Marshfield Missouri 6th Annual Steel Guitar Show


Terry Wood's announcement on the Steel Guitar Forum says it all:

The Marshfield 6th Annual Steel Guitar Show show will be held on Saturday June 4th, 2011.

The Steel Guitars and Country Music Show will be held once again at the Historic Marshfield Jubilee Theater. We will start playing at 10:00 A.M. and the day's events will last til around 7:30 p.m.

We are really booked up this year and if your name is not on here then you will be scheduled for 2012. Since we are only a one day show it's the best we can do to schedule players and singers.

This years players and guests:

Rusty Young and John David Call


Steel guitarist Rusty Young is the band leader of Poco, an iconic country rock group that was formed in 1968. His stage presence, dynamic personality and obvious chops inspired many budding steel players of his generation. All of Poco's other original members have moved on, but Rusty Young continues to excite audiences to this day.

Steel guitarist John David Call was more understated in Pure Prairie League, another country rock band from that era. Similarly, his playing inspired many players, but he dropped from sight when he left the band in 1977. In June of last year, PPL fans were delighted to learn that John David Call has rejoined the band. Pure Prairie League maintains a sparse touring schedule of 2 or 3 gigs per month.

Tim Marcus and Or, The Whale


A young San Francisco-based band called Or, The Whale relies heavily on the talents of pedal steel guitarist Tim Marcus. Their high energy sound is big on rock rhythms and vocal harmonies, with Tim's psychedelic steel lines floating on top like icing on a cake. Or, The Whale classifies themselves as Americana, but I hear a lot of early Haight Ashbury in their sound. An unlikely place for pedal steel? Not as strange as you might think.

Eric Heywood touring with Ray LaMontagne


Eric Heywood is playing his 11-string Williams pedal steel with Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs this year. There's a great video at www.RayLaMontagne.com, recorded two weeks ago at Live on Letterman. Check out the 2nd and 3rd songs for some really smooth steel guitar. Lead guitarist Kevin Barry also plays some very tasty lap steel.

The band is running a very busy North American tour schedule. Tonight they're at Midway Lawn in Burlington, Vermont, and they only have a few days off over the next four weeks. The complete list of dates and ticket availability can be found at www.RayLaMontagne.com/us/events.

Steel Jams This Weekend

In addition to the the big OSGA Jamboree in Tulsa, there are at least two smaller steel guitar events happening in the US this weekend.

The first jam is near Weber City, VA, just over the Tennessee state line. This will be on Saturday. It's hosted by Tony Dingus. Herby Wallace plans to attend and set up a table of his products for steel players. The building, named "Pickin at the Spot", has a web site www.PickinSpot.com. It's about a mile east of Weber City on Highway 58, also known as Bristol Highway. Tony's directions can be found on the Steel Guitar Forum.

Weber City Steel Jam
Sat, May 28, 10 AM to 6 PM
Pickin at the Spot
1490 Bristol Highway
Gate City, Virginia

The second jam is in San Antonio, TX, on Sunday afternoon. It's hosted by Joe Rouse at the Helotes VFW Post. Here's a link to Joe's Steel Guitar Forum announcement: bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=205557. I think this is the first steel jam at this venue. Details:

San Antonio Steel Jam
Sun, May 29, 2 PM to 5 PM
Helotes VFW Post 7108 (Google map)
8759 FM 1560 N
San Antonio, TX

Lloyd Green at Country Music Hall of Fame


Last month on this page I reported on Lloyd Green's involvement in the new recording of "Songs of Fox Hollow". I'm pleased to follow up with this report of the CD's imminent release and concert. On Wednesday evening at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Lloyd will take the stage to back vocalists Bobby Bare, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Tommy Cash, Jim Lauderdale, Peter Cooper, Eric Brace & Last Train Home, Gary Bennett, Jon Byrd, Mark & Mike, The Wrights, Fayssoux Starling McLean. Songwriter Tom T. Hall will also perform.

Of special interest to guitarists, Duane Eddy will be performing his trademark style with Buddy Miller on the hit song "Sneaky Snake". In addition to Lloyd Green on pedal steel, the band will include Jen Gunderman on keyboards, Mike Bub on bass and Mark Horn on drums. These are the same musicians who played the sessions.

The May 25th concert starts at 7 PM, and video will be streamed live on the Internet at the CountryMusicHallOfFame.org web site for those who can't attend in person. There's also a very long article about the project at that site. I've heard the CD and in addition to the excellent steel playing it's one of the best recordings I've heard in recent years. This promises to be the landmark concert of the year for lovers of real country music.

The CD, which was produce by Peter Cooper and Eric Brace, is now available for purchase at RedBeetRecords.com.

