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Robert Randolph & the Family Band
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every year, Music Midtown throws up a few unexpected musical moments, and pedal steel guitarist Robert Randoph offered one Saturday when he launched into a bluesy, jam-band-inflected “Billie Jean.” He made no comment pro, con or otherwise about the song’s creator, Michael Jackson, awaiting a jury’s verdict on his future this weekend. The scene was made even stranger as it took place in a steady downpour, so from the back of the crowd, it looked like a bunch of multicolored poncho hoods bobbing and bouncing along to the music.
“There’s nothing like rockin’ in the rain — can I get a witness?” he called to the throng, rain glistening on his face under a black doo-rag.
Randoph is one of those musicians known to people who care about music, unknown to those who only follow commercial radio and MTV. He plays pedal steel guitar, normally a back-up instrument in country, only he plays it in a searing blues/soul style reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix, with some of the physical antics of Jerry Lee Lewis in his heyday thrown in when he gets going. And Randolph and his four-man Family Band got going from the beginning, laying down grooves so deep you could get lost in them.
For the closer, the original “Nobody,” he did a trick he loves to do at live shows where the band switches instruments several times. And when Randolph attacked the drums, his grin was so big he seemed to be having more fun than everyone else at Music Midtown put together.
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Comments
By Al Robinson
June 12, 2005 01:12 PM | Link to this
Hey…I was there yesterday to see Robert Randolph and I was the one in the crowd who he allowed to sing “Bille Jean” with the band with the mike! I was the older guy with the green ball cap on. Would you know of anyone who took any still shots or any video of me?
I will pay for the photos. Thank you so much! Al Robinson