The Béla Fleck Interview: The Journey of a Banjo Virtuoso
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- Опубликовано: 1 янв 2024
- Béla Fleck is a renowned American banjo player, often considered one of the most innovative and banjo players of all time. Born on July 10, 1958, in New York City, Fleck was named after the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. He was drawn to the banjo at a young age, inspired by the television show "The Beverly Hillbillies."
Fleck's musical journey has been marked by his eclectic taste and a willingness to blend different genres. He began his professional career in the bluegrass world with the band New Grass Revival and later formed the genre-bending group Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, which combined jazz, bluegrass, rock, and more.
Over his career, Fleck has won numerous Grammy Awards across various categories, showcasing his versatility. His collaborations with artists across different genres, from classical to jazz to African music, have further cemented his status as a musical pioneer. Notable collaborations include his work with the Marcus Roberts Trio, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain.
Fleck's influence extends beyond his virtuosity on the banjo. He is celebrated for pushing the boundaries of the instrument, bringing it into new musical contexts, and inspiring a new generation of musicians. His albums, such as "Drive," "Throw Down Your Heart," and "The Impostor," display a vast range of musical exploration and creativity.
Béla Fleck continues to tour, record, and collaborate, constantly redefining the banjo's place in the world of music.
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Bela Fleck and Steve Morse in the same week!! We are not worthy...
Ha haa! Good one!
Incredible week to ring in the new year!!
@duanehill4615 of course we are… we are… subscribaaaahhh
Clearly!
@@adelbertomuggler372 well, you missed it
Love that you're interviewing people outside of the rock/guitar world 🔥 hearing from musicians who play different genres with other instruments is awesome
Best comment here, hope rick will see this and take the hint to give us more.
I agree 100%...the Jimmy Webb interview is one of my favorites!!
💯
Absolutely. By the way it seems you have never talk us about listenable electronic music, such as Kraftwerk, J-M Jarre, Daft Punk, and so on. 🙏
Agree completely. I'd personally love to see Rick interview a top-tier classical player like Ana Vidovic.
Watching Bela play his arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue was jaw dropping. The listening skill required to pick and choose from the original composition while preserving the entire vibe yet mapping it to the limitations of one instrument - ANY instrument - combined with the work ethic to master that performance is something very few on the planet can do.
Try it at 0.75 playback speed.
He made it sound like it was written for the banjo
Very well said!! What an incredible amount of focus, effort, and consistency over a long period it would take to do it.
Maniacal precision with a seeming casualness.
Watch Tommy Emmanuel do his version of Classical Gas sometime!
Bela and Matteo Mancuso collaboration needed!
Great interview, Rick. 👏. I heard Bela's Rhapsody in Blue(grass) the other night. After I picked up my jaw from the floor,
I preordered the vinyl and patiently await it's arrival. Great music will never bow to auto-tune.
As a banjo player and long-time Rick Beato fan, this interview was a little bit of heaven to me. Super interesting questions and it seemed Bela really opened up and enjoyed the interview, too. Thank you both!
I had the pleasure of working as a grunt engineer on a New Grass Revival album in the late 80s. I can still recall watching him practice in an iso booth while the other guys recorded their parts/overdubs...he practiced relentlessly despite the fact that he was already one of the best players on planet Earth. A true gentleman and wonderful human being. Great interview Rick!!
That's rad!! Which album did you work on? New Grass Revival has become my favorite band.
Omg.. John Cowan is a vocal god..his Angel Eyes is incredible.
I like how Sam Bush talks about auditioning John for the bass..John wants to sing a song..Sam says..will I'm the vocalist..but let's Sam (opps that's John) sing .. after he's done Sam says..will I was the vocalist.
The relentless practice is why he is one of the best. I read an interview about Tommy Emmanuel and the person said that after their show, Tommy went right back to his hotel room and he could hear him practicing in his room. They are both very driven people.
@@tommywilliamsjr.697no shortcut to being that good
Rick, so many legends in such a short space of time. Andy Summers, Steve Morse and now Bela Fleck, I can't keep up!! Great work! 👍
I fear we might run out of legends soon 😉
I have to say what is really amazing is how incredibly articulate Bela is.
