The Derailers in Switzerland

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 17 May 2002 6:22 am

I have just noticed that the Derailers are in Switzerland on 28th/29th June at a festival with Sarah Jory.

Can anyone tell me who will be playing steel with them - is it likely to be Marty Muse?

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 1 Jul 2002 2:38 am

Went to the Derailers concert in Switzerland Saturday. Had to wait until 1 am Sunday morning for the Derailers set.

The steel player was announced as Pete Finney. Anyone know who he is? He did a good job, he also played steel with the set before from Danni Leigh. He was playing a Sierra.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 1 Jul 2002 4:02 am

Pete is an old friend of mine, and a Forumite. He lives in Nashville, has played with some biggies, and does the pro musician thing.

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Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 1 Jul 2002 6:26 am

I second Herb's comments.
Pete is a true pro, and a great guy. Besdides his many other accomplishments he has covered the steel chair for Last Train Home on several occaisions when I was unavailable, and has even provided lodging for us on some of our Nashburg excursions.

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Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 2 Jul 2002 5:59 am

Thanks guys... it was a fun trip. I was there as part of a Nashville "all star" (their words, not mine!) house band which backed up Jim Lauderdale, Danni Leigh and Chris Knight. Since I also play with the Derailers quite a bit I played their two shows also.

A bit of perspective for you on how long I've known Herb and Dave. Dave and I both played around in the D.C. club scene of the mid seventies (and took lessons from Buddy Charleton...thanks again Buddy!). Dave was an
original and adventurous player then, as he is today. When I moved to Austin in 1979 to play with Doug Sahm, Herb is one of the first guys I met and he was very helpful. I ended up taking his place when he left "Alvin Crow
and the Pleasant Valley Boys" which was a very popular western swing band. When I left the band a few years later Jimmy Day took the gig, maybe the coolest (and strangest) feeling I've had in my career! (The guitar player at that time was a certain "Junior Brown", many years before he dreamed up the guit-steel).

The only other steel player at the Interlaken festival was Sarah Jory from England, who led her own band and was just fantastic. It's true she spent more time singing and playing guitar (excellent slide!) than playing steel but when she did play steel it was really featured. She played several instrumentals that went over incredibly well to a huge festival crowd, which was nice to see. In my humble opinion if steel is ever going to really move to the next level in terms of
acceptance, both by audiences and other musicians, it will be through the success of someone who sings, fronts the band and plays steel. Maybe it will be Robert Randolph, maybe it will be Sarah, or maybe someone else. But it's great to see the progress people like that are making. (Don't get me wrong; in a just and perfect world Buddy Emmons, Lloyd Green etc. would be superstars... but they're not.)

So, off topic in more than one direction... sorry, must be the jet lag!

Pete

[This message was edited by Pete Finney on 02 July 2002 at 07:29 AM.]

clive swindell · Post by **clive swindell** » 2 Jul 2002 6:16 am

Thanks guys and hello Pete.

We were told that the Derailers were only playing Saturday but when we got there we found that they had played Friday as well.

As the Saturday set was more up tempo stuff, I am interested as to what the play list was for the Friday set. Can you remember? In particular, did you play a song called 'Longing' which is a favourite of ours.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 2 Jul 2002 6:27 am

Well said Pete !
i'm glad to read your review on Sarah.
She does play more slide, but when she gets to Steelin',
She's Dyno all right!
Steel want mo'...

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 02 July 2002 at 07:28 AM.]

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 2 Jul 2002 6:28 am

Hi Clive,

I know we didn't play "Longing"; I don't think I've ever played it with them, which is too bad, it's a great song. Their show on Friday was a little different than Saturday's but a lot of it was the same. I think most bands tend to play perhaps a smaller percentage of ballads live than they do on the albums, at least in front of a rowdy festival audience... getting the adrenaline pumping seems to always be a priority!

If you're ever at a show I'm playing in the future please come say hi... I'll probably be in the U.K. in the fall on a tour with Allison Moorer, though I don't know the dates or places. She's doing a "stripped down" tour there this week with just guitar and keyboards, hitting 6 or 7 cities. So if she comes to your town don't go expecting steel, or a full band!

Pete

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 2 Jul 2002 7:59 am

Hey Pete,
Glad you had a good trip. I've beed doing several dates with the boys. I breifly met you in Birmingham, Al (I think). I didn't really realize who you were at the time, and I was pretty preoccupied with the rain dripping on my steel, so sorry I didn't visit more. The guys have great things to say about you, so I hope to run into you again.

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 2 Jul 2002 12:45 pm

Hi Chris,

That was one screwed up day in Birmingham, I didn't have time to hang out either. That was supposed to be our first "full band" Patty Loveless gig in 6 months, and all our stuff was already set up before it started raining... it sat under plastic for about 4 hours and then we ended up doing an all acoustic, bluegrass set (which is what she's been doing without us, and why we haven't been working!) go figure... At least you guys were in a tent!

We'll meet again I'm sure... The Derailers sure are a fun bunch to play with, aren't they?

Pete