By Saul Jacobs
The Black Swamp Arts Festival is back, bringing music, art and culture to Bowling Green for the 22nd year. This volunteer-run, donation-funded event is a highlight for patrons of the arts. There is something special about this type of community-run shindig, conceived and executed with the sole intention of creating and sharing art. It is free to anyone interested in the thriving BG art scene. For some, the main attraction at this year’s BSAF is Mr. Robert Randolph, a pedal steel guitar player from Orange, NJ.
Randolph, the son of a minister, picked up the pedal steel guitar at the House of God Church, an African-American Pentecostal house of worship, where they have been using “Sacred Steel” guitars during religious services since the 1930’s. The pedal steel is a tonally complex, extremely expressive manifestation of the stringed instrument, and Randolph makes the thing scream. “Inspired” is one word to describe a Robert Randolph performance, but your best bet would be to see it for yourself:
It’s unbelievable that a guy sitting behind a guitar can have so much stage presence. At 4:20 into this clip he kicks away his chair and begins to dance uncontrollably, reminiscent of a young Billy Preston performance. The guy has played with Clapton, jammed with Santana and recorded with Trombone Shorty. The coolest part is that his accompaniment, the Family Band, includes two of Robert’s cousins, vocalist Lenesha Randolph and drummer Marcus Randolph. Brett Andrew Haas holds it down on the keys and guitar, solidifying the funky soul sound that makes this group a must see.
There is a history that surrounds this young guitar player; he has already cracked the Rolling Stone magazine list of the top 100 guitar players of all time, at number 97. He plays with conviction, a confidence found in only the greats. The Black Swamp Arts Festival is, as always, bringing some serious talent to town. I know where I’ll be when Robert Randolph and the Family Band come rolling through Bowling Green. These guys won’t disappoint.