On April 30, 2006, the band played the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. They were offered the opportunity after a fan, unbeknownst to the band, entered them in a contest held by the festival on MySpace in which voters were to "nominate their favorite band for an open slot at the festival".
All members are known to switch instruments live (for instance, Josh Lambert playing drums while Toto Miranda plays guitar, or Yvonne Lambert playing guitar while Josh Lambert operates the electronics), but each member can be said to play a primary instrument.
Yvonne Lambert is one of the few modern rock musicians to consistently play the theremin on recordings and in performances. The instrument appears on many of the band's tracks. The theremin is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device in 1928. The controlling section usually consists of two metal antennas which sense the position of the player's hands and control oscillators for frequency with one hand, and amplitude (volume) with the other, so it can be played without being touched. The electric signals from the theremin are amplified and sent to a loudspeaker.
Josh Lambert: guitar, bass, keyboards
Toto Miranda: drums, guitar, bass
Yvonne Lambert: samplers, keyboards, theremin, glockenspiel, guitar
Ryan Figg: guitar, bass, keyboards
Octopus Project toured with Explosions in the Sky in 2011 for US venues.
The Mythical E.L.C.
The Octopus Project Lyrics
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We're alive, we decide, oh so long, we're alive, we decide, oh so long
The lyrics of The Octopus Project's song The Mythical E.L.C. are simple, repetitive and yet profound. The phrase "We're alive, we decide, oh so long" is repeated over and over throughout the song, emphasizing the power of human agency and the need for us to take control of our own lives. The lyrics suggest that the choices we make determine our destiny, and that we must be aware of the consequences of our actions.
Moreover, the use of the phrase "oh so long" throughout the song suggests a sense of urgency and a need for action. The repetition of this phrase could be interpreted as a call to seize the day and make the most of our time on earth. The song has a hypnotic quality, with the repetition of the lyrics building to a climax, creating a sense of urgency in the listener.
Overall, The Mythical E.L.C. is a powerful and thought-provoking song that encourages us to take control of our lives and make the most of the time we have.
Line by Line Meaning
We're alive, we decide, oh so long
We exist and have the power to make choices, and this state of being has lasted a considerable amount of time.
We're alive, we decide, oh so long
We exist and have the power to make choices, and this state of being has lasted a considerable amount of time.
Contributed by Bentley N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.