Dylan with twin fiddles and steel guitar!

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 20 Feb 2005 11:15 pm

I talked to Donny Herron(BR549) today and he told me that he just got the gig with Bob Dylan. He will be playing steel, fiddle, mandolin, and anything else he gets his hands on.
Dylan also has hired Elana Fremerman, fiddler from "Hot Club of Cowtown" , so her and Donny have been working out twin fiddle parts on Dylan's songs.

So now I am officially jealous, this is the kind of gig I would love to get. Oh well, Donny will do a great job and he deserves to get a good paying job like this, especially after some of the gigs the we've done together.
I just feel bad for the guy's in BR549 now that Chris and Donny are both gone.

So everyone go see this years Dylan tour with Haggard, and say congratulations to Donny.

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 20 Feb 2005 11:40 pm

I'm probably gonna get doused w/ gasoline,& set afire for this but I don't care. I've been in trouble before,& survived.

Bob Dylan is a GREAT songwriter,but all the fiddles & steels in the world ain't gonna help his singing voice. I have no idea what makes a song writer thinks that,just because they can write 'em...they can sing 'em too.
Another couple of prime examples are Kris Kristofferson & Bill Anderson. GREAT song writers,but I wouldn't walk across the street to hear 'em sing,for free!!
Just my "humble"

opinion.

(flame away)

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Jimmy Youngblood · Post by **Jimmy Youngblood** » 21 Feb 2005 1:05 am

Ditto!

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 21 Feb 2005 1:11 am

Smiley, you're right on. What ever singing ability Dylan ever had (which was minimal) is now gone and he's just embarrasing himself. I thoroughly agree with you that most song writers can't sing well.

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 21 Feb 2005 2:45 am

Bob Dylan is an American icon. Its great to hear that Donny got the gig. Congratulations Donny! I can't wait to hear you play with Bob Dylan. Too cool!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Feb 2005 3:33 am

So Smiley..does this mean if they were on the SAME SIDE of the street you would go see them sing ?

oh..and I'm pretty much in your camp on this one..but if you don't mind I'm gonna stand about 50 feet away when the Gasoline things gets going...

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 21 February 2005 at 07:06 AM.]

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 21 Feb 2005 4:41 am

Smiley....You're right on Target, as usual.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Feb 2005 6:17 am

Sure, Smiley, but would you take the gig?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 21 Feb 2005 7:41 am

With twin fiddles and a steel guitar you sure don't need Dylan around to screw it up, even if he is from Minnesota!

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 21 Feb 2005 9:17 am

Getting back to BR549, I'm looking forward to the possibility that we may now get to hear Chris Scruggs on steel with that group. I really enjoy Chris' steel work on his own CD.

Unlike Alvin, I don't worry about the future for BR549. Chris also brought his song-writing skills to the group on the "Tangled In The Pines" CD with the title track, and also with the songs "No Friend Of Mine", and "Honky Tonkin' Lifestyle". The latter was also the title track for his personal project.

I predict that BR549 will gain more popular ground in the future. [This message was edited by Bryan Bradfield on 21 February 2005 at 09:27 AM.]

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 21 Feb 2005 9:32 am

I've agreed with what Smiley said for over 40 years. Dylan is a great songwriter, decent instrumentalist and arranger, but a pitiful singer. Nevertheless, he is such an icon that it's still interesting to see him sing his own stuff, even if many other people could do it better. Of course, the college radio crowd who go to here Dylan is use to bad singing. In the singer-songwriter world, the words come first, the music second, and the singing dead last. In my experience the best singers grew up singing gospel from a very early age, or they are the rare people with lots of natural talent and great pipes to match. Most singer-songwriters come to the table late, and it shows.

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 21 Feb 2005 9:40 am

You've just got to get your head in a different place to listen to Bob Dylan. Once you do, he's fine. But he doesn't sing by the rules.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Feb 2005 9:49 am

Yeah, like Rule #1: it matters whether you sing on-key or off-key...

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 21 Feb 2005 9:51 am

... but would you take the gig?

Jim,
That would be like Spalding's,offering me $50 an hour,to make golf clubs again. The answer would be,an emphatic "NO"!
I'm sorry,but I'm not a hypocrite. I guess the money would be nice,but if you can't enjoy the job,what's the sense in taking it?

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Feb 2005 9:57 am

Fair enuf, Smiley-mon. So, if they call ya, give'em, my phone number, 'kay?

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 21 Feb 2005 10:36 am

DEAL!! (that goes for Kris & Bill too.)

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<pre> ~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 21 Feb 2005 10:37 am

I posted about the upcoming Dylan tour here in the Music section a couple of weeks ago. It is a double bill....Dylan and Haggard!

They are coming to Chicago for 6 shows.

Cheers!
Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com
http://www.arditotech.com

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Feb 2005 11:03 am

Which poses our friend Smiley another ethical conundrum: would you take the Dylan gig just so Hag could hear ya play and maybe pick you up for his next tour? Ya never know where this could lead, Smiley-Mon... You could become a household name, like Drano, or Plumber's Choice...

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 21 Feb 2005 11:06 am

So, is Larry Campbell out of the band? He has been Bob's steel/utility man for a few years now.

Does Don Herron play pedals at all?

Sounds like Dylan's trying to get in the Bob Wills mode for these Haggard shows. I can't wait.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Feb 2005 12:00 pm

Dylan lost his voice counting his money out loud

Nah, he didn't have one even when he was young and broke in the East Village...

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 21 Feb 2005 12:50 pm

Getting back to BR549, I'm looking forward to the possibility that we may now get to hear Chris Scruggs on steel with that group.

Chris left BR549 last month. He is playing with Rosie Flores and working on his own project.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>So, is Larry Campbell out of the band? He has been Bob's steel/utility man for a few years now.

Does Don Herron play pedals at all?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes and yes. Larry is doing his solo project now and Donny will be playing some pedal and non pedal.

Dylan lost his voice counting his money out loud.

I agree. I still like the way Dylan sings, but I also like the way Tom Waits sings.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 21 Feb 2005 2:06 pm

I can enjoy a voice, or any instrument, for the quality of execution, and also for the emotion and "vibe". Some of the old bluesmen really move me, and they don't worry too much about things like pitch... when I was a sprout my Dad loved Dylan and the folkies, my classically trained Mom couldn't stand 'em. Every Wednesday night until I left home she would go to choir practice and Dad would spin "Highway 61 Revisited", "Cisco Houton sings Woody Guthrie" Buffy Sainte Marie, etc. Those tunes are burned into my brain and I remember really getting the emotion and and intent despite the lack of "polish". Thanks, Dad.

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

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Feb 2005 2:36 pm

Smiley..do not listen to Jimbeaux..you could also become a household name like..

Tidy Bowl

or

Tampon

or

Ex Lax

see..it works both ways

t

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 21 Feb 2005 2:45 pm

I've heard a rumor that Dylan and Hag will be touring together.