Drummer and lap steel

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Bill Hatcher
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Drummer and lap steel

Post by Bill Hatcher »

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Allan Revich
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Re: Drummer and lap steel

Post by Allan Revich »

Definitely a novel approach to steel guitar.

If anyone also cares to listen to more, his band is called The Dirt Whisperers, and they have a YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/q_yGBaa9wLI

I quite like it.
Current Tunings:
GBDGBD
EGBDGBD
FACEGBD

https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
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Stephen Cowell
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Re: Drummer and lap steel

Post by Stephen Cowell »

Allan Revich wrote: 22 Jan 2026 10:56 am Definitely a novel approach to steel guitar.

If anyone also cares to listen to more, his band is called The Dirt Whisperers, and they have a YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/q_yGBaa9wLI

I quite like it.
Thanks for the link Allan, I've been kicked off FB (for free speech) for a long time. These guys are great! And they didn't come from out of nowhere:

<>
The Dirt Whisperers are Eric Simons on guitar and vocals and Bradford Reed on pencilina and drums. Simons has played with Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets, Brian Jackson of Gil Scott Heron, The Dukes of Brooklyn, Tractor Supply and Revel in Dimes. A Kansas native, Eric is heavily influenced by his home state’s blues, country, gospel and early jazz, but his style can sound as rooted in the Mississippi Delta as anywhere else.

Bradford Reed’s pencilina, his own invention, is an electric ten-stringed collision of the hammer dulcimer, slide guitar, koto and fretless bass. Reed played with King Missile III (and produced 4 of their records) and in the original band of The Blue Man Group as well as Satellite and The Harpoonist. Reed has also scored numerous films and TV shows, including Superjail! on Adult Swim and Ugly Americans on Comedy Central.

Stylistically the music of The Dirt Whisperers is grounded in traditional blues and classic soul, but it traverses many genres, adding in touches of gospel and Americana, while never losing track of good old American rock and roll. Eric’s guitar can growl or whisper or even call on the steely sounds of a National Resonator. Both drums and bass are simultaneously covered by Bradford on a minimal drum kit and the pencilina which constantly adds in unexpected tones and textures that are often difficult to explain. There might be a bow tantalizing the strings or harmonics ringing from the sticks, which act as movable bridges, riding the strings like a ship on the high seas. While the collaboration of Simons and Reed may seem experimental (and it can be!)The Dirt Whisperers pride themselves on singing and playing melodies that will hook your eardrums while their beats get your ass shaking.
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Allan Revich
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Re: Drummer and lap steel

Post by Allan Revich »

Wow! Thanks for all that additional info @Steven
Current Tunings:
GBDGBD
EGBDGBD
FACEGBD

https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
Joseph Lazo
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Re: Drummer and lap steel

Post by Joseph Lazo »

Wow, this is so cool! Thanks for posting this.
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HowardR
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Re: Drummer and lap steel

Post by HowardR »

Reminds me of the late Chas Smith......this is something right from his playbook......