And although I've already owned six different lap steels, I have yet to get my Bakelite Rick. He spent time at the Ashgrove, the Troubador, and clubs on the Sunset Strip . Thats what they called New Wave at the time. I wanted to know where she wanted me to play. For decades, the Southern California-based multi-instrumentalist has been a go-to guitarist and pedal steel player for musicians such as Eric Clapton, Buddy Miller, John Mayer, Bill Frisell, k.d. I played a lot of different kinds of guitars on that record. Im pretty proud of that. Once you get an instrument in your hand and start playing it, you go, Wow. Then you teach yourself something and youre able to do it, you can apply it, its mind-expanding. But the backing of that commercial, the producer took guitar from Moonlight Motel. After all these different attempts to put music behind that commercial, since its Springsteen talking with music behind it, they wound up just using that pedal steel. Tell me about your friendship with him. The key to it working out was we had a couple conversations on the phone. I dont think Warner Bros. was particularly happy, but they allowed her to do it. Especially the solo on "Pony". Ive been very fortunate since all my friends and family have remained healthy and fine. And it was the first time I remember going to somebodys house to record. Maybe we can have that guy in the band. Girlfriend is a classic My absolute favorite steel player. They just had me improvise on it. There are so many great recordings with him playing, and listeners have plenty to treat themselves to. It is always a pleasure to hear Leiszs playing. 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She was unhappy with her producer and had lost her guitar player because I think it was her boyfriend and they had broken up. This is a gorgeous Asher Acoustic Hawaiian Teardrop Lap Steel owned and played by Greg Leisz who had been using it for recording and touring with Jackson Browne. Hed been with her for a pretty long time. It was from Eric. So tasteful! And it was a cool thing to get to do that. Hearing Leisz' work on that Bon Iver album convinced me that pedal steel is where I want to head. I had to decide whether it was good myself. Podcast 66: Greg Leisz on Buddy Emmons. Everything was recorded onto a Zoom R24 then ported to a PC for mastering using Reaper. Lang, Matthew Sweet, Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd & others, helped shape his career Greg. I love that song. Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com 2000 It was pretty terrifying. I had seen her play live when she opened for Sarah McLachlan in Los Angeles. I was drawn to the records that I guess now we talk about as folk-rock or country-rock and I kind of got pulled into the pedal steel through that music, through hearing it on the records that I liked. In the late Sixties when a lot of people were listening to harder rock, Led Zeppelin and things, I was listening to Jimmie Rodgers, old country music like Hank Williams, bluegrass music, and I was learning how to play that music, and I was learning with other musicians that were kind of turned on to that. It was really a drag that she didnt continue after that because she didnt get enough people didnt really appreciate that last album. I swear to God, I said to myself, I dont know who this is texting me. I think I had to think for five or 10 minutes. It was something I really liked to do and I started doing it a lot. He was probably looking to do something at that same time. And the Japanese version has a bonus track thats almost a pedal-steel instrumental. This is a gorgeous Asher Acoustic Hawaiian Teardrop Lap Steel owned and played by Greg Leisz who had been using it for recording and touring with Jackson Browne. Victoria had already gotten a deal and made a record in New York. You dont meet the artists. They had two different studios in the same complex. A marvelous pedal steel player, Leisz has some of the most tasteful playing and impactful tone. All recordings used a Boss RV-5 set on hall reverb, a Fender black face Vibro-Champ amp and a Shure SM-57 mic. This is an invaluable ability for sessions, where the musician often has to hear and learn the music on the spot for the recording. There was a Judy Collins album called Who Knows Where the Time Goes. He felt it would be too many musicians and that it should be more stripped-down. The year after that, Morning Phase was the album of the year. I didnt know him then. Tell me your first memories of being a kid and hearing music that really reached you. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Wayne Shorter, Jazz Legend Who Collaborated With Miles Davis and Joni Mitchell, Dead at 89 190 views, 8 likes, 1 loves, 1 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Asher Guitars and Lap Steels: Ray Lamontagne live with Greg Leisz on his Asher Lap Steel. I did his whole record last year, which isnt out yet. He was already famous before he graduated because of the Nico thing. anyone know? At least that's what David told me 25 years ago. Private Messages Billy was in one room working on his stuff and James was in this other room working on his song. The idea that you were going to have to go to Vietnam and maybe kill people, it wasnt conducive to thinking about being a musician. I sometimes just took day factory jobs in Orange County. LIM_FLAG - Soundboards allowed in ***streaming format only*** four months following a given performance Audience-made Bob Weir concert recordings (exclusive of Grateful Dead, RatDog, The Other Ones, The Dead, and Furthur recordings), can be made available as downloads while available. She made one record before that, at least. He came out of that world in England where he heard Muddy Waters and it was all over for him. In 2010 and 2011, Leisz toured with Ray LaMontagne as a member of his backing band, The Pariah Dogs. This edition features pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leisz. I didnt even have a business card. Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. Another year went by, and one day I got a text. Greg Leisz Follow Artist + The word "ubiquitous" is usually placed in front of pedal steel player and guitarist Greg Leisz's name. ], [This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 26 November 2003 at 07:59 AM.]. I guess they could have learned it from the version we did. He heard my pedal steel and thought that was something that Joni would embrace in her music. All the parts have a reason for being there. Editors picks I just went in and overdubbed on one song. I had played a very little bit on a record [2010s Clapton] three years before when Doyle Bramhall brought me into the studio to meet Eric. Greg's always been one of my favorites, from his work with KD Lang to Peter Case to Bill Frisell--I have dozens of CDs he played on that I bought just to hear him. This page contains affiliate links. My friend Brian Blade played drums on it. . It is in near mint condition and comes with a custom deluxe Cedar Creek hardshell case. They were just guys that were factory workers during the day that played country music at night. They were different sessions and I recorded with her sitting right next to me while I overdubbed. I took piano lessons when I was nine, but I didnt have a good teacher and I gave it up pretty quickly. It is very versatile and there is a lot of learning material available online. To jump forward here, can you tell me about the formation of the Funky Kings? The 100 Best Albums of 2022. I got pretty good. I live in a place thats a good place to hang out during a pandemic since its very close to nature. Pedal-Steel Guitarist Greg Leisz on His Years With Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, and Daft Punk, Neil Young Sets Release Date for Vintage Seventies Bootlegs, Kiley Dean Began As Britney Spears Backup Singer. I was able to play a lot of different kinds of music. I really just worked with one of the guys. It was just Eric sending me a text. As was already mentioned, his work on the album "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet is great. The people that you meet and have a connection with, suddenly theres another connection later on. I forget if it was directly by James Iha or the management. Any kind of musical style or production can probably be enhanced one way or another with a touch of Leiszs pedal steel, and this track is no exception. Tour Gretsch 's Corona, California, custom guitar building operation with company master builder Chad Henrichsen and PG 's own John Bohlinger. Ive worked a lot with him. I went in and did one day where I played on a few songs. A few weeks later, they called me back and I did another song. Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support. He was still married to her at that time. Leisz is no stranger to rock n' roll, and always has the ability to add grit and bite to songs. I remember seeing David Lindley and Jackson Browne back in the 1970s and he was definitely using a Rickenbacker B6 on stage.