GURNIN' & BODY POPPIN'

[SHAKEY]

I was just watching a video of Willie Nelson singing "Night Life" live, when it came to the instrumental break Willie did his usual acoustic guitar break followed by a break from Robbie Turner. Now I think Robbie is one hell of a player, I have a couple of his albums but I couldn't help noticing the agony he was going through playing that break. I don't know if it was a severe headache or toothache or what, but he wasn't half making some agonising faces.
Why do certain Steel players make such silly faces when they play, and some of the body movements are like something out of a circus act, you know the contortionist thing where their head goes all over the place and their shoulders seem to dislocate, sometimes like they are having an orgasm or something.
One of my absolute favourite players is Tommy White, I have never seen him do all this jigglin' about. He plays with so much feeling but doesn't make a big show of it.
Do the people that do this really have to do it, do they think it makes them sound better or what. One thing is for sure it certainly doesn't make them look better, in some cases it makes them look like they are having a fit.
What d'ya reckon.
Dave.

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Good question Shakey,
It is probably unanswerable. I guess the player is putting in so much feeling into his playing He does not actually know how distorted He looks.
I, myself always tightened up and made a face or twisted body when I used the "C" pedal on the push pull I owned,I was always waiting for the third string to break.
Guitar players make faces all the time,Just try using a Wah Wah pedal,You can get some classic gurns.
I do'nt need any help with this face I have,it is funny enough
Best regards
Billy

[telboy]

i sometimes find myself twisting n pulling faces whilst playing especially when i hit a right note, i think its the surprise of it

[Dave Boothroyd]

My excuse is that when I'm really concentrating on playing, I don't have any brain power left to work my face. So it just does what it wants. Nothing to do with me!
Cheers
Dave

[Ken Byng]

Paul Franklin and B J Cole are the biggest examples of body popping and head throwing that I've seen live. Most of the big names don't find it necessary to do this. Emmons, Green, White, Palousek etc are fairly static except for the occasional grin.

Do we need Liberace's of the steel guitar? Maybe.

[Basil Henriques]

It's NOT the sole domain of male players ...

[IanPearce]

I do believe some show of emotion (acted or real) can fool the brain into thinking something more exiting and musically challenging is occurring.
One of my favourite players is Sarah Jory and when I witness her faecal expressions I really believe she's totally immersed in her playing. It could however just be part of her act. Should it matter? Well, it's possible that the act of acting, could help a player dig deeper into themselves and play more soulfully than they otherwise would.
If you're as old as me you may have seen The Who playing live. Can you imagine those chords sounding quite so aggressive and having the same impact if you couldn't see them being played "windmill" style?
Ian

[SHAKEY]

I don't know what happened to my last reply but it obviously didn't get here, so to repeat, Ken you are quite right, I don't know how many of you watch "TRU COUNTRY" on channel 280 which features people like Bobby Flores on Fiddle and Dickey Overby & Rick Price on steel. Those guys do the business, the only time you see them make any odd facial expressions is on the rare occasion they play a JD (sorry, bum note) then you see a little smile or maybe a grimace. Having just seen Basils last post, yes you too are quite right I remember once being at a show and Sarah was playing ("Mansion on the Hill") and a certain steel player said "My God she's having an orgasm." Myself I think I'll stick to grinding my teeth and saying bollox when I goof.
Dave.

[Basil Henriques]

Whenever I play a wrong one, I just smile and look at Pat. Her being a woman, the general congregation of musicians watching would naturally expect her to be more likely to be wrong. In fact the complete opposite is true, it's me who drops the clangers and pat who's 99.9% faultless.. I've seen her play all day at a convention and not put a foot/chord wrong.

As for facial expressions, if you look closely you'll notice MANY players "Mouth" the notes as they play.
There was I time I played with my mouth open as if catching flies.. until I saw a picture of it.

I must admit to blatancy in the "Shaping" department. My slant is that when you're out front you've got to sell it..Sitting still and just playing is laudable but not very entertaining to the vox populi..

I introduced the Pedal Steel to the Showband scene in Ireland as a "Frontman" and it was an integral part of the job description, not only to sell, but to play lead guitar almost simultaneously. Well at least be "Strapped into it" and ready to perform.. My endeavours brought it to the front and the notice of the dancing populus and music followers.
I sold the steel that well that I cornered the session/broadcast scene, even being an inferior player to what the guru's believed.
Smoke and mirrors worked in the stylistic dept. (I was definitely a plagiarist with my playing) in fairness that's what the requirements were in Ireland, covers of USA records needed to be as close as possible..not having to dream up the parts myself left me free to concentrate on the visual aspect of the job.. Eye contact, acknowledgement of interest and glances in the right direction go a long way to forming the right impressions with the audience.

Here's proof that paper never refuses ink !!


But it WAS believed.. I built upon it..



There is a point where it can become "Overselling" that point can't easily be determined by fellow steel players, they look for different things than the general public do. But Blatant tears on one side of the coin, or conversely, jumping around like a "Blue Arsed Fly" may be beyond what the public perceive as "Showmanship".

[Ken Byng]

..............One of my favourite players is Sarah Jory and when I witness her faecal expressions I really believe she's totally immersed in her playing..................Ian

Ian - you made me laugh today when I was feeling a bit under the weather. Sarah's faecal expressions - does that mean she's straining?