Line Out - Comments on Pedal Steel - Truck Lab http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab The pedal steel guitar is a bitch to play. Players are heady, a combination of trucker and scientist. The sound of the pedal steel swells in and colors. It implies country, back roads, and voodoo on the swamp. The cross-ties... Copyright 2008 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:43:50 -0800 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:36:41 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Levislade And don't forget Amateur Radio Operator. That Kevin is a busy man!

Thanks for this piece. I am always in awe watching an even remotely competent pedal steel player; my brain hurts just thinking about all those strings and pedals and switches and such.

]]> Levislade http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766117 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766117 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:17:12 -0800 Comment by trent moorman From what I've read about flying helicopters, playing pedal steel is very similar.

Forget the 18 wheeler, Kevin, you're into helicopters now.

Could Kevin fly a helicopter and play his pedal steel at the same time? That, is the question. I mean, I drum and drive all the time.

]]> trent moorman http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766124 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766124 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:23:30 -0800 Comment by Jason Josephes Hands down, the greatest instrument in the world.

Best steel guitar solo ever? Easy: Red Rhodes from Michael Nesmith's First National Band on the song "Wax Minute." Here's an mp3 -- the solo kicks in at the 2:20 part and will tickle, dazzle, then melt your brain.

http://www.bubblegum-machine.com/waxminute12.mp3

]]> Jason Josephes http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766126 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766126 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:25:21 -0800 Comment by Kim Hayden My ultimate dream is to be able to play a pedal steel.

]]> Kim Hayden http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766130 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766130 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:28:17 -0800 Comment by trent moorman Nice, Jason. Dude is gettin it.

]]> trent moorman http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766146 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766146 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:38:00 -0800 Comment by meal Sacred steel anyone? this is some of my favorite lap steel music. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0LcYNrZYGQ

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3TQKmKzM9w
These videos bring much joy

]]> meal http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766169 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766169 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:07:37 -0800 Comment by trent moorman There's a pedal steel lord in town named Dan Tyack.

http://www.myspace.com/dantyack

He's got some Sacred Steel connection.

He gets it and doesn't stop gettin it. He paid his dues in Nashville and everything.

]]> trent moorman http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766174 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766174 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:15:49 -0800 Comment by K Suggs Yeah , Jason. That is sweet. I like how he makes it sound like the organ during the hammond solo. Great tone. I need to check out more of Nesmith's stuff. He was one of the OG's of Alt Country.

]]> K Suggs http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766186 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766186 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:31:13 -0800 Comment by dan I got a student model sho bud pedal steel and I've had it for about five years now...the hardest damn instrument I've ever laid my hands on, also one of the coolest sounding. I like the E9 tuning too although I've messed around quite a bit with the C6 as well. Also I don't use the fingerpicks, just doesn't work for me.

]]> dan http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766187 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766187 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:33:41 -0800 Comment by Powerpop-Gary Hats off to anyone who plays pedal steel. I have long argued that it is the most complicated instrument on nearly any stage, requiring finese and coordination.

Plus, there are few instruments that literally define the sound of a genre, while also being able to operate outside of it.

]]> Powerpop-Gary http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766208 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766208 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:59:11 -0800 Comment by tante So is this a cousin of the dobro and did the dobro come from Hawaii or West VA? Mountain mamma? Tante

]]> tante http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766216 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766216 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:25:12 -0800 Comment by Powerpop-Gary Oh, and nearly all of my favorite pedal steel players are (or were) operating in the Western Swing genre.

Twangy country dudes playing hillbilly music crossed with big band jazz is a winning combination. Long live Billy Jack Wills, I say!

]]> Powerpop-Gary http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766219 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766219 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:31:35 -0800 Comment by K Suggs Yeah Dan, The C6 tuning is cool. The MSA I just got is a double neck so I now have that tuning to mess with. As for the finger picks they where the hardest part about learning to play the steel for me. I'd go for one string and hit three. I took them off at first but then realized that the metal on metal action has a lot to do with the tone you get.

]]> K Suggs http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766253 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766253 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:58:54 -0800 Comment by Monty Well put, Trent. You are the Daddy.

Pedal steel players are the sheriffs of music.

I'm spitting right now.

]]> Monty http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766278 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766278 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:13:43 -0800 Comment by D No Monty, Trent is the Sheriff.

