Modular Mobb Brings Synthesizer Enthusiasts Together
This future of connectivity hasn’t united us yet. We swim in an ocean of signals and sink deep in the endless electric tide of information streaming, linked and directly fed to our minds behind miles of wires, yet somehow hiding in our self-made echo chambers we’re more separate than we’ve ever been. We talk to and at, but rarely with each other. For music producers and other solo creatives this isolation can be even more extreme, so the monthly Modular Mobb gatherings held the first Wednesday of each month at current home Moshmellow (3359 S. Jefferson in the Cherokee Arts District) are a welcome chance to plug into a physical collective.
“Modular Mobb started as an idea that had been bouncing around between me and Stan for a while,” says Rob Englehardt, AKA electronic music producer Damned Fool, one half of the duo that dreamed up the event. “We both wanted a thing where people could come together in person to learn, share, and experiment; not just with modular synths but with anything in the vast spectrum of music technology.”
Plus, “it’s too good of a title to not do something with,” states Stan Chisolm AKA non-stop human creativity machine 18andCounting (18aC), the event’s other creator and constant mainstay of well, anywhere and everywhere you can hook a soundboard up to an amplifier. “After sitting on the name and logo for over a year, Rob and I decided to meet up with other folks in town that also share a love for creating music in this fairly niche style. STL is a deeply DIY city in the Show Me State, so we wanted to uproot a community from their basements to share ideas, entertain in a new format, practice and learn together in person.”
“Any electronic instrument could be considered “modular” depending on how you combine it with another instrument,” 18aC continues. “The idea is that you are connecting your collection of electronic instruments like Legos to build you own unique sound. Modular synths are a collection of individual pieces that all have a very specific purpose and character. They are designed to be mixed and matched with other instruments at the whim of the player.”
“You build your own custom instrument using individual building blocks called modules,” adds Englhardt. “Each module has a different function, like generating a tone, shaping a sound, or adding effects, then you connect them with “rainbow spaghetti” patch cables to create something unique. It’s like a mix of music, science, and art. It encourages experimentation.”
It may sound daunting to the uninitiated, but this Mobb is inviting and inclusive to participants of all levels. “Whether it’s a modular setup, one of many amazing and cheaply available electronic instruments, or something built from 50 cents worth of parts wired to a breadboard, we’re open to all of it,” lists Englehardt. “You can bring something or just vibe out to participate. All you really need is curiosity and a willingness to engage.”
“Bring long cables,” interjects 18aC. “The best participants are open minded, brave, active listeners, and it’s always free-form. On busier nights we guide the course of the evening with solo performances and small group collaborations to avoid utter chaos. Many unpredictable influences and musical backgrounds are in the pit, and when you trust the process you end up with some extremely unique and beautiful results.”
“It can sometimes be a 10 person collaborative jam with people floating in and out, or sometimes individuals will take turns solo or duo,” tells Englehardt. “It really just depends on who shows up and what they want to do. The goal is to foster a community where anyone, regardless of experience level, can plug in and explore sound and technique together.”
This Mobb definitely wants you to join them; get plugged in on their Instagram page. Damned Fool and 18andCounting are presenting their first collaborative duo full spectrum synth show this Friday (02/28/25) at intimate Southside lounge The Blue Hour (3410 Wisconsin Ave). Gallery opens at 7PM, music performances start at 8PM, donations are greatly appreciated, and they advise patrons to “pull up at a reasonable time for maximum joy” as it’s not a late night show. See you there!
All photos by author @sonicgallerystl
