Erik Norlander’s Galactic Incentive
For a Limited Time Only
Receive Erik Norlander’s New The Galactic Collective With $25 Donation
Erik Norlander is many things to the world of synth-driven symphonic rock. He is a maestro at the keys, a composer, producer, synth designer and a sterling bandmate and colleague to many in the music industry. To the Bob Moog Foundation, Erik is a rockstar advocate for our cause, raising his voice (and synths) for us time and time again:
- Catch him in this YouTube video talking about Bob’s legacy,
- Listen to the original song, The Princely Hours, that he composed for the Bob Moog Foundation on all Moog instruments here
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Check out the photo gallery from his recent performance at our spring fundraiser Moogus Operandi, which took place on May 27th.
The Galactic Collective
For a limited time only, thanks to Erik’s generosity, we are able to offer his new CD, the very Moog-centric The Galactic Collective, with a donation of $25.00 to the BMF. Erik enthusiastically supports our efforts to teach science through electronic music, and to restore Bob’s archives, and to create a Moogseum, a hallmark interactive facility where these two goals will converge.
Please join Erik in supporting the BMF by donating today.
Not only will you be supporting the Bob Moog Foundaiton’s mission to educate, inspire and innovate through electronic music, you will receive Erik’s excellent CD which includes insightful liner notes from Michelle Moog-Koussa where she speaks to Erik’s connection to Bob Moog. Here is a sampling from those introductory notes :
“It is said that in hands of the highest caliber, the use of technology becomes magic. Not pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat magic, but awe-inspiring transcendental connection. Bob handed off his technological, musical baton and Erik Norlander has cradled it in his hands, skillfully, lovingly exploring the limits of sonic expression and incorporating it into his expressive, epic music. Magic.”
To read more about The Galactic Collective, check out this great review on Ystejam.
Moogus Operandi Through the Lens of Jon Leidel
Images from Moogus Operandi
An Incredible Night of Celebrating Bob Moog’s Spirit
On May 27th, the Bob Moog Foundation presented Moogus Operandi, a benefit concert featuring synth wizard Erik Norlander and an ensemble of Asheville musicians. Playing to a packed room at the Orange Peel, Asheville’s premiere music club, Norlander knocked Asheville on its musical ear with music from his latest release The Galactic Collective and from his extensive back catalog.
With his newly re-configured “Wall of Doom” custom Moog modular synthesizer providing the sonic and visual backdrop, Norlander explored the boundaries of the legendary Moog sound and captured the creative, analog-based vibe that is Moog. One Moogus Operandi attendee summed it up when he was asked by another “What do you think of the music”? to which the response was simply “Goosebumps”.
Enjoy these images from Moogus Operandi, the musical memory of which still lingers in the minds of the attendees and participants alike. Many thanks to our Rockstar photographer, Jon Leidel, for capturing the evening so beautifully and to Erik and all the participating musicians who donated their time to make this evening possible. Thanks also to our sponsors whose support allowed us to bring the Wall of Doom in for the event, and to all of our volunteers, who make our work possible.
You can see a photo gallery of the Moogus Operandi rehearsals here.
Stay tuned for the upcoming audio and video recording of Moogus Operandi!
Thank you Moogus Operandi Sponsors!
Putting on a big show like Moogus Operandi is a major endeavor. We couldn’t have pulled it off without the support of our sponsors! We would like to thank:
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company – For the financial sponsorship of the event, the assistance planning the promotion, the copious amounts of delicious food that helped feed the hungry musicians and for brewing that amazing Moog Filtered Ale!
City Mac Asheville – A gold level sponsor, City Mac also donated an iPod Touch for our raffle and provided 3 Macs for our art auction at the event itself.
Echo Mountain Recording – This world-class studio hosted Erik and the ensemble of musicians for almost a week. The generous staff lent physical and technical assistance before, during and after the long days of rehearsals.
Grove Park Inn – This gorgeous landmark hotel graciously hosted Erik Norlander and Lana Lane with a donated room during their Asheville stay. Needless to say, Erik and Lana were delighted with the accomodations, which provided a much needed respite from 12+ hours of rehearsals each day.
Gould Killian CPA Group – This group of Asheville accountants supported the event with a silver level sponsorship. They were Bob’s accounting firm for many years.
Moog Music, Inc. came on as a silver level sponsor and donated a Muli-Pedal for our raffle. True to form, they also lent us plenty of great Moog gear for our MoogLab interactive experience at the event.
Mountain Xpress – Asheville’s favorite independent paper lent their mighty voice with a donation of ad space, which was immeasurable helpful to us spreading the word about our event. Outside of their sponsorship, the MX also featured a cover story on Moogus Operandi.
RBC Centura – Our local bank is always there with words of encouragement and support. They put their money where their mouth is and came on with a silver level sponsorship.
98.1 River – How can you go wrong with a radio station who’s slogan is “Different is good?” 98.1 The River rocked the promotion of our event with daily announcements and a couple of great interviews. Super cool DJ Ashley “BadAsh” Davis stepped up as our MC for the evening – she was terrific!
Additional thanks to: Smashing Guitars, The Piano Emporium, Early Girl Eatery, Chef in Motion, Asheville Wine Gallery, Colorful Palate Catering, Collapsable Studios.
Moogus Operandi Rehearsals – The Photo Gallery
Moogus Operandi, a benefit concert featuring Erik Norlander and a host of Asheville musicians, was an amazing evening of musical and visual celebration. You can read more about it and see a gallery of photos of the event here.
Leading up the the event itself, Erik spent weeks arranging his music for the new musicians/instruments that were to be included for the concert. He flew in a week early and set up rehearsal space at Echo Mountain Recording, where he rehearsed with local musicians for three 12-hour days before the event. Below are some of the images captured at those rehearsals; they are courtesy of Jon Leidel Photography.
Many, many thanks to all of the musicians who lent their time and talents, which made the evening a huge success.
Asheville Talent to Rock Moogus Operandi
Stellar Lineup of Asheville’s Local Talent Join Synthesizer Wizard Erik Norlander at Moogus Operandi Fundraising Concert
In the spirit of creative community that unites Asheville and Bob Moog, we are thrilled to confirm a remarkable lineup of Asheville’s talented musicians who will come together May 27 to perform with symphonic rock keyboard virtuoso Erik Norlander at the upcoming fundraising concert, Moogus Operandi. Norlander, a long-time Moog aficionado, will perform songs from his new album, The Galactic Collective. His massive custom modular synthesizer, affectionately known as The Wall of Doom, will provide the musical centerpiece for the evening.
Embracing the depth and breadth of Asheville’s homegrown musical talent, Norlander has invited the following local musicians to perform with him on the Orange Peel stage:
Strings
Woody Wood – Acoustic Guitar
Ellie LaBar – Electric Violin
Brooks Butler – Electric Guitar
Percussion
Adama Dembele (Afromotive) – African percussion
Shen Hunt – African percussion
River Guerguerian – percussion
Vocals
Lana Lane – Female Vocal
Oso Rey (Soulgrass Rebellion) – Male Vocals
Woody Wood – Male Vocals
Synthesist
Amos Gaynes – Voyager, MidiMurf
Theremin
Chris Tanfield
By combining the influences of blues, soul, funk, electronica, african and bluegrass from local musicians into his original symphonic rock compositions, Norlander has at once created a one-of-a-kind musical exploration that is unique to Asheville and serves as a fitting tribute to Bob Moog’s pioneering legacy of unlimited sonic expression.
Moogus Operandi will rock the Orange Peel on May 27th, 2010, from 7-11pm. Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks open the show, followed by a set by Woody Wood. The evening includes a Moog-inspired art auction, a multi-media presentation based on Bob Moog’s archives and a raffle for an iPod Touch, Moog Mulit-Pedal, a day of recording at Echo Mountain Studios, 2 tickets to Bonaroo, 2 tickets to the Orange Peel and a case of Moog Filtered Ale. Tickets are on sale at the Orange Peel (www.theorangepeel.net).