-----Brad's Page of Steel A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars. They were amazing. Greg Leisz's playing with k d lang is wonderful. Why was I even there? Its kind of a disappointing thing. We got a record deal because of Jack Tempchins past of writing songs for the Eagles on their early records. Whats more interesting to me is that much later they had me play on Western Stars. Kiley Dean Began As Britney Spears' Backup Singer. I ended up working on a few other albums with him. I think I played the dobro. On pedals,he plays both necks very well and he told me he's been playing a U-12 Sierra on the Bill Frisell gig.On lap,he plays a number of tunings and seems to come up with nice stuff even if it's a tuning he just made up to suit a certain song.No slouch on standard guitar either.I've been trying to get him on the forum as he's aware his name comes up from time to time.Hey Greg - you out there? I worked on a bunch of stuff with her, including a bunch of stuff that was never released when she got dropped from Warner Bros. To jump ahead, youre on Right on Time on Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. I know Greg plays other guitars live, but I gotta believe that unmistakable Leisz sound comes from the bolt-on. Sometimes you just kind of go, Why did they pay me the money? I guess I feel very fortunate when I see that, but its just hard to believe theres so many. I never thought of it as a career. [This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 30 November 2003 at 06:55 AM. On pedals,he plays both necks very well and he told me he's been playing a U-12 Sierra on the Bill Frisell gig.On lap,he plays a number of tunings and seems to come up with nice stuff even if it's a tuning he just made up to suit a certain song.No slouch on standard guitar either.I've been trying to get him on the forum as he's aware his name That happens a lot of the time. It kicks off that album and its beautiful. But with the Daft Punk project, everything that band does seems to be very important. This would encompass all the work he does with T-Bone, and likely the Bon Iver and other indie records he's doing these days. Specifications #raylamontange. If youre interested in diving deeper into playing chords and scales on E9 pedal steel, check out these guides, Learn the chords on the E9 neck in a way that makes playing simple and enjoyable. We met the day I got the studio. Greg Leisz is my favorite modern pedal steel player. I've been enjoying Greg on Bill Frisell's recent release of John Lennon songs "All We Are Saying". Heavier Models), Parts & Hardware (Where to Find, Details, Info), How To Open Up the E9 Tuning (for Pedal Steel), The Chord Guide for E9 Pedal Steel Guitar, The Art of Right Hand Technique (for Steel Guitar), The Elixir of E9 Pedal Steel: Harmonized 6ths, 200 Country Riffs & Licks for E9 Pedal Steel, 7 Best Pedal Steel Albums (That You Must Hear), Backing Tracks (Where To Find, Info, Types), 7 Songs Featuring Greg Leisz On Pedal Steel, Buddy Emmons Characteristics: How They Can Improve your Playing, Recording & Mixing the Pedal Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel: 5 Best Ways to Use a Compressor Pedal, How to Record Pedal Steel (and Capture its ALLURING Sound), C6 Fretboard Diagram Flat & Sharp Notes, Universal Tuning & Copedent for Pedal Steel, Pedal Steel Copedents (Info, Types, Details). Ron Aniello is somebody I have worked with before, so he hired me to come and play on some stuff. These lap steel tabs and songs were played on an 8 string Excel Jerry Byrd frypan lap steel. She wanted something very specific. I went to his home studio and worked with his engineer. My understanding is he uses a '66 bolt-on push/pull for most of his studio work. I just had to hope she wouldnt walk out of the room and not come back. We had a laugh about that. I was there and saw them playing. Im going to make a list and send it to people. He told me the band, that he wanted Willie Weeks and Steve Jordan to be the rhythm section and Doyle and Chris Stainton. Greg Leisz is my favorite modern pedal steel player. So the tuning from high (string 1) to low is: E, C, A, F#, E, C). 8 bars over a 1:3m:4:5 chord sequence - bliss! It wasnt from the manager or a business person. "A lot of people that I've worked with, you think they're going to be intimidating, but they're so good at making you feel comfortable," says Greg Leisz. When she was making Car Wheels, that was really at the end stages of the record. As well as Ryan Adams "Ashes & Fire", he is on a few tracks. K D Lang's "Ingenue" album has superb playing by Greg Leize. Thats another situation where I wasnt involved in the tracking. Alot of T-Bone Burnett records have Greg playing steel. I really do like what I played on that song. With good reason -- the man's resum is daunting, boasting spots with Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, Peter Case, Paul Westerberg, Me'Shell NdegeOcello, Victoria Williams, Joe Cocker, Dave Alvin, k.d. I didnt know much about Roxette and it was just that day. The earliest Hawaiian lap steel tuning was open A low bass, E-A-E-A-C-E. Today, most open tunings for lap steel guitar fall into 3 primary categories: Rolling Stone interview series Unknown Legends features long-form conversations between senior writer Andy Greene and veteran musicians who have toured and recorded alongside icons for years, if not decades. Note chart for the E9 pedal steel neck.