In tribute to pioneer Bob Moog’s upcoming 80th birthday, maestro synthesist Erik Norlander and his band The Galactic Collective will perform a benefit concert for the Bob Moog Foundation at Isis Music Hall on May 8, 2014 at 8pm. Opening for the band will be Drew Heller, the guitarist for Toubab Krewe, joined by his father, Grammy award winning producer/composer Steven Heller. Tickets are $20, with proceeds benefitting Dr. Bob’s Sound School, the Foundation’s hallmark educational project.
The Galactic Collective is a re-imagining of Norlander’s favorite instrumental songs written for his band Rocket Scientists, his chanteuse spouse Lana Lane, and his many solo albums including Threshold, Into the Sunset, Music Machine and Seas of Orion. He is an accomplished keyboardist and composer who has produced over 30 albums. He has toured and recorded as the keyboardist and co-writer for the Asia spinoff, Asia Featuring John Payne, since 2007 and has also toured extensively with Big Noize, a hard rock supergroup featuring Joe Lynn Turner, Vinny Appice and other rock luminaries. Norlander has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Bob Moog Foundation since 2007, including performing the benefit Moogus Operandi at Asheville’s Orange Peel in 2011.
Norlander comments, “Bob Moog brought a new voice to the musical landscape, and our musical vernacular would be very different without his enduring contribution. The Moog name is synonymous with art, science and innovation, and as a keyboardist and synthesist, I can think of no greater tribute than using Bob’s timeless inventions as the core instruments in my own craft.”
Steven Heller was a longtime friend and colleague of Bob Moog. He has won two Grammy Awards, as well as a number of national awards for his music and recordings. He was production music supervisor for the 1995 Miramax film, “The Journey of August King.” and wrote and produced the theme music for “Conversations” and “Evening Rounds,” listener call-in programs on the public radio station WCQS.
“Bob was a brilliant, funny, creative, spiritual, loving and generous man,” remarks Heller. “I will always cherish our friendship.”
Guitarist Drew Heller tours nationally with Afro fusion band Toubab Krewe. Toubab Krewe’s first album, Toubab Krewe was released in 2005, around the time that Moog was critically ill. The band’s exceptional musicianship left him sonically inspired. Moog’s 80th birthday is May 23rd.
Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, adds, “On the eve of Bob’s 80th birthday, it is a fitting tribute to have these two musical acts converging for an evening of celebration and reverence for Bob’s enduring legacy of inspiration though sonic exploration. We are grateful to all of the musicians involved for making this possible.”
Isis Music Hall, located at 743 Haywood Road in West Asheville, prides itself on a high quality audio experience. Isis is renowned for its dinner service, which begins at 5pm each evening. Diners may come any time before the show begins. This show will be both standing and seated. Tickets are available at:
http://isisasheville.com/events/tribute-to-dr-bob-erik-norlanders-galactic-collective/
www.eriknorlander.com
www.toubabkrewe.com
www.bobmoogfoundation.org
Video Link: Toubab Krewe’s Connection to Bob Moog