In Memorandum: Walter Sear Joins Bob Moog in Analog Heaven
Walter Sear (1930-2010)
Bob Moog and Walter Sear at Sear Sound During Taping of "Moog" Documentary
With sadness, we reflect on the legacy of Walter Sear, who passed away April 30, 2010 from complications from a fall back in March.
Sear may be best known for his commitment to quality recording equipment, techniques and for his pioneering work with synthesizer promotion and composition. He began is career as a tuba player, performing in the pit at Radio City Music Hall during the 1950s and sold tubas of his own design. In the late 1950s, Sear purchased some theremin parts from R.A. Moog, Co, the first iteration of Bob Moog’s company, and subsequently became the first sales agent for the R.A. Moog, Co., selling theremins and theremin parts. He took on the role of Bob’s business partner, as you can read about in our Archive Advisor Brian Kehew‘s reflections below, and played a key role in Bob’s ever-important meeting with Herb Deutsch.
Sear pioneered the use and promotion of the instrument the Moog synthesizer. He devoted time and energy to educating New York City studio owners on the applications of the revolutionary instrument. He composed and performed on a custom Moog modular which he helped design and used it in numerous soundtracks from Oscar-winning best picture Midnight Cowboy to Jim Henson’s The Cube to National Lampoon’s Disco Beaver from Outer Space.
In 1970 Sear created New York’s Sear Sound recording studio, a facility renowned for its collection of vintage analog recording gear, including over 275 microphones as well as a Studer 1-inch, 2-track mastering deck that Sear converted from a 1-inch 4-track recorder used to create The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at Abbey Studio. Sear Sound became the recording home for numerous stellar musicians including Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Wynton Marsalis, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, Sonic Youth, Steely Dan and Nora Jones, Phish, Moe and more.
Sear was committed to the integrity of sound, always with an ear to the highest quality. For him, this meant using the best vintage analog gear that could be found. He talks about his commitment to sonic integrity in the video below.
Brian Kehew, BMF Archive Advisor, Reflects on Walter Sear’s Work with Bob Moog:
In the early 1960′s, Bob Moog was making only theremins. He’d left behind the big tube/valve versions of the 1950s and was having more success selling small transistorized theremins. His only commercial salesman was Walter Sear, already an established studio owner and engineer/producer. It was at their booth at the New York School State Music Educator’s Association conference (selling brass instruments and theremins to schools) that Herb Deutsch first came across Bob Moog. At the booth, Herb connected with Bob and invited him to see some “new” music – experimental styles that introduced Bob to the world of electronic music. Later, Herb requested a custom instrument built, which Bob designed for him – the first Moog synthesizer.
All the while, Walter and Bob are trying to survive in the music business. Making mostly cheap guitar and bass amps for kids who had just discovered the Beatles. I have hundreds of pages of correspondence here between the two, as they wrote daily (no email or faxes yet!) to juggle the needs of their fledgling outfit. Thankfully, Walter kept the paperwork, as it is the only clear record of those early days – when the synthesizer was merely an odd sideline to their daily work.
Notable is Walter’s arrangement to get the custom-made “Melsinar” to the Beach Boys – Moog’s first foray into linear (ribbon) controllers – in 1966.
11/25/65 Letter from Bob to Walter Sear
6/10/65 Letter from Walter Sear to Bob Moog
6/12/66 Letter from Bob to Walter Sear
Through 1967 the little amplifiers sold in the hundreds but were so minimally profitable that the R.A.Moog Company was in clear danger of extinction. Luckily, within a year, that odd instrument, Bob’s synthesizer, would take off, selling to schools and commercial composers, and a few talented pop stars and artists. Walter remained Bob’s salesman and demonstrator for the East Coast, as he was situated in Manhattan and could show the synthesizer in his modern recording studio. In the early 1970s, Walter was officially terminated as an official representative when the company changed ownership. Walter and Bob remained lifelong friends.
There is a wonderful scene in Moog, the documentary film by Hans Fjestallad, where Bob visits Walter to reminisce in his NY studio, Sear Sound – still equipped with his giant Moog modular. This particular modular synthesizer is recognizable on many 1960s/70s “Moog records” as it has a notable Maestro Rhythm King rhythm box on top at the time. The synth is featured on Walter’s own Copper-Plated Integrated Circuit LP, Dick Hyman’s incredible Moog records, Marty Gold’s Moog Plays the Beatles, Richard Hayman’s Genuine Electric Latin Love Machine, Sean Lennon’s first album, and many more!
April 2010 – Minute with the Moog Foundation
[help us promote this on Twitter & Facebook! short url: http://bit.ly/dqnuD2 @moogfoundation #moogfoundation]
Check out the photo galleries [1, 2] on our Facebook page.
Sean McDonald, one of the BMF Board Members, put together this first in our new series, “A Minute with The Moog Foundation”. Features content from:
- Erik Norlander and THE WALL OF DOOM Synthesizer
- HATCH Asheville
- Laura Escudé
- Ben Mason / NEB.cinema
- photos Jen Lepkowski Photography
- music by Your Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band (available for purchase at our store)
A few quick notes from Sean (me):
It was truly an honor to install select pieces from Bob Moog’s Archives at the HATCH Design & Technology Gallery. We were able to use the fantastic space at the Asheville Area Arts Council, and had lots of help from Rockstar Volunteers Alex Hornbake*, Greg Bliss and Allen Davis. (We named Allen the honorary curator of the installation after his game-changing volunteer work the night before opening.)
Laura Escudé rocked my world, again, at HATCH Asheville 2010. We met her at HATCH Asheville 2009, where she performed with Scott Pagano, who was a HATCH mentor. This year, Laura came back to Asheville and performed on her own, in collaboration with Ben Mason’s NEB.cinema project and along with Scott, again, but this time with a recorded video he animated. All of it was…extraordinary.
Ben Mason rocked it all over HATCH this year, just like last year. Ben sees the world through a different set of lenses than most of us, and his unique worldview results in an intensely creative, innovative set of interactive audio / video experiences. Freakin’ rad.
We were also lucky enough to share the gallery space with Rajeev Kulkarni from 3D Systems who brought extraordinary three-dimensional print out’s from his company’s technology. Inspiration! As was the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, which we got to tour.
HUGE thanks to HATCH Asheville and HATCH Bozeman for hosting the Bob Moog Foundation. HATCH is a platform — the more you put into it, the more you get out of it — and the BMF has put a lot into, and built a network of world-class contacts who inspire, guide & empower our growing organization. It’s an honor to be a sponsor — to be part of the team.
We’ll be back in May with another Minute with The Moog Foundation!
Thanks!
Sean McDonald [email me]
*You’ll be hearing more about Alex soon…check back for details on a new project!
Announcing Moogus Operandi, May 27th, 2010
Synthesizer Virtuoso Erik Norlander and His Massive “Wall of Doom” Modular Synthesizer Featured in Upcoming Concert Event
The Bob Moog Foundation is proud to announce its spring concert event Moogus Operandi, honoring the pioneering work and legacy of synthesizer maverick Robert Moog, to be held on May 27, 2010 at the Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina. The event will be a celebration of the Moog legacy through music, art and mulitmedia entertainment. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door the night of the event.
Northern California based synthesizer virtuoso Erik Norlander (ASIA featuring John Payne, Rocket Scientists, Lana Lane) will headline the evening, performing songs from his new album, The Galactic Collective. Norlander, an accomplished rock, electronic and symphonic keyboardist known for his command of vintage and cutting edge synthesizer technology alike will bring the Moog legacy alive with his synth-heavy instrumentals and his “Wall of Doom” modular synthesizer (so named by his roadies). The Wall of Doom, a massive analog modular synthesizer with restored 1967 Moog modules at its heart, will grace the stage of the Orange Peel as the musical and historical representation of Bob Moog’s legacy of pushing the boundaries of sonic reality. This marks Norlander’s first performance in Western North Carolina.