Oklahoma Steel Guitar Association Jamboree


The Oklahoma Steel Guitar Association will be presenting their big 17th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Jamboree in Tulsa this Friday and Saturday. Over 30 well-known steel guitarists are scheduled to perform 25-minute sets with a top notch backup band.

Fri, May 27, starting at 11:00 AM
Sat, May 28, starting at 9:00 AM
American Legion Post 308 Hall
11328 East Admiral Blvd.
Tulsa, Oklahoma (Google map)

Hotel accommodations are available at a discount rate to show attendees at Econo Lodge, 11620 East Skelly Drive, Tulsa (about a mile from the show). Phone 918-437-9200 for reservations and mention the OSGA Jamboree to get the special rates: single $39, double $49.

For the schedule of players and more, visit the OSGA web site at www.TheOSGA.org.

Joaquin Murphey - Hawaii Forever

No news today, so I'll finish the week with a plug.


This obscure cassette by Joaquin Murphy is so rare that I haven't been able to find out anything about it. All I know is that it was made in Los Angeles in 1972. These instrumentals have original Hawaiian-sounding names, but some of them sound vaguely familiar. The steel playing is just awesome, as you would expect from Murph.

You can listen to the songs online at b0blee.bandcamp.com/album/hawaii-forever, or get a CD copy from my Kunaki page kunaki.com/MSales.asp?PublisherId=127339. There are a few other CDs on that page that you might also enjoy.

On a personal note, I've been pleased to see that daily readership of this blog has recently reached triple digits. Thanks, everyone. Tell your friends, and I'll keep on writing.

The Campbell Brothers


The Campbell Brothers are playing in Califon, New Jersey, this Saturday as part of a blues festival to benefit the Lebanon Township Education Foundation. The Bourbon Street Blues Fest starts at 11:30 AM, and the Campbell Brothers are scheduled as the second act at 12:10 PM.

This all-day event with lots of bands only costs $25 for adults, $5 for school-aged kids, and it's all for a good cause. For more info, visit www.BourbonStreetBluesFest.com.

The Campbell Brothers web site address is www.campbellbrothers.com.

O.S.G.A. Steel Jam in Columbus, Ohio

Today's post is verbatim from Gary Preston on the Steel Guitar Forum:
Time for another jam for the O.S.G.A. Ohio. We had a great jam the last time so make plans on coming for this one! We had lots of steel players along with other musicians at the last jam. Good food and fellowship, that is what it's all about! We have a smoke and alcohol free venue so you can bring the whole family. We will be playing all styles of music from Gospel, Country and Jazz. Singers are welcome. Plan on coming to enjoy the day with us.
Sat May 21, 12 Noon to 6 PM
Ohio Steel Guitar Association Jam
Lighthouse Ministries, rear annex
2295 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio (Google map)

Future O.S.G.A. jams planned for 2011:

June 25
August 27
October 22
December 3

For more information call Gary Preston at 614-774-3109.

Barry Sless Touring Hawaii with Moonalice


Virtuoso pedal steel isn't featured in many rock bands, but then there aren't many steel players like Barry Sless. None actually. Moonalice is the perfect vehicle for this monster player. Their organic arrangements leave plenty of space for extended steel rides, to the delight of jam-band fans everywhere.

Moonalice is in Hawaii for 4 shows this week. The venues are:

May 19: Charley's, Paia, Maui
May 20: Stella Blues, Kihei, Maui
May 21: Akebono Theatre, Pahoa, Big Island
May 22: Pirate's Cove, Ocean View, Big Island

To learn more about the band, visit www.moonalice.com.

Chris Combs' "Race Riot Suite" will Premier in Tulsa


Progressive lap steel guitarist Chris Combs will be premiering his new composition "Race Riot Suite" with the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and additional musicians in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 20.

"Race Riot Suite" commemorates the lives lost and resilient spirit of Tulsa's black community following the 1921 Tulsa race riot that flattened Tulsa's Greenwood district. 39 people died in the riot, which included a aerial assault by World War I era biplanes.

Manasota Steel Guitar Club of Florida


The Manasota Steel Guitar Club meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month (except December) in Bradenton, Florida. That's tomorrow!

Players are invited to bring their own steel guitar and play a few tunes with the club's back-up band or your own band. The event is free, and there are no dues associated with the club. It's a great opportunity to get together with some other steel players to socialize and share musical ideas.

Joe Wright's Skype Lesson Offer


Joe Wright is universally recognized as one of the hottest pedal steel players in the world. He has headliner status when he performs at steel guitar shows, his blazingly fast right hand technique is legendary, and he has published many courses and video tutorials to help advance the art of playing pedal steel.

