't much of that around here, as far as I can see. The more of that stuff your band plays, the less you get hired!
It wasn't always that way. Back in the early '90s when line dancing was big, bands had to play current top-40 country if they wanted to work. There were big clubs with big dance floors, and bands had to play new stuff, and play it exactly like the recording. It made for some pretty dull gigs.
Actually in this area there are only 2 country rock style bands playing top 40 country and some cross over music....I do remember the early 90's where there seemed to be more bands playing top 40 country right to the note in big halls..It seems like fewer folks are venturing out to check out gigs...Last weekend..yes a holiday, we had just a few folks in the bar...I think no more than 20 at one time. My idea is that if nobody shows, play some good old stuff ....Good practice session anyway. We are playing this saturday and hopefully the crowds will be a bit better.
...I rehearsed with the band 3 times before Fridays gig...Got alot of compliments and baffling looks from people who have never seen a steel guitar. My 19 year old nephew from Houston bailed us out on sound. He is a wizard behind the board and jumped in without ever hearing the band and mixed it up well.. Fun time..really not used to staying out until 2:30 with a bunch of drunk bar folks...somethings havent really changed since 1990..it was worth getting the experience playing with the band....lots of fun. I must send out a big thanks to Doug Beaumier who started me out on the steel and helped me through lots of songs. 
needless to say my interest is dwindling... another song is the new Kid Rock song...wow..what happened to Nashville??? I said "lets play some old george strait" and didnt get much of a response. 
....Good practice session anyway. We are playing this saturday and hopefully the crowds will be a bit better.