All you tech junkies and gearheads out there (and Peter Johnson), this is an all points bulletin alert! Victor Wooten and his band are reported using an original Moog theremin in their concerts. Band keyboardist and brother to Victor, Joseph Wooten has been using a Robert Moog Etherwave Theremin in their latest "Soul Circus" tour to add extra 'funk' to their encore performance. You might remember a theremin as the instrument played to make that truly eerie soundtrack from "The Day the Earth Stood Still," or by accomplished musician Clara Rockmore. Attached to Wooten's right hand keyboard, the contraption juts out like an extra board antennae almost unnoticable to the casual passerby. It is linked to the main board through the use of a wah-wah pedal and is played by Joseph on the lower half usually by swatting at the antennae to 'play' the radio signals. Unlike the original theremin, this model has become much simpler to use thanks to Moog's ingenuity. His modifications have minimized the effect a body's presence imprints upon the emitted signals and makes it playable by almost any person. In all sincerity, Joseph Wooten isn't playing the instrument for professional control and quality. Rather, he uses it as a tool to pump up the funk and produce an almost alien sound for the audience to enjoy. At both shows I attended (New Orleans and North Carolina), he definitely got the funk levels to record highs. Victor introduces it puzzled, almost questioning its existence to the audience prepping the spotlight for Joseph to steal. That's when that first note hits, and it squeals with a vibrato that one never forgets. It's a device that still provokes curiousity from the audience because it hasn't been completely forgotten. A number of people in the crowd of both shows were able to point it out on stage. I was able to confirm to those around me that it was in fact a theremin. What awe it inspired from those who knew what it was! Quite a crowd pleaser and an excellent finale instrument. The shows were fantastic with all members of the group exceeding my expectations for a great show both times. Victor Wooten has one more tour date for the "Soul Circus" tour this month at the "All Good Festival" in Masontown, West Virginia set for Sunday July 17, 2005 at 9:00pm. If you can't make that - no sweat. They're playing with the Dave Matthews Band a couple of times in November. This has been your theremin activity update. It has been brought to you by our sponsor "Scottie," the man who made it to the shows.
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Post Edited (07-17-05 04:02)
Oh, for . . .
I could've gone to the
Wooten show here in Boulder, and skipped it because it was a weeknight and I have to get up so damnedly early for my grunt job --
Thanks for the update -- I'm still having a blast with mine, though Clara Rockmore I ain't --
Took it down to my 17-year-old nephew's birthday bash, and played it some along with his death-metal band, "They Murdered Miracles" --
Freaked 'em all out -- "What the hell IS that thing!?!?". Some people were scared to get near it, like it was an explosive device or something, even after I told them to go ahead and wave around it all they wanted -- you can't hurt it --
Best thing I ever bought . . .
peter johnson/denny crane
Hmm... As an amateur thereminist (thereminstrel?) myself, I'll definitely have to keep my radar up for these guys. Thanks for the heads-up!
Hehe, I love those things. On stage in the city for new years a few years back a really good latin/ska band was up on stage and for a few songs they used that sucker really well.
There's also a busker in the CBD who dresses up in a silver spacesuit and has all kinds of electronic noise making devices, the Theremin included, to make his totally off the wall, very retro-ish sounding songs.
About how much was yours Peter/Vermin? Just wondering how much those things go for these days.