For a couple of years now, Joe has been giving one-on-one video lessons via the Skype internet service. You can read about how these lessons work at skype.pedalsteel.com. To help you get started, Joe is offering an introductory lesson in exchange for a $10.00 donation to the Steel Guitar Forum. To take him up on the offer, click the PayPal Donate button below. I'll forward your email address to Joe, and he'll contact you to schedule the lesson.


Your $10.00 donation will help pay the monthly internet bill at SteelGuitarForum.com, and you'll get a session with the steel guitar world's most famous personal trainer. Act now - this offer won't last forever.

Tonight in Berkeley, California


I know it's short notice, but if you're in the SF Bay area you probably want to know about this. It's a three band show with three hot local steel players at The Starry Plough in Berkeley. The cover is $8.

Lady A & Her Heel Draggers (Mikiya Matsuda)
The West Coast Ramblers (Lee Jeffriess)
The Seducers (Joe Goldmark)

Thursday, May 12 · 8:30 - 11:30 PM
The Starry Plough Pub (Google map)
3101 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA

Heartland Steel Guitar Association Jam

The Heartland SGA hosts a jam for steel guitarists in North Kansas City, MO, on the 3rd Sunday of odd-numbered months. The next one will take place this Sunday, May 15.

All levels of pedal steel, lap steel and dobro players are welcome (other instruments are by invitation only). You can bring headphones if you want to play along without being heard.

Beyond the music, events like this are a great opportunity to socialize with other steel players, talk shop and check out each others gear. The variety of instruments and playing styles is always interesting, and the atmosphere is friendly and supportive.

Heartland SGA Jam
Sunday May 15, 1:30-5:30 PM
Northtown Opry Hall (Google map)
1419 Swift Avenue
North Kansas City, Missouri

For more info, visit the HeartlandSteelers.org web site.

Darryl Logue Interview in Kansas City Star

Just a short note today to call your attention to an article about pedal steel in the Kansas City Star. A five-band concert last weekend had five steel players, and a reviewer interviewed one of them, Darryl Logue of Rex Hobart & the Honky Tonk Standards. Here's the link:

Steel Guitar Tribute at the Brick

It's hard to spot events like this in advance. If you know of a steel-heavy concert coming up in your town, please email me at quasar@b0b.com or post it in the Event Announcements section of The Steel Guitar Forum.

Southern Steel Guitar Convention, Saluda SC

Saturday Night Jam

The Southern Steel Guitar Convention will be held on Sunday, May 15, in Saluda, South Carolina. This event happens 4 times a year, giving players in the region a chance to gather in fellowship and hear some great steel playing. Admission is $15, and all profits from the show are donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children via the Saluda Shrine Club.

On Vacation


QUACK!

I'm taking a long weekend off. Be back next week.

Best wishes to Bryce and Lori.

  -b0b-

Ben Kitterman backs Aaron Lewis

Aaron Lewis, lead vocalist of the popular rock band Staind, has been branching out as a solo country artist. A big part of his live acoustic sound is the artistry of Ben Kitterman on dobro and pedal steel. You can read a review of their show in last Sundays's Kansas City Star.

Here's a video of Aaron and Ben playing on Jimmy Kimmel Live:


Their tour schedule is on the Staind.com web page. Ben is playing on all of the dates listed as "Aaron Lewis Solo Acoustic".

Lew Childre Memorial Steel Guitar Show, Opp, Alabama


The annual Lew Childre Memorial Steel Guitar Show will take place this Saturday in Opp, Alabama. Born in 1901, Lew Childre was a popular entertainer from Opp in the 1930s through the 1950s. He was one of the last generation of entertainers that trained on the stages of old-time medicine and vaudeville shows, playing Hawaiian guitar as part of shows that included singing, dancing, comedy, music and even poetry. He played duets with Stringbean at the Grand Ole Opry and was a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Lew Childre passed away in 1961.

Gerry Hogan touring UK with Albert Lee


Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes are touring England this month. Gerry Hogan is one of Europe's top steel players, and Albert Lee's guitar chops are legendary as well. The two have been playing together for over 20 years. They put on a high energy country rock show, sure to excite a crowd in venues large and small.

Joe Savage backs Craig Finn on Wits radio show

I try to catch events like this before they happen, but sometimes they just aren't on my radar screen. Like this one.

Earlier this month, singer/songwriter Craig Finn of The Hold Steady performed a few new tunes on Wits, a live Minnesota Public Radio show. Of note to steel fans was tone monster Joe Savage on his pedal steel. I always tend to think of Joe as an aggressive, in your face, take no prisoners kind of player, but this show was different. Craig Finn's songs are quiet, personal and reflective, and Joe's playing matched the mood perfectly. I asked Joe about it, and this is what he wrote: