Organist Barry Morgan describes his impending run of gigs as “the music-equivalent of space rocks – the lollies that pop on your tongue!”; and hilariously enough, that description might in fact be all too accurate.
The show 'Spaced Out' will premiere at a number of venues down the eastern Australian coastline, reviving classic tracks from renowned space-themed films. “I'm excited, because all of these brilliant songs from the repertoires of 'Star Wars', 'Star Trek' and 'Doctor Who' happen to work fantastically on the organ!” Barry exclaims.
“I'll be performing on my lovely Hammond Aurora Classic, and I'm even going to strap on the keytar and have a strut around the stage as well.”
Barry was initially drawn to the organ upon hearing its melodies sing from the church near his childhood home. “The organ chimes reverberated through those church stain-glass window scenes of murder and mayhem from the bible, and it always sounded quite enticing. I love the phat sound, I'm talking p-h-a-t,” he reveals.
Now, a part-time home organ salesman and owner of the World of Organs store in Adelaide's Sunnyside Mall, he is also a renowned performer, rising to fame after showcasing on ABC's 'Spicks And Specks', becoming an instant audience favourite.
Since then, he has graced the screens on numerous television shows, including 'Gordon Street Tonight', 'The Marngrook Footy Show' and ABC’s 'New Years Eve Pub Quiz'. “The one thing about people on television, I must say, is that they do have a lot of fun,” he reveals. “What I love is when they bring around the lolly bowl. They bring around big bowls of lollies, like jubes, to keep everybody sugared off their tree!”
Barry has since performed at Bass In The Grass in Darwin, plus toured as the support act for renowned multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Gotye “There were very large crowds, my goodness. I think there was close to ten thousand people at the Melbourne gig. And they all got their fingers up and learned Barry's world famous one finger method of how to play the organ,” Barry says.
He describes the organ as the 'original DJ machine', and insists the sounds produced by artists such as Hermitude and Drapht are sourced and sampled from that very instrument. “Really, it's just the approach to the organ that's changed: Grandma didn't have a groovy approach like I do,” Barry says.
“It's got the drum machine installed, you just touch and turn it on, and then you add the bass, next the melody, and all of a sudden you've got something like the kids put together on a laptop! Next time you get near an organ, in the privacy and comfort of your auntie's lounge room, just try it for yourself.”
One day, Barry hopes to bring his prized Hammond Aurora Classic to Splendour In The Grass, dubbing it both the past and future of Australian music. “It's got a couple of large Lesley speakers and they are pretty much, to the organist, what the Marshall stack was to the guitarist. You can really rock out with them, it produces a massive, analogue sound, which works really well at big festivals,” he explains.
While the 'Spaced Out' tour is Barry's key focus for 2016, he insists new music is in the pipeline. “I've got some more tracks, and we're going to start dropping them. We've been working on the computer, I've been hooking up with a couple of young DJs, and now I'm as modern as tomorrow, I feel.”
Those in attendance of his 'Spaced Out' shows are encouraged to hit the op-shops and dress in his iconic safari suit. “We always have a big crowd, there's a lot of organ lovers out there. It's a very broad demographic I get from the prams, right through to the pusher. Safari suit up!”
Barry Morgan Shows
Fri 23 Sep - Bison Bar (Sunshine Coast)Sat 24 Sep - Star Court Theatre (Lismore)
Mon 26 Sep - Lizzote's Newcastle
29-30 Sep - Patonga Beach Hotel Mon
2 Oct - Carrington Bowling Club
Wed 4 Oct - University of Newcastle
Fri 7 Oct - Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub
Sat 8 Oct - Anita's Theatre (Thirroul)
Thu 13 Oct - Tatiara Civic Centre (Bordertown)
Fri 14 Oct - Meningie's Cheese Factory Restaurant
Fri 2 Dec - Geelong Performing Arts Centre