Erik Norlander with Wall of Doom Synth
Erik Norlander Surrounded by Moog Synths
Erik Norlander with his custom analog Wall of Doom synthesizer
Norlander states “I have been a fan of the Moog instruments since I was kid, and I had the great privilege of knowing Bob Moog in his later years. Moog is, without a doubt, the most iconic name in synthesizers, and to many, the word Moog is synonymous with the word synthesizer. I am really looking forward to this stellar event for The Bob Moog Foundation in Asheville where we will celebrate the legacy of Bob Moog through music using his wonderful, timeless instruments.”
Norlander will be joined on stage by a host of Asheville’s top musicians including percussionists, brass and string players as well as a choral group of four vocalists. The exact lineup of will be announced in the coming weeks.
Opening for Norlander and accompanying musicians will be Asheville street musician sensations Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks featuring Dwight Hawkins (Saw, Guitar, Vocals), Nicky The Squirrel (Mandolin, Harmonica, Kazoo, Vocals), Tony Costa (Guitar, Kazoo, Vocals), Alex Brady (Gut Bass) performing ragtime, jug band, early blues & country. Furthering the spirit of celebrating musical genres and technologies, the Bob Moog Foundation is proud to feature this group whose sound incorporates the musical saw, an instrument whose sound is much like the theremin, an early electronic musical instrument upon which the Moog legacy was founded.
In addition to fantastic music, Moogus Operandi will explore the Moog legacy through visual art. The Bob Moog Foundation has issued a call to Asheville artists to donate original works of Moog-inspired art to raise funding for the Foundation through an online auction. In the week leading up to the celebration, the foundation will hold an eBay auction featuring the unique pieces of Moog-inspired art. The eBay format will be used to provide an opportunity for the local artists to have their work showcased to a multi-national audience. It will also give the worldwide community of Moog enthusiasts a chance to bid on one-of-a-kind pieces of art created in the pioneer’s hometown.
The auction, which will begin on May 20th, is scheduled to close at the end of the May 27th Moogus Operandi event at 10 pm; attendees will be able to participate through bidding stations set up by CityMac. Artists can register their pieces of art through May 1, 2010 at www.moogfoundation.org/artist-registration/. Submissions must be received by May 15 at 2pm. More information about the auction can be found on the Foundation’s website.
Additionally, visitors will be treated to a multimedia presentation by Gene Felice, the graphics artist who created the Moogseum 3D conceptualization for the Foundation’s hallmark project, the Moogseum. Felice will be highlighting the profound impact of Moog’s inventions on the music industry and on the musicians who have taken his instruments far beyond Bob’s wildest expectations. Felice will be using media directly from Bob Moog’s archives, such as vintage photos, schematics, movie clips and more.
Attendees of the event will be able to participate in a raffle, with generous prizes given by Asheville area businesses. Raffle prizes include an Ipod Touch courtesy of CityMac ($250 value), an Mp-201 Multi-Pedal from Moog Music, Inc. ($499 value) and a chance to lay down some tracks and pull shapes in a day session at the world-class facility of Echo Mountain Recording ($1000 value).
Finally, guests will be able to explore the sonic boundaries of the Moog sound in the Foundation’s MoogLab interactive experience. Theremins and synthesizers will be set up in the back of the Orange Peel, with BMF volunteers standing by offering instructional advice.
Moogus Operandi promises to be a unique opportunity to be immersed in a rich musical experience that blends musical genres and showcases musical technology from its most primal form to its most cutting edge. The combination of talent that will be found on the Orange Peel stage on the 27th will be as unique as the Moog Legacy itself.
As a small non-profit, the Bob Moog Foundation creates unique fundraising events to fulfill its mission and to raise much needed funding for its three projects. The funding supports the Foundation’s staff and many volunteers who are painstakingly working to carry Bob Moog’s legacy forward to future generations.
Moogus Operandi is being sponsored by Asheville Brewing Company, CityMac, Echo Mountain Recording, Gould Killian CPA Group, Moog Music Inc, the Mountain Express and RBC Centura Bank . Without their support, this event would not be possible.
Please join us the night of May 27th! It’s going to be a fantastic evening of musical and artistic celebration!
TICKETS
For ordering information please call the Orange Peel at 1-866-468-7630, visit their website or visit their box office at 101 Biltmore Ave. in Asheville. Hours are from Wed-Sat 12 noon to 5:30pm.
BMF to Raffle Lou Reed’s Moog Guitar
THE RAFFLE IS CLOSED AS OF MARCH 23, 2010
Many thanks to all who participated!
We are compiling the results and will announce the winner on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at noon (EST)
Update March 30th, 2010: We have asked Paul Vo, the inventor of the Moog Guitar, to announce the winner. We need just a bit of time for our volunteer editor to edit his video and we will be posting it at 9pm tonight. Check back here or on our Facebook page. Thanks for your patience — having Paul announce it will make it special indeed!
On Tuesday March 30, 2010 at noon (EST), the Bob Moog Foundation will announce the winner of Lou Reed’s Moog Guitar. The winner will be informed by email, whereby shipping arrangements will be made. Please continue to check this page for any further updates.
Bob Moog Foundation To Raffle Lou Reed’s Moog Guitar Beginning March 9, 2010 12 (EST)
March 8, 2010
Asheville, NC — The Bob Moog Foundation announces a once in a lifetime raffle opportunity to begin Tuesday March 9, 2010 at 12pm (EST). The Foundation will be selling $50 raffle tickets for a chance to win one of Lou Reed’s Moog Guitars. Only 200 tickets will be made available. Participants can purchase raffle tickets online at the Foundation’s online store http://moogfoundation.org/shop . The raffle will close when the 200 tickets have been sold and a winner will be chosen by an automated random selector. All proceeds go to benefit the projects of the Bob Moog Foundation. Employees and volunteers of Moog Music, the Bob Moog Foundation and Lou Reed are not eligible to participate in the auction.
Moog Music Inc., the company which carries on the legacy of synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog through its innovative instruments, is donating the Paul Vo Collector Edition (1 of only 300) Moog Guitar, serial #005, signed and played by Lou Reed, to the Foundation. The strikingly beautiful instrument is a maple top Tiger Eye Flame with an ash body, maple neck and ebony fret board. Reed has signed the front of the guitar; his labels for the guitar’s controls remain on the instrument as well as the brackets for his guitar strap.
Front view of Lou Reed's Moog Guitar
Lou Reed's Autograph
Control Panel
Headstock
Back of headstock
Lou Reed, best known as the former guitarist, vocalist and principle songwriter for the experimental rock band Velvet Underground, has enjoyed a prolific career as a solo guitarist known for the pioneering of many sound effects including distortion, high volume feedback and nonstandard tunings. His love affair with the innovative Moog Guitar began early, as he played the instrument in its prototype phase. Reed experiences the Moog Guitar for the first time in this YouTube video. Upon hearing the guitar for the first time, Reed exclaimed “This is amazing….this opens the door”. Reed performed on the Moog Guitar on the David Lettermen Show in the fall of 2008.
Mike Adams, President of Moog Music, states “Our thanks to Lou Reed, who experienced the Moog Guitar in its earliest evolution and inspired us to continue our development efforts. Gratefully, the proceeds from this raffle will support the Bob Moog Foundation. Both the Bob Moog Foundation and Moog Music serve to honor the genius of Bob Moog.”
Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation acknowledges “The Bob Moog Foundation is deeply grateful for the support of Lou Reed and Moog Music. The funds raised from this raffle will be of great assistance in expanding our Student Outreach Program, the program in which we bring Moog instruments in to the schools and teach children the science behind the sounds of electronic music. This program, even in its infant stages, has opened children’s minds and engaged their spirits to explore the extensive sonic possibilities that Moog instruments offer.”
