Preview: Nerd Nite Asheville – The Mellotron!
In my part of the country, there’s a vibrant storytelling tradition. Here in Asheville, there’s a hip spin on that, one that combines beer (always a good thing) and the obsessive nature of types variously known as anoraks, trainspotters, boffins,… or nerds. Each month, Nerd Nite Asheville features a selection of those nerds, each of whom gives a fifteen-minute talk on a pet topic.
Mine’s the Mellotron. Anyone who knows me in real life probably knows that the mighty ‘Tron is my favorite musical instrument in the whole world. I’ve told many times the brief tale of my near-brush with Mellotron ownership, and my personal music collection is overflowing with ‘Tron-soaked music.
If you’re in or near Asheville on Thursday, November 9, I invite you to attend Nerd Nite Asheville at RAD Brewing Company in Asheville’s River Arts District. You can hear several fascinating nerds tell their stories. And I’ll hip you to the wonders of what I like to call “the British sports car of musical instruments.”
In the meantime, if you’d like to know more about Mellotrons – and hey, who wouldn’t, right? – I’d direct you to the links below. They’ll take you to various discussions with the players who, um, play them. And more.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.