Yeah this dude is one of the most fluid and clear conversationalist. If he isn't teaching he should be.
@@frankbartlett2947 He does master classes all over. Came to my college to in ‘07.
Rick and Bela are both national treasures. We are so fortunate to be included in this conversation. Thank you both! 💜
Rick, you deserve to be honored in the Rock and Roll hall of fame one day for your contributions to music overall, but especially these long-form interviews!
not to be a dick but the hall of fame is a joke far as artist selection and I think we all know that here . Very thoughtful comment though. an interesting place to visit for sure . Rick is in his own hall of fame and I admire and respect his work very much
You spelled “Hall of Lame” wrong.
Look at the Grammy's in the background! This guy is a legend!
He won 17 of those. And got nominated 39 times. And he well deserved it.
Bela is so humble when talking about McLaughlin and Shakti. It’s very charming considering what a virtuoso he is on the banjo. I’ve seen him with the Flecktones and with Chick Corea. He’s the maestro. Great interview, Rick. You always get your guests to open up about their process.
the guy is an absolute virtuoso
3 of my top live music experiences was watching Bela
"Bach was the Earl Scruggs of harmony." Best line of the day
Bela was my late dad's favorite perfomer after I introduced him to the Flecktones years ago. Amazing performer and another fantastic interview!
When I listen to Béla, I can’t help but hear a little of Alex Lifeson in his manner of speech and just overall kindness and respect for the music.
Wow I thought exactly the same after only a few minutes into the interview.
Now I have to find Alex Lifeson's interview. This interview has sent me down a rabbit hole of music that's going to take weeks of listening.
What a class act. What I love as much as Bela's music is his thoughtful, articulate views - like his comments on the racial context of the banjo pre-transition to guitar. And so low key. I bumped into him between shows upstairs at the Blue Note years ago and he talked like we were next door neighbors. Funny as a guitar player to have him as maybe my favorite musician. Will never get enough of the Telluride Sessions, the Flecktones, Africa sessions...
Im right with you on all of that. Got my little stack of Bela cds in front of me, time to revisit them. Met Bela after a show in2013 I think, and he was such a gracious, unassuming guy. This interview was riveting. Could have been twice as long😢
Excellent choice. Not only is Bela off the beaten path, but he is a musician's musician - the very top of his profession. He is an incredible player and great story teller.
The album 'Drive' blew my mind when I first heard it. Still one of my favourite Bluegrass albums. Bela is an astonishing talent.
‘Down in the Swamp’ is unbelievably good.
@@MontyCantsin5 Yes! One of my favorite songs.
@@doublestrokeroll: Béla Fleck playing with Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, and Jerry Douglas is hands down the best bluegrass I've ever heard.
Really glad he took a moment to talk about the history of the instrument. Great interview
I don’t know how Rick kept his composure during that “Rhapsody in Blue”. I would have fallen out of my chair. That was some amazing playing. Bela is a national treasure.
It happened again, I said to myself "This video is too long, I will watch just a little"... One hour later I was like "What? It ended so quick!" - These videos are just wonderful.
Never heard of Bela until stumbling across the astonishing Transatlantic Sessions and watched him lead Jerry Douglas and other great musicians through “Big Country” in that stone house somewhere in Scotland. Watch many times. One of RUclips’s great gifts of discovery, like finding Rick Beato. 😊
Had the honor of playing Wayne Shorter with him this past summer. If it sounds odd to have banjo in jazz, it was also with 4 cellos. Truly an awesome experience
That was such a top notch interview Rick! I have loved Bela for many years, the dude is amazing period. One thing I love even more than his playing is how he can communicate about music period, his and others. He is a good soul and expresses it so well. Thank you for sharing, another one for the Beato books of musical greatness. 👍🏻❤️
I don't think I have ever seen Rick so pleasantly surprised before by a guest, some moments of pure bliss from Rick here watching Bela play, love it!!!
I love that Béla thinks that Chick Corea is at a stature "above himself"
Truly humble from a musical master
Vic Wooten, then Bela Fleck. Amazing job getting these interviews!
Its not that amazing, as rick has as many fans (in the form of subscribers) as they do! Rick has a legit audience, so why wouldn't the musicians say yes. For example, I will go look up bela fleck and check out his music because Rick has exposed him to me
@goldbrick2563 - You're in for treat, 40-50 years ago too.
