A neighbor friend’s aunt and uncle converted their garage into a sort of honky tonk, complete with bar and stage and wooden cafe tables and worn carpets with peanut shells ground into them. The uncle played pedal steel and one sat on the stage and sorta taunted/frightened me. I was scolded never to touch it, and I didn’t, much… In all the time I lived nextdoor to them, they only had one party in that fantastic converted garage; uncle Frank only plugged in and played his pedal steel one time. I still feel saddened by that here 35 or 40 years later.
Though I am an admitted failed pedal steel player, I still love the instrument and this paean to the steel is the best thing I've read (on any topic) in awhile. This deep dive into the instrument's history and its impact on modern music is beautifully written with a perfect mix of audio and images from some of my favorite musicians and photographers.
Wow thank you! I dabble in lap steel, but pedal is such another beast. I had such a blast researching this and putting it together...I might take the pedal plunge now!
A neighbor friend’s aunt and uncle converted their garage into a sort of honky tonk, complete with bar and stage and wooden cafe tables and worn carpets with peanut shells ground into them. The uncle played pedal steel and one sat on the stage and sorta taunted/frightened me. I was scolded never to touch it, and I didn’t, much… In all the time I lived nextdoor to them, they only had one party in that fantastic converted garage; uncle Frank only plugged in and played his pedal steel one time. I still feel saddened by that here 35 or 40 years later.
Though I am an admitted failed pedal steel player, I still love the instrument and this paean to the steel is the best thing I've read (on any topic) in awhile. This deep dive into the instrument's history and its impact on modern music is beautifully written with a perfect mix of audio and images from some of my favorite musicians and photographers.
Wow thank you! I dabble in lap steel, but pedal is such another beast. I had such a blast researching this and putting it together...I might take the pedal plunge now!
Godspeed! If you lived in NYC, I'd give you mine.