Pickers on Broadway in Nashville...

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 16 Apr 2002 9:48 am

I was in Nashville last week and spent some time cruising the bars on Broadway.
One guitar player that really was better than most anybody I've seen was a guy named Jimmy Montiac (sp? - rhymes with Pontiac).
They said he plays with Mark Chestnut but I couldn't find anything on the web about him.
Interestingly, this guy has only 3 fingers and a thumb on his left hand.
He was really entertaining to watch and was playing some unbelievibly fast and intricate solos (Custom Tele + Twin Reverb).

There were steel players with 9 out of 10 bands (on the average), but the one guy who played some killer E9 (who was also playing with Jimmy Montiac the few times I saw those guys with different lead singers) was a guy named Randy Sorrells, who plays with Montgomery Gentrey. I checked their website but couldn't find any band photos (Emmons P-P).

Also, John Hughey played with the Western Swingers from 6-10pm one night and was totally rippin' it up. It seemed like a no pressure gig and John was playing some blazing C6th solos!

I enjoyed my visit!

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 16 Apr 2002 9:51 am

I just found a link with a picture of Randy: http://www.montgomerygentry.com/wldbunch.htm

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 16 Apr 2002 10:56 am

I've never heard the cat play, but with a 66-67 rosewood Bolt-On, he most assuredly knows the right horn to have onstage!

I have a feeling he's a good'un...

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 16 Apr 2002 12:34 pm

Pete,
You never know who you might hear on Broadway.

Theresa

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 16 Apr 2002 2:02 pm

I Guess I'll find out who's on Broadway this weekend, My wife and I are coming the Nashville for the weekend..I'll be pleased just to see and hear Mike Sweeney and to meet B Seymour.

TP<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 16 April 2002 at 03:02 PM.]</p></FONT>

Gaylon Mathews · Post by **Gaylon Mathews** » 16 Apr 2002 3:10 pm

Pete,

Jimmy and Randy are both friends of mine. Jimmy is with Montgomery Gentry and not Chesnut. Randy is an Atlanta boy and has worked the Atlanta clubs most of his life until he got the MG gig. What a SMOKIN' player he is! Jimmy Moniac is a texas boy who was the staff guitarist at Cowboys in Kennesaw, Ga for a few years (where Randy also played) until he got the MG gig. But get this, Jimmy only plays rhythm guitar with Montgomery Gentry!

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Gaylon's Homepage
www.geocities.com/nashville/1064

Craig Collins & High Lonesome
www.craigcollins.org

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 16 Apr 2002 3:51 pm

I heard from my lighting buddy that MG goes on the road this week with Kenny Chesney's
tour.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 16 Apr 2002 4:03 pm

Gaylon,
Thanks for the info and clarification! (I don't know why I thought they said Mark Chestnut?!... maybe that was the drummer).
Those guys were really impressive!
I actually broke out in laughter on several of Jimmies solos because I really couldn't believe what I was hearing.
FWIW, He's a great rhythm player too. I never heard him noodling or stepping on any toes. Really classy.
I'm glad to hear these guys are on with a major act.
One of the other steelers I saw told me, "for every dollar that goes in the tip jar, twenty cents goes to the steel picker".

We all laughed, but it was true!

But, many of the players I saw did say they were with major acts and were playing Broadway while off the road.

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 16 Apr 2002 9:03 pm

Well,it sounds like all the good pickin'is only on Lower Broad or near Opryland, so if anybody wants to hear a band that really sucks come on up to Goodlettesville to the Long Hollow Jamboree on Saturday nights from 7:30 to 11:00PM and you can hear me,Ron Hogan,Jan Jones,Mike Dunbar,Drew Covington,and Roy Harris play some country music and ho'downs.I guess if this place is good enough for John Hughy,Hal Rugg and Johnny Cox it must not be too bad.

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 16 Apr 2002 10:04 pm

Randy Sorrells is from outside of Atlanta, I believe. I first met him there in the early 80's, when I played with Tom T Hall @ the same club that Randy regularly worked. He was a fine steel player then & Im sure he's even better now!.