I saw Bela Fleck and the Flecktones at Berklee College of Music on the tour for the "UFO Tofu" album. Unreal - blew me away. I had gone with a friend who had discovered them a year earlier, but I had no idea who they were - never heard of them. I walked out of that hall with my universe expanded.
Bela describing himself as 'picky' is hilarious, what a player and what an enlightening chat, thankyou.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones changed my life as a goofy fusion guitar obsessed high school kid in the 90’s. Fantastic stuff
Incredible interview! Didn’t realize how great Bela is in an interview setting. And Big Country is one of my favorite songs across all music.
I met Bela Fleck (and the Flecktones) at Stubbs BBQ after the show outside their bus around 2001 and asked him, "how can I be as good as you are?" He said, "Be the best that YOU can be, then you win." I'll never forget those words as long as I live.
I'm calling it, best interview of 2024 on all of the internet.
Rick, you are knocking out of the park with these interviews! Bela is awesome. His wife Abigail Washburn is a great banjoist too!
Rick continues to drop these gems🔥🔥🔥🔥would love a Paul Mccartney interview
If you’ve never heard his playing with New Grass Revival you need to check it out. Amazing!!
I bought a cheap banjo in, I think, 1983 because Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners featured a (flat picked) banjo (by Billy Adams). At my first banjo lesson, my teacher put on a record by a group called Spectrum which featured a young Bela Fleck. She said, "This is how the banjo is supposed to be played!" So since then I have seen Bela over 25 times in all kinds of configurations, including New Grass Revival 6 times. Whenever I've met Bela after a show he's always been so kind and welcoming. I'm kind of a spaz and he's always answered all of my questions patiently and sincerely. It's not just the sound of his banjo that hooks me--it's his brain. Bela's thinking is always evident to me on everything he plays. After all these years Bela is still one of my greatest musical heroes. What a mensch!
Belá is a fantastic musician. I am a big fan.
Bela has so many clear and pertinent observations for musicians. I really appreciate the things he had to say about practice. The whole interview is a master class in music - not just banjo.
Nothing better than someone truly great who is also genuinely(almost innocently) humble. Beautiful person.
Wow. Bella has assimilated so wonderfully to the people of Earth. I wonder, though, if he ever misses his home galaxy. And it was so nice of him to bring along Bryan Sutton on the ship.
Yes and especially after receiving a Western Union that the “home boys” were so grateful to Bela (his musical vibrations ascended them to the 5th dimensional element of eternal calm) that he was humbly honored to learn that the planet was going to be renamed Bela Reticulii🪕👽
Bela certainly changed what I though the Banjo was or could be. Remarkably talented and creative musician. Maybe you could interview Dobro great Jerry Douglas. Another pioneering musician. Thanks
I went to see Béla and Chick play at MiM in Arizona. It was a transcendent show. It was topped off by getting to meet Chick and Béla afterwards. A literal dream come true. Thank you, Rick.
Every time a new Rick Beato interview drops instantly makes my day much better. As a bass player, I discovered Bela Fleck in the mid 90's due to becoming aware of Victor Wooten. What Bela is able to do with a banjo is just pure musical magic and always is fresh. This interview could have been 3 hours!
The Wooten’s were part of that thing that was the Flecktones.
Victor Wooten is from another Galaxy
Well, his brother is from the future.
I had the pleasure of playing with Bela in 2019 when he performed his banjo concerto with our orchestra. He’s one of my heroes. I admire him for being an endlessly curious and creative musician. A true chameleon. Total professional.
I love Bela’s sound… and talent.
I had the pleasure of enjoying Bela and the flecktones live back in the 90s ... i was introduced to his music via Bruce Hornsby
I've seen Bela many times now. He's simply the greatest, as well as a ridiculously kind and humble man. I think my favourite performance was when he played with Chris Thile here in Virginia at a park. I kept thinking to myself, I'm probably hearing two of the greatest performers of all time on these instruments right now.
Guitar player here and a Bela Fleck fan from 40 years ago. Wow, I just learned so many new details about the banjo, how harmony works on it, and his unique approach to the instrument. So many long-time questions answered about his incredible style! Just a gem of an interview.
I'm noticing these interviews keep getting better and better because these legends have seen the importance of what Rick is doing. Each is "partnering" with Rick a bit more, showing up better prepared to offer up and articulate details of how they work.
Nobody cares what I say… But I’ve been playing guitar since 1965… I bought a banjo … Wow what a different instrument… Even though I’ve been using five strings on my guitars for 40 years and open tuning’s… It’s just a different beast… After a couple months, I got the hang of it and it was beautiful
Oh my lord. As much as I've enjoyed your interviews of some of the all-time legends of jazz, I think Bela Fleck will someday be up there with them and this record will be looked on with reverence. Few musicians have been able to change the course of an instrument the way he has. It's great hearing his humility and awe in meeting and playing with other masters. I've been so fortunate to see him with the Flecktones, his Throw Down Your Heart tour and with Chick. All so very different and yet innovative and inspiring. My dream lineup was to hear him with Bruce Hornsby, but I was never able to catch one of those shows. I hope the see the reunited Flecktones some day, and I look forward to his latest release. Thank you, Rick!
Got a signed copy of Throw Down after a gig in Toronto 10 years ago. Would have loved to see him with Chick…..
I was a low brass player in high school who played and loved playing in Jazz band. My cooler half was a rock bass player. I also had a passing interest in bluegrass. Then one night I was watching the Tonight Show and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones performed....and I was absolutely FLOORED. I was not only my intro to a fantastic unique group....but also to Victor Wooten....it was a good night!
Tonight Show? I missed that one! What a great intro! Mine was Sinister Minister. An instrumental that made it onto Much Music! Wow
@@allanwalli2935 They were on Arsenio, Carson twice, and Conan several times. The Arsenio performance in particular was great!
I’ve seen him live more times than I can count. What a fantastic musician and person!
What a brilliant musician, and an absolute gent.
I’m saying this again, like a broken record. Each new interview you post is a wonderful and amazing new surprise. I love Bela’s music and his exploration of his passion of various musical directions.
Thank you…I can’t wait to see what’s next on your channel.
Cheers!
We get to be involved personally….the net is the best thing that has happened to civilization
What Rick is doing for music is MONUMENTAL. This guy deserves a monument, and his work to be archived and stored in the Smithsonian. He has actualy created a new genre of artist interviews. There was no (serious) place before for famous artists to discuss their work , from a musician's perspective. Just think about the Sting interview, I never saw him discussing his songwriting anywhere else. I bet many artists are actually wishing to be contacted by Rick !
What an astonishing musician. I've had the massive pleasure of experiencing the Flecktones live a few times, and always come away smiling. Brilliant, humble, and astonishingly AWARE. Great interview, thanks Beato!
I haven't heard about this guy, but I thought Rick is gonna interview a Hungarian musician, since Béla is a Hungarian first name! But this guy is a 15 time Grammy Award winner banjo player from the US! I will check this interview later, but it is 00:25 A.M. now in Hungary and I have to go to bed now! 🙂🙃😉
As a big fan of John McLaughlin and the various avatars of Shakti I wholeheartedly agree with the assertions about that band by Bela in this interview. However I would not have discovered Bela if not for his performances in the recently concluded Shakti’s live tour. And what a talented musician he is ! And in the process I have had the great pleasure of attending his live show with Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain and Rakesh Chaurasia and stumbled upon the CD Tabula Rasa - a hidden gem from the 90s featuring renowned Erh-Hu artist Jie Beng Chen, V M Byatt on the Mohan Veena and some very talented musicians from India that I had never heard of.
Thank you Bela for indeed expanding the music of the banjo into uncharted territories and bringing joy to music lovers.
And Rick thank you as well for featuring Bela on your channel. Hope you are able to feature some other greats like John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussein in the foreseeable future.
I was lucky enough and honoured to see Bela along with Abigale on stage this week in St Catharines, Ontario. They were both amazing but Bela's talent is sublime, on a different level. His "Rhapsody in Blue" took my breath away. Thank you both for a wonderful show.
What he does with the banjo is so great, I love it when someone takes an unlikely instrument and finds new things with it and changes how its perceived. Gerswhin would have loved this, Rhapsody in Blue just sounds right on a banjo somehow
Rick, as always, so grateful for your channel! But hearing Bela mention him made me wonder for the hundredth time why you haven't covered TONY RICE. He was a MONSTER musician, and it's a shame so few people outside of the bluegrass world know his work.
Tony rice is such an incredibly elegant guitarist. Man oh man.
Amen 🎉
First heard Béla Fleck 30 years ago. Absolutely mesmerized by his sound(s). Cheeseballs in Cowtown was always on my cd mix, especially for a road trip.
Funny, he talks of noodling. If he released an album in which he just explored, as he says, it would be amazing! He could call it Béla Noodles!
Absolutely love this guy!👍👍
Flight of the Cosmic Hippo is one of my favorite albums. Victor Wooten & Howard Levy are amazing as well!
There is a video of the Flecktones playing Austin City Limits here on YT I highly recommend for any fans.
As great as Bela and the others are, the Flecktones were never quite the same without Levy!
After listening to his Rhapsody in Blue, nobody could
ever doubt his abilities. Amazing.
Bela Fleck is one of the most engaging musicians ever. As fun to listen to his stories as his music. Thank you, Rick, for doing this interview.
Oh man this an hour and eighteen minutes?! This is going to take me days to listen to in pieces.
One hour and eighteen minutes (plus ads) later.... Wow, that was wonderful.
Would love to see you talk with Edgar Meyer. He really impressed me as a modern day composer, but seems to not take himself too seriously either.
Bela Fleck gives the banjo a voice in music, unlike anyone else I've heard. I believe having him on your channel further helped this voice be heard and understood.
As a professional pianist, I’ve learned more about harmonizing and being inventive within my own instrument then I have from other pianists.
Bela is a humble genius.
As a life long blue grasser, it is so awesome to see an interview of someone who I have listened to since the 1980's by someone from a completely different background in music. Great interview Rick!!!!!!
Hands down best music-based "channel" (or whatever they're called) on YT...Rick keeps outdoing himself! Really looking forward to this. Watching Bela open as a one-man show for Shakti last year was the musical highlight of the last several years for me. Hearing a true master who can play as effortlessly as the rest of speak our native tongues is such a privilege.
What an absolute masterclass from Bela across a massive range of banjo topics that I never knew I wanted to learn. And that's in addition to the playing, which is insane.
You did it. Fleck is the best there is. Well done...
Rhapsody in Blue! WOW! Was NOT expecting that today! LOVED IT!
I love watching Rick almost off screen just shaking his head in amazement the entire interview, beautiful playing and great interview!
My mouth is so dry......from my jaw resting on my chest for over an hour. Thank you Rick.
I saw Bela Fleck and the Flecktones for the first time in the late 90's on BET's 'Bet On Jazz', mind was blown..
Mr. Fleck sure makes it look easy. Amazing musician. Rick, thank you. You are lately bringing all my favs to your show!
I admittedly don't think about Bela much, yet every time I hear him, I'm struck by how great he sounds and how articulate and interesting he is. Rhapsody in Bluegrass?? 😄 It sounded *fantastic.*
Rick, please live forever so you can just keep documenting amazing musicians like this. You're my favorite interviewer because you ask great questions and then stay appropriately quiet 😊.
I've enjoyed and appreciated Bela Fleck's music for many years, thank you for the interview!
👍
Saw the flecktones in Toronto years ago and the concert exceeded all expectations. Met everyone afterwards and such down to earth, classy fellas. Bela Fleck is not only an unreal talent, but just a quality human! Great on you for interviewing him!
What venue did they play at? Great memories from seeing concerts there the last time I visited (much too long ago).
I've watched all of Rick's interviews, and the consistent theme is one of continuous learning - regardless of the age or experience of the musician. The motivation and drive of these professionals to continue exploring, never resting on their laurels and accomplishments is simply amazing.
That was so cool. Bèla is a wonderful artist. If I remember correctly I discovered Steve Morse , my guitar hero, while listening a Marcel Dadi album where Bèla Fleck and Steve were both invited to play. Having this two interviews in the same week seems unreal to me. Thank you Rick.
Fleck is incredible. Love the Flecktones song "Big Country"
So, I'm 53, and I was that kid who saw Bela Flek and the Flektones at the first gig in Winnipeg at the Red River Exhibition. Mind blown. Then years later, saw them on Austin City Limits. Could not believe it.
To see this now (as someone who has since learned a bit on the guitar and keyboard) is incredible.
Thank you Rick, and Bela!
Edit and PS: I saw Chick and Bela play together in Seattle not that many years ago. Not only did I make a great friend in the audience, but I finally got to hear my two heroes play together, live, in front of my very eyes. Amazing.
Thank you to my ex wife for buying those tickets. :D
I am a longtime fan of Bela, and I have met him a handful of times. He is consistently one of the most inspiring figures to me in music. Always humble, and just a wealth of knowledge. Much respect to you Rick for stepping a little outside the rock/guitar world. If anyone isn't yet a fan of Mr. Fleck, just try anything in his extensive catalog - he has something for everyone.
Wow! I’m blown away! I have so much respect for Bella Fleck. You’re on a roll Rick - this and the recent Steve Morse interview!
Bela's appearance with you is awesome. Well done. Bela worked on the last Grammy-nominated Claire Lynch (my wife) album, "North By South". Wonderful man, and musician.
I jumped on the opportunity to see Chick Corea and Belá Fleck play at Emory University in Atlanta a few years back.
I have a treasured photograph of Chick taking a picture of me taking a picture of him.
It was so amazing that the 2-hour concert seemed like 20 minutes and was just too short. That same dynamic happened when I saw Snarky Puppy in Atlanta that same year.
Fascinating interview, thank you Belá and thank you Rick once again!☮️💚🎶
Live Art, Left of Cool and Outbound are in rotation for me. This is the era I grew up to know and love. So happy that Rick got to interview Bela. Legend.
Great interview. I have been listening to Bela for over thirty years. A friend introduced me to his music and his work on covering classical Bach concertos and others. Bela's bluegrass tracks are great as well. Good to see that the banjo is getting respect again as an instrument that is suited for more genres than just folk and bluegrass. Bela's wife, Abigail Washburn, is accomplished as well.
A superlative interview Rick - what an articulate thoughtful super-talented yet modest guy.
He’s NAILING Rhapsody in Blue after mentioning he can’t read music and I’m like holy crap.
I think this interview really describes his philosophy around the time of the live at the quick album. Fantastic job Rick!
Love that album!
Had the pleasure of seeing him and the Flecktones, playing with DMB.
Feat. Emmy Lou Harris.
Amazing show.
The solo in spoon 🥰
Each time you surprise me by interviewing the next of my alltime heroes, thank you for that.
I love Bela, and was surprised when even HE joked about the sound of a banjo not being pleasing to a lot of people. It reminded me of an old joke: "What is perfect pitch? When you throw a banjo into a dumpster and it hits a bagpipe" I love bagpipes too :)
I was lucky enough to see Bela' Fleck and the Flecktones clear back in 1998 at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre at the U of U, and I even got to shake hands with the band members, every one of whom is amazingly talented. Victor Wooten has to be among the most talented bass guitarists in the world. I've seen a few others that can do what Victor does, but the other bassist I've seen at Victor's level uses a five or 6-string bass. Victor does it all on a 4-string bass, much, much more complex. Victor played classical thump for us, a treat and a half. Bela' Fleck gets all the praise without even needing to be mentioned. Bela' is hands down the greatest banjo player ever to live. There may be a better one in the future, but Bela' clearly has set the bar and will hold it forever as the first of the greatest Banjo players.
I discovered Bela on the radio back in 1992 when Bonnie and Slyde came on the radio. Instantly hooked on the riff. Rick has such a diverse set of guests that I shouldn’t be surprised that someone like Bela would come on the show.
It might show me up as a novice regarding his abilities and history, but the place I first heard of him was the banjo solo on Dave Matthews Band 'Spoon'. It utterly mesmerised me when I first heard it. How the banjo could conjure up the kind of emotions i usually got listening to Satriani and the like. Fan ever since.
I've been a 5-string picker for over 50 years. I cried when I heard Béla play Rhapsody in Blue. Thanks for that man.
ME TOO. picked it up in 69. like you, my eyes actually watered. I feel guilty to mainly play squareneck now.