Moog Music and its customers carry on the legacy of Bob Moog. Moog designs and manufactures electronic musical instruments, including Little Phatty® and Minimoog® Voyager® synthesizers, Moogerfooger® effects modules, Etherwave® theremins and The Moog Guitar. Founded by Bob Moog, Moog Music designs and manufactures its products in Asheville, N.C. www.moogmusic.com
The Bob Moog Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to carry on the legacy of Bob Moog through educating and inspiring children and adults through the power and possibilities of electronic music and through the intersection of science, music and innovation. The foundation has three main projects: preserving and protecting Bob Moog’s archives, creating a Student Outreach Program that brings electronic music into the schools, and its hallmark project, the creation of a Moogseum in Asheville, NC, for which it was recently awarded a $600,000 lead grant by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. For more information see
Bob Moog Foundation Makes Waves at NAMM
January 2010
Bob Moog Foundation Making Waves at Winter NAMM 2010
Happy 2010 to all of you from the Bob Moog Foundation! The year begins for us with big plans as we head out to Winter NAMM in Anaheim, CA next week. Our friends at Moog Music are once again sharing their booth space with us. You can find us there (Booth #6100) making waves with a new video about the Foundation and sharing some recently restored material from the tapes in Bob’s archives. We hope to see many of you there! For those of you who can’t make it, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates.
We are also proud to be co-sponsoring three events at NAMM that highlight the Moog Legacy and synthesizer history:
- Main Showcase at NAMM Features Items From Moog Exhibit
From January 14-17, the Bob Moog Foundation, in collaboration with the NAMM Museum of Making Music, will feature dozens of items taken from their exhibit Waves of Inspiration:The Legacy of Moog in the main showcase on the floor of the convention center. Of particular note, an extremely rare Eaton-Moog Multi-Touch Sensitive keyboard will be on public display for the first time. Numerous vintage instruments, photographs, articles and project notes will also be on display. The full exhibit runs at the Museum through April 30, 2010.
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Celebrating The Legacy of Vintage Keyboards Through Documentary Film
On Friday night, January 15th, from 6-8pm in the Avila Room at the Anaheim Hilton, neo-symphonic synthesist Amin Bhatia and documentary filmmaker Dianna Dilworth headline an evening exploring the evolution and impact of vintage keyboards. Amin Bhatia will be joined by Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation for a question and answer session followed by a screening of a short documentary on the making of his innovative realization of Bolero Electronica, for which he used over 70 synthesizers covering 75 years of evolution in synthesis in music. The documentary features rock legends Steve Porcaro and Patrick Moraz and Roland Founder Ikutaro Kakehashi.
Following Bhatia, Dianna Dilworth and Markus Resch of the Mellotron Archive will screen Mellodrama: The Mellotron Documentary which explores the rising and falling fortunes of the Mellotron – the first musical keyboard to “sample” the sounds of other instruments – from its birth in a California garage in the 1950s, through its dominance on concert stages in the 1970s, through its almost religious cult of followers in the 2000s. From the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields” to Black Sabbath to Kanye West, Mellodrama traces a 50-year odyssey of musical invention, revolution, betrayal, and rediscovery.
- Panel Discussion To Explore the Impact of Bob Moog’s Work on the Music Industry Past, Present and Future as Interpreted though Museum Exhibit
On Sunday January 17th from 3-4pm in the Idea Center at NAMM, The Bob Moog Foundation and the NAMM Museum of Making Music will present a panel discussion in celebration of the premiere exhibition Waves of Inspiration: The Legacy of Moog. The
discussion will involve industry and musical luminaries in an exploration of the impact of Bob Moog’s work on the music industry as it relates to the exhibition at the NAMM Museum of Making Music public display through April 30, 2010.
The discussion will be moderated by Museum Curator Tatiana Sizonenko
Panelists include:
- Craig Anderton (Senior Editor: Harmony-Central.com, Senior Editor: EQ Magazine, Contributing Editor: Keyboard Magazine)
Herb Deutsch (collaborator on first Moog synthesizer)
Larry Fast (Synergy, Peter Gabriel)
Brian Kehew (Moog Cookbook, The Who, Exhibit Advisor)
Michelle Moog-Koussa (Executive Director, the Bob Moog Foundation)
When the Show Ends, An Exclusive Moog Tour Begins
The Museum of Making Music, in collaboration with Moog Music and the Bob Moog Foundation, is offering an exclusive tour of their exhibit Waves of Inspiration:The Legacy of Moog to NAMM attendees only. The exhibit is the first-ever public display of a rare collection of vintage instruments, photographs, diaries, schematics, catalogs and project notes from the Bob Moog Foundation Archives, along with the prototype of the first Moog modular synthesizer and much more.
On Monday, January 18, a bus will depart from Anaheim to the NAMM Headquarters (where the Museum is housed) in Carlsbad, California. Hosted by Michelle Moog-Koussa (Executive Director of The Bob Moog Foundation), Mike Adams (President, Moog Music Inc.), exhibition advisor Brian Kehew and museum staff, the tour includes lunch before departing back to Anaheim in the early afternoon. Space is limited and an RSVP is required. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Carolyn Grant at carolyng@namm.org or call 760-801-7180.
Celebrating the Moog Synthesizer with Pioneers Herb Deutsch and John Eaton
The week after NAMM, we will be at the NAMM Museum of Making Music to join electronic music pioneers Herb Deutsch and John Eaton for an evening of music and conversation regarding their collaboration with Bob Moog on two groundbreaking instruments. The event, Celebrating the Moog Synthesizer, takes place at the Museum on Saturday, January 23rd at 7pm. Tickets are available for purchase online through the Museum.
We’re off to a great start in 2010! Thank you all for your ongoing support that makes our work possible.
Legendary George Duke and Quartet to Perform November 6, 2009 at Museum of Making Music
Intimate Concert and VIP Reception at Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad, CA
On Friday, November 6, 2009, George Duke, whose very name is synonymous with funk, R&B, pop, soul and jazz and who is heralded as a world class keyboardist, synthesizer pioneer, composer and Grammy award winning producer, will perform an intimate concert with his quartet at the Museum of Making Musicin Carlsbad, California. The concert is a celebration of the Bob Moog Foundation and the Museum of Making Music’s exhibition, Waves of Inspiration: The Legacy of Moog, a first‐ever look at the life and work of synthesizer innovator, Dr. Robert Moog.
Tickets to the concert are $35 for the general public and $30 for museum members. Optionally, for $100 guests can enjoy both the concert event and a special VIP after‐party reception with George Duke that will take place following his performance. Attendance is limited. For tickets and information, please contact the Museum at 760‐438‐5996 or visit www.museumofmakingmusic.org.
In the past 40 years, Duke has released over 30 albums as well as appearing on countless other albums. Most recently Duke released Dukey Treats (2008), which highlights his skills as a jazz/funk master and song writer. Duke talks about the album in this video. He has also worked with an array of artists, including: Jean-Luc Ponty, Frank Zappa, Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Dianne Reeves, George Clinton, Anita Baker, Miles Davis, Denise Williams, Jeffery Osborne, Regina Belle and others. Additionally, Duke has worked as musical director at numerous large-scale musical events, including the Nelson Mandela tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in London in 1988. In 1989, he was the interim musical director of NBC’s late-night music performance program Sunday Night.
THE EXHIBIT
Waves of Inspiration: The Legacy of Moog focuses on Bob’s Moog’s work and the impact that he had on the world of music. It features rare vintage synthesizers and other related Moog instruments and memorabilia from the Bob Moog Foundation Archives and from various private collections. The exhibit explores the numerous musicians, engineers and colleagues who played a vital role in the evolution of the Moog sound and the relationship between and the inventor/toolmaker and the musician, as well as the genesis of a variety of musical interfaces.
Remembering the Genius and Soul of Les Paul
Fond Reflections of Les Paul — from the Desk of the Executive Director
In the fall of 2007, I was fortunate enough to attend the Mix Foundation Tech Awards that are held each year in conjunction with the AES show in New York City. I was fortunate enough to be invited as the guest of my friends at Steven’s Institute of Technology . As luck would have it, I wound up accepting the award for Technical Acheivement in Musical Instrument Technology on behalf of Moog Music, Inc. for the Little Phatty. It was a great evening all around, but the highlight for me, after receiving the award, was meeting Les Paul, inventor of the electric guitar and multi-track recording.
I already got a sense of who Les was from his time up on stage presenting the Les Paul Award to Al Kooper. Les was more interested in the attractive brunette holding the award than the happenings on stage. When he got up to the mic, he said something along the lines of “I feel like a broken flag pole standing next to her”. The whole room erupted in laughter — at 92 years old, the guy had an incredible amount of spunk.
I was sitting with Steven’s talented faculty, of which guitar wizard Carlos Alamar was a member. Carlos offered to introduce me to Les, so up we went to the front of the room. Les initially looked a little distracted with all of the comotion going on in the room, but when Carlos said “Les, this is Bob Moog’s daughter, Michelle” Les’s face lit up, he gave me a huge smile and a hug and said “Oh, I just loved your dad.”
Dad and Les knew each other quite well from their years under Norlin Industries, Inc. Norlin was an umbrella organization that owned several music companies in the early to mid-70s including Sennheiser, Lowery Organs, Maestro Foot Pedals, Moog Music, Inc. and Gibson Guitars. Apparently, neither Dad nor Les were too fond of the way their parent company handled things and they bonded as two inventors facing the realities of being part of a large corporate organization. At one point around 1975 Norlin asked Moog Music, Inc. to make a guitar amp, the LAB Series Amp, to go with some of the Gibson guitars. Dad was in charge of designing that product, the prototype of which is part of his archive.
In the fall of 2008, I was in NYC on business and met up with a friend to go see Les perform at the Iridium Club in Manhattan. His set was a mixure of music, humor and nostalgia. At 93 years old he still had the chops of a virtuoso, the spirit of an innovator and the heart of gold. I went back stage to see him we spent some time talking about music and Les’s fondness for Dad. People wandered in and out to pay their respects to Les and he was always warm and animated. I was struck by his humility and open spirit, two things people always tell me they admired about my father. I could certainly see that Les and Dad had easily been kindred spirits.
Commenting on the link between the two men, Colby Cosh recently wrote:
“Two men, Les Paul and Bob Moog, stand above all others as creators of the musical environment in which our brains are all now marinated.”
Les invited me to come interview him at his home the next time I was in town; I was really looking forward to that. I’ll be in NYC in October for AES once again, but this time my second favorite music pioneer will be playing a tune somewhere else………hopefully in the company of my father.
Les Paul was a brilliant maverick inventor, a great musician and a hell of a nice guy. He is deeply missed by many here at the Bob Moog Foundation and around the world….
Erik Norlander’s “The Princely Hours”
Erik Norlander’s Skillful Use of Five Moog Instruments Provides Upbeat, Ethereal Song to Benefit the Bob Moog Foundation.
Erik Norlander is a progressive rock keyboardist whose evocative synthesizer technique is Erik’s evocative synthesizer technique is reminiscent of the legendary Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson and Jon Lord while still very unique and forward-moving in its own right. Erik takes many of the classic riffs and phrases from his various influences and reinvents them with highly emotional pitch bending, vibrato and authoritative phrasing. This technique combines brilliantly with Erik’s mastery of sound and production. Erik has personally led sound design efforts on several major brand synthesizers, and his knowledge of synthesis and audio engineering are second to none. Erik’s perpetual live use of vintage instruments — Moog synthesizers in particular — give his concerts a depth and authenticity of sound seldom seen in modern stage productions.
“The Princely Hours” is an original all-Moog composition donated by Erik, available exclusively through the Bob Moog Foundation. Here’s Erik’s description about the instruments involved in the song:
“I composed ‘The Princely Hours’ as a special piece for The Bob Moog Foundation using only Moog instruments. Even the percussion is Moog! The leads come from my Moog Voyager and my 70s Minimoog Model D. The stereo bass is from my modular Moog system, and some of the sound fx come from the modular as well, of course. For general textures and atmosphere stuff, I used my Moog Rogue, a real favorite of mine for that sort of application. The low bass drones are original Taurus pedals. The tracks were recorded using MOTU Digital Performer with reverbs courtesy of Universal Audio (Plate 140, Dreamverb) and IK Multimedia (CSR). The echoes are provided by the Moogerfooger MF-104 Analog Delay. ”
Listen to the whole track here.
Many thanks to Erik for this stunning musical tribute to the Moog legacy, and for his support of the Bob Moog Foundation.
mooged out: Asheville (The CD)
Backstory
In fall 2007 the Bob Moog Foundation sponsored an effort pioneered by local musician, engineer and producer Dave Hamilton. The idea was to record local Asheville musicians performing their music with innovative twists on or through Moog instruments.
After months of studio work, the project culminated with this CD and the recording of a collaborative track at a live event called Enter the Mind of Moog.
You can purchase the whole album for a gift of $25. All proceeds benefits the foundation.
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See pictures from the event.
View videos from the Event, as documented by Electronic Musician Magazine (scroll down the page).
Thanks
To Dave Hamilton–thanks for your inspired creative spirit. To all the artists involved, who are playing a critical roll in carrying forward the legacy of Bob Moog. And to all the volunteers, without whom none of this would have been possible; a special thanks to the five amazing volunteers who made up our event committee.
Our event committee was:
- Scott Kenney
- Siobhan Reilly
- Erin Rafalowski
- Dave Hamilton
- Sean McDonald
We deeply appreciate the donation of mastering services from Seva David Ball at Soundcurrent Mastering and our discounted press rates from Sonopress. Without you both, this project would not be possible.
Interested in participating in a future “mooged out: YourTown”?
Participating Artists
P Good by Menage
Menage is a local, female-fronted roots rock band. They were honored to donate multitrack masters to their song “P Good” that was initially recorded at Echo Mountain Studios. These tracks were then remixed using Moogerfoogers at Silvermine Studio by Dave Hamilton. The result is a new version of a Menage song that has Moogerfooger effect processing on the drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and vocals.
www.themenage.com and www.myspace.com/thegreenfields
Until I See Stars Again (BMI) by The Green Fields
written, produced and mixed by Chris Mondia
arranged by Chris Mondia and the Green Fields
engineered by Julian Dryer, Jon Paul Hess, Charlie Cissell & Chris Mondia
recorded at Echo Mountain Studios, Silvermine Studios, and Chris’ bedroom.
Eric Bailey – Fender bass
Chris Carter – drums
Charlie Cissell – glockenspiel
Jon Paul Hess – Moog Voyager
Chris Mondia – vocals, six & 12-string guitars, tambourine
The Green Fields are a pop band from Asheville, NC centered around the songs and arrangements of Chris Mondia. With a large and evolving cast of musicians, the Green Fields draw on a diverse range of influences such as The Beach Boys, Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, the Byrds, Gram Parsons, Gene Clark and The Beatles to make their deeply personal and unique sound. “Until I See Stars Again”, presented here in an alternate version than what will appear on their forthcoming sophomore effort, features a Moog Voyager (played by local “man about town” Jon Paul Hess) as it’s centerpiece.
Now You Know by Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
The Booty Band is very excited about being a part of this project. As The Booty Band has not experimented much with this kind of technology, they say: “We’re very happy to have our knobs twisted and our Moogers Foogered.” The band donated multitrack masters for the song “Now You Know” which was originally tracked at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC. The tracks were then processed through Moogerfooger Lopass Filter, Ring Modulator, Phaser, and Analog Delay by Dave Hamilton.
Me Have Fun by Ruby Slippers
“me have fun” copyright 2006
Ruby Slippers
lyrics & vocals written by Molly Kummerle
music written by: Molly Kummerle, Andy John, Robin Tolleson
THIS VERSION: all parts & vocals played/sang, engineered, & produced by Molly Kummerle in her den on a Zoom MRS-8 digital recorder, using a Roland 3500 S digital electric piano and a Yamaha PRS-7 420 keyboard. The Zoom media card was then passed on to Dave Hamilton who converted each track into useable waveforms and remixed the song using Moogerfoogers at Silvermine Studio.
My Heart Trembles by Broomstars
Broomstars (Jason, Liz, Clayton and Jared) have been 100% committed to preserving Bob’s legacy. From the band’s inception, it’s been a strong desire to utilize many of his beautiful instruments in Broomstar songs. This was our intent when recording “My Heart Trembles”. In particular, this song is heavily saturated with lush sonic landscapes using Moogerfoogers and the Minimoog Voyager. Listen as bass lines pulsate with the Bass MuRF, ring-modulated guitars delicately swoon, and the synth’s bombastic, yet sometimes subtle melodies emerge. It may be of interest to know that good “old-fashioned” knob twisting provided the swirling textures you hear at the end of the song. Yes, it’s true; you can do that with Moog analog gear! Bob wanted the musician to have a limitless palette from which to create. Also, included at the end, and quite heart-warming was the addition of Jared’s daughter’s heartbeat (in utero). For more information, upcoming shows and to hear additional songs, please visit our website
http://www.myspace.com/broomstars
Willow by Chris Tanfield
Chris Tanfield recorded “Willow” with engineering help from Jon Paul Hess at Silvermine Studio. The song features acoustic guitar, vocals through Moogerfooger delay effects, and Theremin through delay being amplified through a Leslie speaker.
Funk in ya Knock by Agent 23
Agent 23 is an MC/Producer, soloist and member of the notorious GFE collective. He has released 3 solo albums as well as an album of hip hop for youngsters. He reps for the traveling set, the misfits, and the lovers of psychedelic. His self produced song, “Funk in ya Knock”, is an elbow to the ribs of overserious mainstream hip hop, and features a keys solo heavily dosed by the Moogwork of Dave Hamilton.
You can find more Agent 23 classics at www.granolafunk.com and entertainment for the kids at www.childstyle.org
Fakie Rock by Strut
Hi we’re STRUT – we’ve lived and played music in Asheville for 8 years. We play a mix of Ska/Funk & Rock, lately our song writing has taken an electronic/psychedelic turn due the help of the Moogerfooger’s and their endless sonic possibilities. We are honored to be part of this compilation and anything MOOG. The song we selected for the compilation is called Fakie Rock. The song was tracked in Orlando, FL and then taken to Altamont Studios in Asheville for overdubbing. That’s when we broke out the toys. The Moogerfooger’s included in this song are: Lowpass Filter & Ring Modulator on guitar; 12 Stage Phaser on bass and vocals; we also used a Minimoog Voyager and an original Minimoog keyboard for overdubs.
Find more of our music at www.strutproductions.com and www.myspace.com/strutproductions
much love… enjoy! – STRUT-
Another Longest Day of the Year by The If You Wannas
We used the Moog Little Phatty for the lead synth part with added delay and distortion.
Players:
Ryan Cox – vocals, guitars
Trevor Stoia – bass
Jacob Baumann – drums
Gavin Conner – little phatty synth
words and music by Ryan Cox
copyright 2007
recorded at High Five Recording with Jayro
www.theifyouwannas.moonfruit.com and www.myspace.com/theifuwannas
Turn it Around by Josh Blake and his Big Money Band
The Big Money Band is a group of talented Asheville musicians who have come together to support me and my songwriting. Our group includes members of GFE, Strut, Yo Mammas Big Fat Booty Band, and The Short Term Memory String Band. When we were approached by the Moog Foundation to submit a track for this compilation, we wasted no time. The track “Turn it Around” was recorded at Echo Mountain Studios (Asheville, N.C.) in August ’07 and features the musicianship of Eric Krasno (Soulive) and David McCracken (Donna The Buffalo) working the wonders of the Moog Voyager. We are truly honored to be included in this project and to have an opportunity to give back to someone who gave so much to the world of music. peace…….Josh Blake
www.bigmoneyband.com and www.myspace.com/bigmoneyband
Be For You by Josh Phillips Folk Festival
As the Folk Festival’s debut album, WICKER, is not due out until April ’08 and has not been mixed in it’s entirety, Josh Phillips is honored to hear this Moog interpretation of this “Pre-Mix.” Listen closely for the deep bass on the drumset. There are plenty of Moogerfoogers on the vocal tracks as well.
www.myspace.com/joshphillipsfolk
Geronimo by Chach
Chach is an up and coming, innovative hip hop artist whose production sounds are on the cutting edge. On the track “Geronimo,” the Minimoog Voyager is used for it’s grimey lead synth tone.
Circus Pills by Jen and the Juice
“The circusy waltz and lyrics in the song suggests there is a problem with doctors over medicating people.” says Jen Greer. The Jen and the Juice song “Circus Pills” was recorded in the halls of UNCA music department (literally). While Jen Greer recorded the song standing in the middle of the hall way with a single vocal mic, Joe Buzzelli (Jen and the Juice drummer and producer) and Funky J. Bryan (sound engineer) weaved MoogerFooger effects: Low Pass Filter, Ring Modulator, Stage Phaser, Analog Delay, MuRF and Control Processor, throughout the song. If you listen closely you can hear them running in the hall.
www.jenandthejuice.com and www.myspace.com/jenandthejuice
The New Come On by The Great Slide
The Great Slide is a four piece psychedelic rock outfit. The song “The New Come On” was recorded at Silvermine Studio by Steve French. The vocals are drenched in Moogerfooger Analog Delay, the bass is being played through a Phaser, and the drumset is being played through Moogerfooger effects to create sonic textures as well as a fuller kick drum.
Continuum by Thunderdrums
Thunderdrums is the solo tribal electronica project performed by Asheville NC resident Frank Bloom. The set up for Thunderdrums includes a vast array of various handdrums, percussion instruments, drumset, electronic drum pads, samplers, effects pedals, and looping pedals. For “Continuum,” Frank used his Moogerfooger MURF alongside a few more effects graciously donated for the recording by the Broomstars: the Phaser, the Delay, as well as a Little Phatty synthesizer for the live basslines he created. more information, tour dates, etc: www.myspace.com/thunderdrums77
Moogwai by Medisin
Medisin has been on the electronic music scene since 1999 when he mysteriously discovered a forever life changing psy.trance party in the backwoods of North Carolina. Since then he has gone on to become a gifted DJ & Producer, with many different styles of music under his belt. Traveling often while spreading his infectious style of psychedelic to the world and bringing medicine through music to heal the sins and sadness of the human experience. This track, “Moogwai,” was made specifically for the Bob Moog Foundation in memory of Bob Moog. A true pioneer who helped to create so many new opportunities to open up the mind and send it on a journey. THANK YOU!!!Medisin
www.myspace.com/medisintrancer
Event Photos
Pictures from the Enter the Mind of Moog event where we recorded the live track.
Special thanks to Jen Lepkowski Photography and Jon Leidel Photography.
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| Bob Moog Foundation + Asheville AFFILIATES |
Ben Hovey Lends his Funky Horn to Mooged-Out At MoDaddy’s Bele Chere After Party
For any of you who attended “Enter the Mind of Moog: Bob’s Birthday Celebration” in May, you’ll remember one of the highlights of the evening being Ben Hovey waling on his trumpet while simultaneously playing the Little Phatty. No doubt about it, Ben is a mean funk player who puts his heart and soul in to every note.
Ben plays with “Wormholes, Trumpets, and Funk”. Fusing function and form, this sonic scientist, an undeniable gear-head, has daisy chained his musical styling as “electro-soul.” Building a funky foundation of break beats, erecting walls of sound with his synthesizers, and illuminating the spot with hot live brass, he makes House into a Home. But Ben doesn’t stop there. He makes the musical rounds and plays with the Asheville Horns, the Booty Band, the Josh Phillips Folk Festival and Kevens.
Like many of the musicians who lend the Bob Moog Foundation their mighty talents, Ben has a very deep connection to the Moog Legacy.
“I’ve felt an inspiring connection with Bob since first bringing home a Moog Rogue synthesizer around 10 years ago. In learning about him over the years I have come to deeply respect his kind and humble character, genius, and amazing sonic inventions. When he passed, I felt as if I lost a close family member, even though I had never met him. The day after, I went to the local music store to play the Minimoog Voyager for several hours in deep meditation and felt his guiding presence in the “voyage”. I have had many synchronistic experiences with Bob since then and followed an intuitive calling to move to Asheville, work at Moog Music, and help to carry on his legacy. It is an incredible honor to participate in the Bob Moog Foundation benefit concerts, and to share in the love and admiration with other artists who feel a similar bond. THANK YOU BOB!!”
You can follow Ben at www.twitter.com/benhovey. Come check out his amazing skills at our Mooged-Out at MoDaddy’s event tomorrow night, July 25th, from 10pm-2am. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds go to beneift the Bob Moog Foundations Moogseum effort. Give MoDaddy’s a call to reserve tickets 828-258-1550 or get tickets at the door at 77 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC.
Chris Tanfield Rocks the Theremin at Mooged-Out at MoDaddy’s Bele Chere After Party
Chris Tanfield has been playing his Theremin all over the southeast since 2003 as a member of Silver Machine, The Royal We, and The Morsels, as well as special guest in several other bands. He has appeared at area festivals such as Bele Chere and LEAF, on Asheville’s URTV cable channel and music venues all over the Southeast.
Chris dazzles people with his theremin skills wherever he goes, as he combines musicianship and expressiveness to create a mesmerizing performance. His history with this unique instrument runs deep, as he tells it:
“My relationship with Dr. Moog and Moog Music goes back to the late 1990’s. I first saw a theremin at UNCA music department, thanks to Dr. Wayne Kirby, and was immediately fascinated with it. Soon after that, I began working part-time at Dr.Moog’s factory building theremins. In the year so follow, I must have built, tested and played a few thousand Etherwave Theremins for Moog Music, as well as demonstrating the instrument at NAMM shows and conventions. This is where I honed my technique on the instrument and became familiar with many of its possibilities and quirks.”
“When The Moog Foundation began appearing at music festivals and venues, it was only natural that I would want to get involved, demonstrating and playing the theremin, writing and performing music, and collaborating with some of Asheville’s amazing talent at ‘Mooged-Out” events and recording sessions.”
“I’m so psyched about the upcoming show at MoDaddy’s. Like many Moog events, it will feature some of Asheville’s greatest talents on the same stage. We are collaborating on new music and old, and the mood is creative and exciting! We’ve formed a new band called “The Adapters”, which first appeared at Enter the Mind of Moog: Bob’s 75th birthday celebration. We have a fresh, new, sexy, ethereal sound mix featuring the sweet female voice of Molly Kummerle, theremin, cello, keys, guitar, and drums. Of course Dave Hamilton will be ‘mooging-out’ our sound as well.”
It is a thrill and an honor to create and collaborate with the Bob Moog Foundation and all of the musicians and performers involved. My thanks to everyone at the Bob Moog Foundation for putting together these events.
Mooged-Out at MoDaddy’s:Bele Chere After Party takes place Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 10-2pm. MoDaddy’s is located two doors down from the Orange Peel at 77 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC. Call (828) 258-1550 for tickets.
Molly Kummerle Sharing Good Vibes at Mooged-Out at MoDaddy’s Bele Chere Afterparty This Saturday!
Molly Kummerle, also known as “Ruby Slippers” on the vibrant Asheville music scene, will be gracing the Mooged-Out stage at our Bele Chere After Party on July 25th. Molly is no stranger to Bob Moog Foundation events, having shared her ethereal jazz/hiprock vocals at Enter The Mind Of Moog in November 2007 and Enter the Mind of Moog:Bob’s Birthday Celebration in May 2009. You can hear Molly performing “Give Me the Sun”, for which she wrote the lyrics,
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and on “Me Have Fun” on our Mooged-Out: Asheville CD.
Molly Kummerle on the Mooged-Out Stage -- Photo by Jon Leidel
Molly has garnered much critical success in the local scene with Stuart Gaines of the Mountain Xpress writing that her performance is “stunning, if not plain sexy — jazz and rock sway. Her voice melts like butter across the room with microwaves ease, while vaguely evoking the best of Ani DeFranco or even Fiona Apple.” Add an analog delay moogerfooger to that and the result is pure magic.
Molly’s connection goes well beyond lending her talents to our events — she is connected to our cause.
“It is an honor and an adventure in creativity to work with the Moog Foundation on this and all events. As an artist, this is an opportunity to participate in something really special. It is a collaboration that brings together different backgrounds, influences, schools of music, technology and improvisation, resulting in a living celebration of the true innovative spirit of Bob Moog.”
Molly Kummerle and Dave Hamilton -- Photo by Jon Leidel
Molly will be performing from 11:15 to 12:00 with one of four Moog Foundation House Band’s, “The Adaptors”. The band will feature Chris Tanfield on guitar and theremin, Jeremy Ferguson on bass, Frank Bloom on drums, Franklin Keel on cello and John Paul Hess on keyboards. Dave Hamilton will be running them all through moogerfoogers from the front of house.
Come join Molly and all the other musicians as they get Mooged-Out, and raise their voices for the benefit of the Moogseum. Tickets are on sale at MoDaddy’s for a $5 donation in advance and at the door. The event runs from 10pm to 2am.
To find out more about Molly, see her myspace page.
Mooged-Out at MoDaddy’s – Bele Chere After Party
On July 25, 2009 The Bob Moog Foundation will team up with a diverse selection of Asheville’s top musicians to assemble a Moog Foundation House Band for a funky Bele Chere after party laden in the sonic goodness of Moog instruments. The House Band, which will consist of members of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Eymarel, The Asheville Horns, Silver Machine, Jen and the Juice, and other talented Asheville artists, will perform using a custom-tailored setup of Moog instruments and effects provided by The Bob Moog Foundation. The band will be remixed live from the sound board by Bob Moog Foundation Creative Director Dave Hamilton, who will have a full array of Moog effect modules with which to bend, tweak and filter the sound.
“Remixing live music using Moogerfoogers is a wonderful hands on experience which requires top notch musicianship from the performers. We are lucky to have this pool of talent in Asheville.”
-Dave Hamilton
The performance will highlight the rich connection between these talented musicians and the expressive technology that made the Moog name a classic. This intimate evening offers an opportunity to witness the use of Moog equipment in the very capable hands of Asheville musicians, many of whom share a connection with the musical legacy of synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog.
Proceeds from this Mooged-Out event will assist The Foundation reach its goal of creating a Bob Moog Museum, or Moogseum, in Asheville. The Moogseum will house Bob Moog’s extensive archives, feature interactive instrument-based exhibits and serve as an educational, historical and cultural resource to Asheville and the wider music community. The Bob Moog Foundation was recently awarded a $600,000 grant by the Buncombe County Tourism Product Development Authority to construct the Moogseum. The foundation will soon launch a campaign to raise the remaining funding needed to create this multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility. www.moogseum.com
This Mooged-Out event will take place from 10pm-2am at MoDaddy’s, 77 Biltmore Ave. (next door to The Orange Peel). Tickets are available at MoDaddy’s for a minimum donation of $5.
For more information contact Dave Hamilton, Creative Director, at moogerfooger@gmail.com or visit www.moogfoundation.org
Patrick Moraz’s Birthday Greetings
“Well, Dear Bob, wherever You are in the Cosmos, I wish You a very Happy Birthday and a great ride on the “centrifugal beaches of Infinity”, on Your Journey around and across the Universe!
