Brett Tuggle: Blessing or Curse?
 

I know I am going to get lots of hate for this one, but I was just wondering whether I was alone in my opinions regarding Brett Tuggle. The more I listen to recent live recordings of Stevie/FM, the more frustrated I become about Brett. Why? His playing (keyboards and guitar) just has no musical nuance or personality whatsoever. :sorry: :shrug: . Stevie has usually surrounded herself with some of the most talented musicians in the biz, and they usually played with a certain musical flair... subtle nuances here and there to emphasize the meaning or personality of a song. Even though he may not be the most impressive in the technical sense, I have always loved Waddy Wachtel because he had a knack for making a song come alive with his distinctive dissonant/grungy style of playing the guitar- he knew when to hold back and when to just shred away. And of course Stevie has never had a piano player before/since like Roy Bittan- mad, mad respect for Mr. Bittan. And the list of uniquely wonderful musicians goes on and on: Billy Payne, Taku Hirano, Bobbye Hall, Benmont Tench, Russ Kunkel, and, of course, Lindsey, Christine, John and Mick. :nod:

Then there's Brett Tuggle.

He plays with all of the subtlety of an axe murderer. He operates in two modes: full on. full off. Where "Sara" was played beautifully, subtly, and with quiet little runs on the tack piano by Christine, Brett just pounds it head-on, sapping it of all of its restrained, quiet beauty. Where Christine did these incredible bluesy runs on "Rhiannon," Brett just pounds out the minor chords, thereby killing the eerie/haunting vibe of the song. And I always hated how he played "Beautiful Child." :eek: And although nobody has been able to play "Landslide" on guitar like Lindsey, Brett sounds like an amateur by comparison; I could play "Landslide" better than him. :eek: I know that hired guns are not supposed to be superstars, but I don't think he has a very good basic ear for interpreting music- where to hold back, when to let go, the crescendos, etc. At least when Stevie is solo, she has a talented pianist to play the more demanding parts.

Sure, the man knows how to play the notes. And I'm sure he is a sweetheart of a man and he has been a very faithful servant for the royal FM family. But I think they are doing themselves a disservice by continuing to have him play the keyboard/guitar parts in such a lackluster fashion. :sorry: It's just so frustrating to listen to him ruin the live sound, especially with FM since he is their only keyboardist. :mad:. Maybe this is a case of jack of all trades, master of nothing? :shrug:

He's no Cat Gray!

Give the man some credit, he plays Don't Stop with his elbows. That's something Christine never did. :D

After her two bottles of Dom, sometimes she did.

What's your opinion of him w/ LB???

I think that the Stevie band in itself has become lackluster. In all, it seems as though it's "go on, do the gig, go home." That is saying nothing bad about any of the players, just the way it is. Perhaps I feel that way seeing so many shows w/ such little to no varience. I wonder if that isn't what your frustration/ "hata" post is about. Each musician is a honed craftsman of musical talent...I do think that none are given their due the past 5 years or so w/ each performer. It's about the headliner, SN, LB or the Mac, not about letting the background players shine. Sure maybe each gets their spotlight, but still it's so brief and ill gotten in the scheme of things.

For example, I can't recall Sharon shining since the HOB Pondering the Millenium shows. I ADORE her, and think she rawks, but I dunno, seems she's sorta on auto pilot now-a-days. Interestingly enough, I was more excited about Lori last go round than Sharon, solely cause it was a breath of new (though I KNOW rehashed old). Taku seems to be rawkin' at all times, but he is perpetually busy as well w/ varied performers. The main "family" Brett, Waddy, the girls etc. have been in the same circle for perhaps a bit too long. Would I trade them in for something new??? HELL NO...do I wish they still had that sparkle of "happy to be here"? Totally, but what can you do?

^^^^

I do think Brett is easily noticed as better with LB, b/c there is more space to fill, and so nothing really sounds "overdone" like Hej was saying. I can't have enough props about his vocals with LB.

Although I didn't really pinpoint Brett as being the one who makes it sound "overdone" with all the Mac band together. I guess I just assumed they all agreed on the arrangements of the music. I suspect, I guess, that Stevie and her voice wanted a more "lush" sound. I just thought there were too many "outside band members" in general. That goes for the backup singers, too.

It's true now that Hej mentioned it that there are some keyboard parts that aren't subtle, but I attributed that to the whole picture of the band having too many outside musicians, not to Brett specifically. Also, I think he does a pretty fine job on Landslide.
I sure miss Christine's piano on lots of Stevie songs/mac songs.

