Great American Roadhouse on RFDTV

[Jay Fagerlie]

Does anyone out there tune in to RFDTV for the Great American Roadhouse
Show? I have seen 3 or 4 episodes, they repeat them all the time. Seems to be the same group of Texas style music, some pretty good songwriters, etc. The show last night had Davin James, a slick guitar player with some good ‘roadhouse’ tunes. The one that caught my ear was about a dance girl, I think it was titled “Dancin’ in New Orleans”...a pretty rippin’ tune, good lead break, I really liked the guy’s vocal delivery. A definite low budget show, but that doesn’t stop it from being entertaining. I haven’t seen any steel yet, a little bottleneck on one episode, but I’m hoping….
Jay

[Bobby Sparks]

I don't know who they are, but there are two or three different steel players you will see depending on what groups are playing. I think one plays an Emmons and one has an MCI. That caught my eye 'cause that's what I play.

[Blake Hawkins]

There is also one act which has a lead player who alternates between 6 string and a T-8 Magnatone.
Another act has a lead player who sometimes uses a lap steel hung from his neck.
I watch the show as often as I can.
I agree that they do too many repeats.
Evidently the acts only play their own original music.
I also e mailed and suggested that they list the musicians, but they haven't done that.
Only the headliners.
Blake

[Jay Fagerlie]

Hi Blake
I'm gonna haft to keep my eyes open for the guy with the T-8, I have one myself! Could you tell if it was the "Lyric" or the "Maestro"?

Jay

[Chris Schlotzhauer]

That series was shot in downtown Dallas at Eddie Dean's Ranch, which is a big ballroom that caters to corporate partys. It was a seemingly great production setup (sound, lighting, props, etc). It was actually shot in 3-D, and was touted to be the first 3-D broadcast ever. It was shot over several weeks period, on Wednesday nights with different Texas artists. The shows were free so they could have a full house for each shoot. They claimed it would be like Austin City Limits. We watched some playbacks backstage and they looked and sounded pretty good. When I saw and heard the TV airings, I was shocked! The sound was horrible on every act I watched. The phoney canned audience noise that was going on while an artist talked was hillarious. Austin City Limits never did that. I was and still ashamed that I played on that thing.
The guy playing the T-8 is David Spencer with Sisters Morales. A great guitar and non-pedal player. He is married to one of the sisters (lucky guy). http://www.sistersmorales.com/

[Blake Hawkins]

Jay, I think it was a "Lyric" but I'm not an expert on Magnatone. I have a nice blonde '60's Magnatone lap steel and have been looking around for a T-8. They show up on E Bay every now and then.
Right now, I play a 1956 Gibson Console Grande, the one with the "4-8-4" pickups.
Blake

[Jay Fagerlie]

Blake,
The "Lyric" has a single pickup with an offset cover, the Maestro (like mine) has dual single coil pickups ala Stringmaster with separate volume and tone for each neck. I've seen alot of Lyrics on eBay, but only one D-8 Maestro. Never seen another T-8 Maestro. My T-8 weighs about 56 lbs in the case, pretty heavy, but I sure like the sound. Since each neck is mounted to the base that gets progressively thicker towards the back, the sounds of each neck get warmer as you go to the back neck. Very sweet. If anybody wants to see it, I'll post a picture.

Thanks for the info, Chris, I'm going to take a cruise over to their website and check it out.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jay Fagerlie on 27 November 2003 at 08:25 AM.]</p></FONT>

[Blake Hawkins]

Chris, Thanks for David Spencer's name and the info.

Jay, From your description of your guitar, I think David is playing a Lyric.

Blake