So much to love here, Mark! I have never heard or seen one of these but now I feel like I have and I can even smell it - such is the power of your writing!! :)
Thank you for the fun story. And if you're reading this, Capt. Jeff, I'll see you tomorrow night in Greensboro. Look for me. I'll be the balding middle-aged white guy with glasses. That should narrow it down.
Cool. Glad you enjoyed the show! I had a blue Summerteeth cap and a long blue-sleeved T-shirt with "Wilco" spelled in the Wilson sporting goods font. I joked in my earlier comment that Jeff should look for me. He actually might have seen me since I was two rows behind Carl, the young guy who won the audience trophy.
What an interesting story! My grandparents who lived in a farmhouse in (believe it or not) Cripple Creek, Virginia had a player piano that I was fascinated with as a kid. I was less fascinated with the outhouse that made festival portapotties look good! But I’m curious—why does a music-making wonderland like the Loft need a self-playing instrument? Just for kicks, ot has it ever been used in a recording? Also, I’d pay good money to see Jeff wrestling that alligator!
The Optigan has been used in the studio… I’m remembering Jeff creating a track for Mavis many many years ago… for some reason can’t remember what it was for… But it all started on
the Optigan. And as for why to use such things in the studio, these often have built-in. limitations which provides additional challenges to overcome while trying to bend to fit what you are creating. It’s nice to have an open mind and to undermine the intended use of a tool to see what else I can do.... to try and use sound makers in less obvious and unintended ways.
My uncle had one of these, or something just like it. I remember playing with it as a kid. Had to be 45 - 50 years ago. I remember the bird sounds from the Polynesian disk.
I worked at Norhtpark Mall in Dallas in the 80’s! I was a manager at The Gap..a miserable right out of college job...but I was sad to see that they tore that mall down. I vaguely remember the music store with the weird organ out front.....
Oh Ann! Nice! I bet I bought socks from you! My brother worked at Carrie-Anne’s Cookies sorta near Neiman’s and I worked first at Northpark 1-2 and then 3-4, the movie theaters in... like... 84? 85?
Enjoyed learning about the Optigan. Seems I should have seen one before, but haven't. I think that character building uncertainty is a good idea in this age of apps, especially from vintage items!
The more character-building we get, the better, Boyo! Where would we be when the chips are down if we’ve not built CHARACTER? By trying to figger the ins & outs of LIFE!
So much to love here, Mark! I have never heard or seen one of these but now I feel like I have and I can even smell it - such is the power of your writing!! :)
When I imagine the smell of this thing cranked up, I'm right there with "Is something melting in the dishwasher?" or "Cool, you have a wood burner!".
Thank you for the fun story. And if you're reading this, Capt. Jeff, I'll see you tomorrow night in Greensboro. Look for me. I'll be the balding middle-aged white guy with glasses. That should narrow it down.
I was there and I think I saw you! LOL. Great concert.
Cool. Glad you enjoyed the show! I had a blue Summerteeth cap and a long blue-sleeved T-shirt with "Wilco" spelled in the Wilson sporting goods font. I joked in my earlier comment that Jeff should look for me. He actually might have seen me since I was two rows behind Carl, the young guy who won the audience trophy.
“Character-building uncertainty.” ❤️👍🏼 Yep. We do need that. Thanks, Mark. Super-cool piece!
Another winner, Mark! Made me laugh. And I learned something new. Your pieces are pure gold. 💛
What an interesting story! My grandparents who lived in a farmhouse in (believe it or not) Cripple Creek, Virginia had a player piano that I was fascinated with as a kid. I was less fascinated with the outhouse that made festival portapotties look good! But I’m curious—why does a music-making wonderland like the Loft need a self-playing instrument? Just for kicks, ot has it ever been used in a recording? Also, I’d pay good money to see Jeff wrestling that alligator!
Oh! And Sylvan Esso used the Optigan when they recorded at the Loft!
The Optigan has been used in the studio… I’m remembering Jeff creating a track for Mavis many many years ago… for some reason can’t remember what it was for… But it all started on
the Optigan. And as for why to use such things in the studio, these often have built-in. limitations which provides additional challenges to overcome while trying to bend to fit what you are creating. It’s nice to have an open mind and to undermine the intended use of a tool to see what else I can do.... to try and use sound makers in less obvious and unintended ways.
Whoa, the Optigan is much larger than I was expecting! I think I would enjoy playing with it.
Captain Optigan would make a good comic book hero.
Gee, thanks for a new rabbit hole….
Mark, you've outdone yourself with this post. Truly evocative writing.
My uncle had one of these, or something just like it. I remember playing with it as a kid. Had to be 45 - 50 years ago. I remember the bird sounds from the Polynesian disk.
Cooler than my old Magnus Chord Organ!
Another great Gear Talkin’. This edition’s takeaways are Movin’ and Lenny Dee. Very choice.
I worked at Norhtpark Mall in Dallas in the 80’s! I was a manager at The Gap..a miserable right out of college job...but I was sad to see that they tore that mall down. I vaguely remember the music store with the weird organ out front.....
Oh Ann! Nice! I bet I bought socks from you! My brother worked at Carrie-Anne’s Cookies sorta near Neiman’s and I worked first at Northpark 1-2 and then 3-4, the movie theaters in... like... 84? 85?
Hahaha! That’s back when The Gap was great! I remember all of that. What a small world!
Enjoyed learning about the Optigan. Seems I should have seen one before, but haven't. I think that character building uncertainty is a good idea in this age of apps, especially from vintage items!
The more character-building we get, the better, Boyo! Where would we be when the chips are down if we’ve not built CHARACTER? By trying to figger the ins & outs of LIFE!
My parents had one kinda like this. I wasn’t allowed to touch it, and it got left behind when we moved cross country. Such is life. ❤️❤️