I'm not sure that is Brett's problem, though. It's hard to tell whether what he is playing is his own idea, or if it is what someone told him to play. I have no idea of his musicianship aside from the Mac, so i can't judge.

I will say that I love Brett, the person. And I love Brett the harmony singer. And I love Brett the versatile musician.

Whether what he plays is totally his ideas or not, I would appreciate a bit more rythmic and whatever subtelty in the keyboards, Christine style. But I don't know if that is fair to put it on him. It seems like he is a good enough musician to where if someone said "look at this and this notes/style/rhythm", that he could do it...:shrug:

To a certain extent I agree with the exceptions of Waddy and Jimmy Paxson.

Another point, when I have seen Waddy & Brett @ the Joint, my observation is that these guys are friggin dying to rawk out. They kick major ass, and I wonder if it doesn't bore the bejezus out of them to maintain the lilting sound of SN in particular, or the quirky sound of LB, or the overblown TOO MANY CHEFS in the kitchen wall of Mac. Seeing them semi secluded, it's blatantly apparent that they have major talent, but w/ any Mac member as of late, I still vote less than shining. I can't say it's any fault, as they all do what's required of them. Maybe that's more to the point. They do what they do w/out going above & beyond, but as we have all observed...CAN they do more than they are rehearsed?????

(Waddy note......ALLLLLLLLL is always forgiven as SOON as the EO17 solo starts. fuh-get about it!)

And I'm sure Brett can rawk out when the restraints are off! But in my opinion I don't think it takes much musical talent to rock out. Anyone who can play a few barre chords can rock out. And even someone with quasi-classical leanings like Lindsey rocks out on occasion. But Stevie does not do "rock out with your c*ck out" music (well, with a few exceptions). Sure, Brett's style of playing is probaby quite appropriate for all-out piano-pounding tunes like "Don't Stop," but I think it sounds awful when he attempts something a bit more nuanced and subtle like "Silver Springs."

I dunno... perhaps trying to compare Brett with Roy Bittan or Christine McVie is not fair. :shrug:

And Taku! words

The thing I like about Brett is that he takes the time to go back and play the keyboard notes exactly how they were on the album. If you listen to Rhiannon on the SYW tour he mimics Christine's notes during the chorus and I really liked that. On Stand Back he played those awesome notes at the end (SYW tour) that totally rocked the song to the end. Did not like his rendition of Rooms on Fire though, not enough synth...

I really like what he did with "Holiday Road" on Lindseys tour. Really made it sound great. 1000000000x better than what it was on the OOTC tour in 93.

When did he play Rooms on Fire????

HOB/Millenium Shows - 3 performances only.

Holy cow, is there any audio or video of this????? I would LOOOOOVE to hear it!!! I LOVE OSOTM!!!!!!:]

I am too...I know there is some lurking around...

Ok so any word on the ROF?????

Brett rocks!
 

Brett is a really great addition to the band(s)... can't help but post the following pic. Here I am with Brett and my pal Olga in Vegas, '05....he was soooo cool with us. I think he really loves being a part of Stevie's show.

Josh :wavey: (don't worry...I wasn't peeing myself, as it might appear ;) )

I love Brett. that's all. carry on.

Here ya go:

06RoomsonFire.mp3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/be3tuz

She pulled it off. She really needs to add this back in. Seriously, she could play dreams 15 times, then Rooms on Fire and i'd leave the show satisfied.

My take on Breet Tuggle is that he is a pretty good muscian I just think that as a whole Stevie's band is stale these days. Everything is played so safe they could do it in there sleep and sometimes it feels like it is/was.

I am wondering who is going to replace Taku if he is touring with Janet Jackson this year?

Matt :)

what show is this from?

I love the queen that recognizes that the tempo is faster. :laugh: he says it at the exact moment I realized it.

and whoever is doing that damn fire drill squealing...I'd have to murder. brutally.

I agree though, that she should add something from this era...maybe even rework ROF so that it's more acoustic. ahhh...

Acoustic Rooms on Fire??? Nonsense, thats like taking the synths out of Stand Back or the guitar riff out of Edge of 17. :laugh:

I would die if She played something from OSOTM.... Alice, anyone?

yeah, you're right actually.

wtf was I thinking?! :laugh: