Leo Kottke - Farfisa Tuning Story

Leo Kottke tells one of his famous tuning stories on May 3rd, 2017, at Heights Theater, in Houston, TexaJs. The 71-year-old Kottke rambles through a variety of topics, including The St Paul Chamber Orchestra, Mushroom Evenings, Jack Nitzsche, Marie Laveau, and the infamous Farfisa keyboard. Leo even uses a bit of colorful language at 5:10. Since his landmark '69 Takoma release, 6- and 12-String Guitar, Kottke has delighted audiences around the world with his unique playing style and rye sense of humor.

[@w5cdt]

I had a Farfisa....drove our guitarist nuts with the tuning.

[@dreamwell2020]

This is why you should go see Leo perform if it's anywhere near you, even if he's playing from a wheelchair.

[@manwalrus]

Amongst everything in the video, I'm most interested in the Dr. Hook shade. "Half-act!"

[@goodun2974]

Wasnt it a Farfisa that was used on "96 Tears" ( by ? And the Mysterians) , and "Wooly Bully" ( by Sam the Sham and the Pharoah's).?

[@W2n1dowsx]

Yup.

[@utetrahemicon]

Way more than that - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farfisa

[@goodun2974]

@@utetrahemicon , my ear tells me that the Farfisa also turns up on several tracks on the first David Lindley/ElRayoX record, on the cuts Ain't No Way Baby, and a ska-style cover of Twist and Shout.

[@utetrahemicon]

@@goodun2974 Thanks for the reply. I'd never heard of David Lindley, but after reading his wikipedia I realize I've heard him on all kinds of other musicians songs and now will listen to all his stuff.

[@goodun2974]

@@utetrahemicon yeah, most people, if they're familiar with him at all, it's from hearing him play lap steel slide guitar and perhaps violin on Jackson Browne's records. That however, barely begins to scratch the surface of the body of work he has done. He is also an excellent solo performer, and the "official bootlegs" that he sells on his website, which are usually him and a percussionist, or just him solo, are chockful of amazing performances. His killer rock/reggae band called El RayoX made 3 great records inn the 1980s. Their version of Mercury Blues is positively radioactive, and you can see it played live on KZbin as well.

[@mehrten]

Gee, he's quoting someone as part of his story, which to my mind is not indulging in foul language. Now whether or not the incident he recounts is historically significant is up to the listener to determine. In Leo's private universe it was of sufficient interest that he (1) remembered it and (2) told it to an audience.

[@jasonw4053]

A mushroom evening

[@gooders7366]

wry - sense of humour.

[@misterbonz564]

This seems quite a round-about way of self-authorizing the indulgence in foul language......

[@RaifLisko]

Who cares, are you 12?

[@lowellcalavera6045]

That's all your mind, friend. Relax.

[@dreamwell2020]

What happened to you?

[@jasonw4053]

Leo will tell you that his entire career and performance is just self indulgence.