Well ok, and pedal steel players too. And Roscoe P. Coltrain. But I could so see Trent in some shit kickers.

You ever seen Trent spin things on his finger? He can spin anything. Kind of freaky.

You know if it were back in the day, Trent could have handled the steel, as in guns, real well.

]]> D http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766320 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766320 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:06:48 -0800 Comment by Don of ThorNton Creek Thanks for mentioning ThorNton Creek. (Any spelling is fine!)

Another pedal monster in town, in addition to Kevin and Dan Tyack, is Bob Knetzger of The Swains. I was lucky enough to play with him in another band for a short while. Just playing near him taught me how little I knew about music!

tante@11: There's some steel guitar history at http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/steel.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedal_steel_guitar

]]> Don of ThorNton Creek http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766381 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766381 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:33:34 -0800 Comment by JD Whenever I hear a song with pedal steel it immediately gets my attention. Few sounds define a song like that sound.

And while the Chuck Campbells and Robert Randolphs blow me away with their rockin blues jams, I am even more impressed with the dude who can get it to roll in and roll out with just the right country flair - as Kevin describes - nice and smooth, to give a song backbone and character.

Don't know the players, but the following acts come to mind: Don Williams, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Whiskeytown, Joe Henry and dozens of others. Be sure to check out Some Broken Hearts Never Mend by Don Williams.

]]> JD http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766424 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766424 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:30:39 -0800 Comment by wow Holy cow. That is one hell of a solo... Thanks!

]]> wow http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766432 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766432 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:50:03 -0800 Comment by bass as in fish check out chris zasche. he plays a mean pedal steel with tim seeley, the maldives, drew victor, widower, and a million other bands.

]]> bass as in fish http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766440 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766440 Sound Check Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:37:39 -0800 Comment by dp Worthy instrument to be in resurgence and seeing it more and more around town. Great, and sometimes haunting ambient sound. Three more bands who I seem to recall seeing lately graced with the presence of steel...Red Jacket Mine, Downpilot, and Pickwick.

Prefaced with a "conflict of interest" disclaimer (I play in the band), but hell, why not give more thanks to Kevin here for adding steel to one our tracks. We made the 11th hour decision to have steel on our song "Evergreens." Kevin took free reign on the the raw tracks and it turned out great. Completely changed the character of the song.

If curious, the track is on our myspace page (shameless tangential self promotion):

http://www.myspace.com/jonesfamilyfortune

]]> dp http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766574 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c766574 Sound Check Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:20:41 -0800 Comment by Dan Tyack Cool article!

I'm playing down at the High Dive tonight (Saturday July 12th), and I might show a Sacred Steel move or two.

]]> Dan Tyack http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c767175 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c767175 Sound Check Sat, 21 Jul 2007 13:51:44 -0800 Comment by ANDRE Powerpop Murphy mentioned his favorite steel guys were from western swing bands. He should go ahead and mentioned Joaquin Murphy from Spade Cooley's band.
Jason Josephes gave us his top steel guitar performace on MP-3, and instead of clashing with Jason about his choice..after buying ton's of steel music the last year, Tom Morrell's How THe West Was Won Volume 4 Pterodactyl Tales, is just the most stunning gorgeous steel album I have ever heard, it's way in your face with the kind of fat steel that plays very jazzy hip versions of classic material, and his guest guitarist is easily on the same level. This is gold. His other volumes don't sound like this one. Volume 4, baby, and let me know what you think. (Yes, I have lots of Speedy West) Andre in S.F.

]]> ANDRE http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c773483 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c773483 Sound Check Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:26:03 -0800 Comment by ANDRE Speaking of steel guitar, it's been really interestingto hear Tom Waits Orphans set of 3 CD's, especially the Bawler's CD, which I have copied and usually play in my weekend car trips, along with now, some Spade Cooley, the soundtrack to Angel-A, and some Rhino 50's singers stuff, and some Joey DeFrancesco and Pat Martino.Tom has added a steel player to many of the cuts on the Bawlers disc, and it's lovely, muted stuff. This second disc on the Orphans set is easily the best CD of last year...stunning songs, beautiful arrangements, and very deeply satisfying. Widows grove on this is probably the deepest song Tom and his wife have ever written.

]]> ANDRE http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c773500 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/07/pedal_steel_truck_lab#c773500 Sound Check Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:36:41 -0800