Patrick Moraz – Vintage Moog Photos and Reflections on “Change of Space”
In his rise as a virtuoso keyboardist in the mid-70s, Patrick Moraz worked closely with Bob on the early testing of the Polymoog and Macromoog. He visited the Moog Music factory, located in Williamsville, NY in 1975 as a musician consultant; in turn Bob visited Patrick in Switzerland to help Patrick with the programming and tweaking of the Polymoog for his upcoming solo album Story of I.
“…It was at the same time a miracle and a wonderful experience”, says Patrick, “that I was able to invite Bob Moog to Geneva, Switzerland, during the first several weeks of the recording and production of my first solo album “I” (a.k.a. “The Story of I”). Bob and I were able to work long hours in the studio, even sometimes during the night, and quite a lot of sounds and textures which are featured on the album came from those sessions. Bob was truly a genius in his own right, and he was always very calm and extremely dedicated to his art, his own inventions and to the future of electronic music as a whole! He also a great sense of humor! These were truly fantastic times!”
Today we are sharing a rare and wonderful photo of Bob and Patrick taken in 1975 behind Moog Music during that period of collaboration. Patrick has autographed 25 of these photographs and donated 25 copies of his new “Change of Space” CD in celebration of Bob’s birthday, which we are offering together for a $75.00 donation. All proceeds will go to support our Moogseum and Student Outreach projects. Make your donation here. Thanks, Patrick, for your support!
Here are a few more photos, discovered in Bob’s archives, that were taken during that same time period.
Patrick with Macromoog 1975
Bob and Patrick Tweaking the Polymoog
Bob working on Patrick's Polymoog
In February, Patrick released his most recent album “Change of Space”. Here is some information and history about the CD, in Patrick ‘s words:
” “COS”, as I call it, is a collection of songs and instrumental pieces never released as yet which I had the chance (the opportunity) to finish composing, recording, mixing and “polishing” over a period of about 14 years. Although I didn’t work on them “all the time” during that long period of time, these pieces reflect very much some of the music I have developed and recorded on my own as well as with other remarkable musicians. *
In the late 80’s and beginning of the 90’s I used to have my own recording studio in Hollywood, on the corner of Vine and Santa Monica Blvd. Since work was slow in “89” with the Moodies, I decided to do some sessions and also compose the music for the 700th Anniversary of my country of origin, Switzerland.
There was always a lot of cultural and ethnic activities on the premises, with all kinds of local musicians from all styles, like Bunny Brunel, bass player extraordinaire, Kazumi Watanabe, the famous guitarist from Japan, John Wackerman, from the Wackerman family of drummers associated with Frank Zappa’s various groups, Alex Ligertwood, former lead singer with Santana in the 80’s, and Alex Acuna, premier percussionist of Joe Zawinul’s group “Weather Report”. Some of the pieces, as mentioned earlier were recorded in Los Angeles, i.e. “Peace in Africa”, “Change of Space”, “The Power of Emotion” and Stellar Rivers & Streams of lucid dreams”.
The other pieces, the suite entitled “Sonique Prinz” in 3 movements and the very last piece of the album “Alien Spaces” I recorded on my own, playing all the instruments at Audio Playground in Orlando as well. In regards to the technical, sound engineering and mixing aspect of those recordings, I was helped over different sessions by Joseph Rivers, the co-owner of the studio at the time and Eric “Woody” Wood, a Full Sail alumni. Though the studio itself doesn’t physically exist any more, one could find more info added about it and some of the synthesizers available on the premises, as well as the recording gear and the mixing equipment.
In regards to the theme of the music itself, my music generally always has to do with some “causes” pertaining generally to Freedom, in all its facets, and to Change, change for a better world, change for a better situation, Awareness, Spirituality and the Cosmos!”
To read much more about “Change of Space”, go to Patrick’s websites, www.patrickmoraz.net and www.patrickmoraz.com He’ll be posting more about it soon! You can also check out his entire collection of available CDs on the Voiceprint website.
*Please Note : All original names i.e. Patrick Moraz solo Albums, Cds, Dvds and original projects names are all copyrighted (©) and “tm” (Trademarked) as well as “R” (Registered Copyright).
Silent Auction List
Wheat again.
Here is what was in the Silent Auction at Enter the Mind of Moog
You may not know it, but Michelle Moog-Koussa ran a successful gift shop, called Amore, in Asheville for many years. But soon after Michelle started the Bob Moog Memorial Foundation, she realized she had to close the shop to devote herself full-time to the Foundation. Because of Michelle’s extensive business experience, a lot of excellent Asheville gift shops donated lots of goodies for our silent auction. But there’s more in there for the collector and musician. Here is a quick summary of the items offered in our silent auction, which benefits the Moog Foundation.
Moog Archive Photograph, from 1958. Bob in a nice business suit playing a Melodia Theremin. Number 1 of a limited series of 25.
West Side Gift Basket
Gift certificates to some of the most popular stores and restaurants in Asheville
The Virtuoso International School of Music
4 online piano lessons and a DVD including all 6 volumes of the Virtuoso Methodology series. http://virtuosoism.com
SampleMoog musical instrument multisample library, from Sonic Reality and IK Multimedia
Value $230
Karmasonics Music Package
17 CDs from the music store, total value $150
L’eau de Vie Gift Package
$200 in hair care and facial treatment from one of Asheville’s premier salons.
Moog Little Phatty Synthesizer, value $1,300
Malaprop’s Basket
$230 of books from this popular Asheville independent bookstore.
Chocolate-Raspberry Cake from Rose & Lilly’s Cakes (designers of this evening’s Voyager cake). Total value $80.00
Echo Mountain Recording Studio package
One full day’s use of the facilities, value of $1,000.
Downtown Shopping Spree, total value $275
Father’s Day Basket
A bunch of gifts and gift certificates from numerous Asheville stores
Moog Archive Package
Vintage Moog Music sticker from the early 1970s, and Publisher’s copy of the article “Electronic Music” from the Encyclopedia of Applied Physics, 1994, authored by Bob Moog. Both come with a letter of provenance from Ileana Grams-Moog.
Sensibilities Gift Basket
$140 worth of bathroom-spa goodies from this popular Asheville store.
Live from Enter the Mind of Moog #5
Well, I wish you could hear the music. The EP will be available soon so you’ll just have to buy a copy.
I’m really proud of the tremendous progress the Moog Foundation has made in the last year. Go too moogseum.com if you haven’t already and learn about our fantastic plans. We want to educate the world about electronic music and its contribution to musical creativity and art, and of course Bob Moog’s pivotal role in all of this.
The Asheville, North Carolina community has been what has kept all this going. Bob Moog moved here in the 1970s and made it his home, where he lived with his family and raised his four children. It’s obvious that Asheville loves Moog and appreciates the Moog legacy in music history. Now they want to help us share it with the world by helping us build our museum. We hope you’ll continue to support us, and come visit the museum when it opens!
I’m sorry I could not come up with a list of all the great performers on stage tonight. I’ll try to put one together and post it after the fact.
Meanwhile the jam sessions continue. The event is scheduled to run until 10:00 pm, which is twenty more minutes, but I’ll take this opportunity to sign off. I drove up from Atlanta, Georgia this morning to help out with this event and I’ve had a great time. I’ve enjoyed being your host, as it were.
Moog on!
Wheat Williams, volunteer
August Worley Strikes Again!
Dr. August Worley, designer and architect of the Minimoog Voyager, has a new venture making an electronic device for sonic therapy, promoting healing and health in the body. Not the same thing as music therapy. It’s called the Pyradym. Check it out at augustara.com.
Live from Enter the Mind of Moog #3
An unknown electric violinist just jacked in to the Moogerfooger booth, run by Jason from Moog Music Inc., and they are doing some wild and hairy improvisations, wrenching astonishing sounds from her futuristic four-string. I’m going to try to interview her later.
