Robert Randolph Review from Portland, OR.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 9 Mar 2002 8:22 am

Robert and the Family Band played Portland last tuesday night.

What can I say?!
From a jam band point of view, this guy is everything a steel player should be, and then some!

First of all he sits 5 feet in front of the rest of the band, dead center stage.
The band is drums, a 6-string bass player who sings great, and an authentic B3 player who makes the steel sound great. That B3 sound is just perfect for backing PSG!

This is a jam band folks.
I heard use of the A+B pedal sound maybe for a total of 30 seconds in a 2 hour show.
How refreshing!

Robert just BLAZES TRAIL from beginning to end.
This act would fit perfectly with the likes of Santana, The Allman Bothers, and any Dead Head type multi band bill, ect...
He's got some very cool blues/jazz chord grips, he's fast as hell on the single note stuff, and quite often the band puches together on a cool lick, brings it up to a crecendo where you think your heads about to explode (a good thing), and then bombs down the other side in an all out Wail!

His spontanious improvisation combined with his attack and use of effects had me thinking "Jimmi Hendrix meets Buddy Emmons".

Robert himself is a great host and addresses the audience in a totally disarming manner, making everybody feel like they are part of the "moment".
He had the audience singing along on "Press On" and a few others, and taught the group how to do "The March" which is a fun dance step that anyone can do.

His Sacred Steel roots are strong and clear in his playing and in his general persona.

If you are into jam bands. this is the only one being fronted by a steel player that I know of, so I reccomend them highly.

The smile on Roberts face tells it all!
[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 09 March 2002 at 08:23 AM.]

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 9 Mar 2002 2:51 pm

Pete, how was the audience reaction? I have seen him three times here in NY and he has the whole place jumping and going wild, throughout his entire set. Their CD, "Live at The Wetlands" is the best.

Bruce Bouton · Post by **Bruce Bouton** » 9 Mar 2002 5:52 pm

I've seen Robert three times in the past year. He just's get's better and better. He is a true showman plus a great musician.Young people everywhere are getting turned on to his style of playing. We may end up with a steel guitar superstar. I'm not sure he could do a gig with Ray Price but that's not the point is it.
BB

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 9 Mar 2002 6:32 pm

Yeah, seems like there's no shortage of us guys who did time in the bars getting all trained up for the Ray Price gigs! This is really exciting, and great news for all our friends who build pedal steels!

Ron Castle · Post by **Ron Castle** » 10 Mar 2002 3:31 am

Pete,
I'm glad to see you mentioned Danyell, Roberts cousin playing bass. He's a terrific
bass player with a really great voice.

Any show with Robert is bound to be a blast.
Great player, great showman, and doing more
for PSG recognition than just about anyone.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 10 Mar 2002 9:03 am

Word has it, no pun intended that Robert will be opening up for The Dave Matthews band, you wanna talk about being exposed to allotta young kids. Keep it going Robert!

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Regards, Craig

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 11 Mar 2002 5:39 am

Robert anf the Family Band are gigging a lot. They have several shows with the Dave Matthews Band coming up. Check www.robertrandolph.net to view his gig schedule.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 11 Mar 2002 9:45 am

I had the privilage to hear Robert at his show in Seattle, on a wet, cold, and windy Monday night at a club which had done absolutely no promotion. The club was packed, and Robert totally killed them. He is definitely well on his way to becoming the first pedal steel player to become a prominent artist. He already is certainly the most prominent pedal steel player in pop music history, in terms of live performances (how many pedal steel players have routinely sold out 1-2000 seat clubs around the country, doing material that is completely focused on the steel guitar). He is a great performer, and his playing is phenominal, and is constantly becoming more refined.

I was fortunate to be invited on stage with Robert to perform, and he was kind enough not to blow me off the stage (which he could). I had a blast.

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www.tyacktunes.com

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 11 Mar 2002 10:10 am

BB, I don't believe Robert would work for what Ray Price pays!

I haven't had a student yet ask me to teach him Sacred Steel stuff, but I certainly won't be surprised when it happens. The kid is hot.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Gary Slabaugh · Post by **Gary Slabaugh** » 14 Mar 2002 5:26 pm

Dan,

I just made it to your web site, not only was the steel playing very enjoyable, I could not believe the "full meal deal" on being able to listen to the full song, not just a 20 second clip. Very nice.

I too live in the Seattle area, wish that I had known about the concert.

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 16 Mar 2002 3:22 am

This sounds like a breathe of fresh air.
Does anyone know what his gear is and what tuning he uses?
[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 16 March 2002 at 03:23 AM.]

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 16 Mar 2002 3:44 am

Hi Andy. I know that Robert has a 13 string Fessenden and when I saw him last fall he played a Carter 13 had just received. He had two amps side by side---a silver face Fender Twin and a Music Man w/ 15" speaker. He switched from the Fender to the MM--I wasn't sure if it was because of problems or for tonal differences (they were very different sounding). I didn't get a chance to see his effects but he has a wah-wah on the floor.
I'm sure someone else knows his tuning--b0b has some sacred steeler tuningshere I think and Carter shows a 12 string tuning--

HERE

--one of the keys is the doubling of the 8th string E, getting the F# out of the way so you can more freely comp, slam, strum, chop rhythmic chords. This inspired me to drop my 7th string F# to E on a lever, very useful.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 16 Mar 2002 9:35 am

In Portland he had an old Session 500 and a new Peavey amp (I didn't look close at the model but probably a 1000).
He played a Bumble Bee (yellow-black-yellow on the front apron) Carter (I didn't notice that it was a 13 string, cool!).
He had another steel set up back stage, the Fessy I'm guessing.
Lots of stomp box effects on the floor.

Bruce Bouton · Post by **Bruce Bouton** » 16 Mar 2002 7:49 pm

Robert Randolph is playing in Nashville this Wednesday,3/20 at the Exit Inn on Elliston place. It should be a great show. If you haven't seen him head on down and see what the fuss is about. On tuesday Paul Franklin's playing Third and Lindsley.
BB

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 17 Mar 2002 2:21 am

Robert plays a couple of Peavey amps and a brand new Carter. I personally thing he would sound killer through an SVT, that's the sound he is going for (very, very loud and punchy).

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www.tyacktunes.com

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 17 Mar 2002 11:51 am

Robert has already had a profound impact on the world as it relates to steel players. In the circles I have been working in producers, musicians and fans don't automaticly assume that they are going to hear country music when they see me set up these days.

I have gotten a few very major sessions and a pile of students as a direct result of Robert's making the instrument more visable and less easily catagorized.

Thank You Robert !

Bob

[This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 17 March 2002 at 10:52 PM.]