Maybe you’ve seen him on stage as the lead singer and guitarist of one of his many bands, or maybe he’s cooked your dinner at the Star and Crescent. Perhaps you know him as “that guy with the green Mohawk, wait, rat-tail. Wait…bald kid? With mutton chops?” Or maybe you simply know him as that doe-eyed romantic crooning love songs as profound as “I wanna kidnap your family.” Whatever side of the man-of-many-wonders you may be acquainted with, odds are you probably know Sam Ottinger ’09—and if you don’t, you should.
To top off this impressively eclectic list of interesting attributes, Sam, who speaks German and has trotted the globe several times over, is the newly-elected president of the Eclectic Society. I took a few moments in the Usdan game room to catch up with Sam and dig deeper into his many-sided persona.
Cory Baldwin: So, Sam, I’ve heard so much about your crazy hair that I have to say I’m surprised to see you so clean-cut. What’s with that?
Sam Ottinger: To tell you the truth, the crazy hair was attracting crazy girls. Muttonchops attract the freakiest girls I’ve ever known. It had to go.
CB: Muttonchops? What about some of your other looks?
SO: Well, the Mohawk mostly attracted lesbians, and it was hard to fit through doors. The rat-tail attracted no one.
CB: I’m fairly well acquainted with your musical stylings, but I think the world should know as well. Tell me about some of the bands you are playing in now.
SO: The Whizards of Bläkh kaos (Chaos) is a stoner metal band. We’ve had one show so far, and we only played two songs, but they took about 20 minutes each. We used to be a punk band called the Fusty Nuts, but then we decided that all of our songs sucked and that we would rather just be as loud as possible—and center our music around satanic rituals.
CB: Cool. That’s pretty much the opposite end of the spectrum from your other band, isn’t it?
SO: Yeah, Barney Bates and the Hot Tamales. We are a concept band—Barney Bates is a mad scientist who created creatures out of hot tomale candy. We eradicate terrorism with swing music. We play at parties and drinking events, usually. We are trying to get a fog machine.
CB: Interesting, interesting. I’ve heard good things about Barney Bates and the Hot Tamales. And sometimes you play with that hot junior jazz babe singing, whose name escapes me. It sounds like you do a lot with music. I hear you’re also in Jazz Ensemble and you’ve been in Jazz Orchestra and Ebony Singers in the past. Are you a music major?
SO: Yeah. I’m actually working on an opera for my music thesis. It’s about the rapture (End of Days, when God comes down and takes all the good people to heaven and sends everyone else to hell). It’s not really that religious in theme, although I love theology. It’s mostly about American culture and sin. It takes place in a mall and is called “Black Friday.” I’ve been working on it since I was a sophomore.
CB: Are we talking a classical opera or something more modern? What kind of music is it?
SO: Good music. Next question. [Editor’s Note: I think it’s a Jazz opera.]
CB: In addition to being a masterful musician, I hear you are also something of an athlete.
SO: Yeah…I recently left the rugby team for amateur boxing. One hardcore sport after another. It’s about getting your ass kicked.
CB: Are you any good?
SO: Phenomenal. I am a punisher of evil men.
CB: Whoa, intense. You’re coming off like a badass, but I’ve heard a rumor that you’re a total softy.
SO: Fuck you! This interview is over.
[Editor’s Note: At this point in the interview, Sam turned away and ran out of the room. I think there were tears in his eyes, and I definitely detected a quivering lip. I caught up with him once he had pulled himself together, and we finished the interview outside in the sunshine under a poplar tree.]
CB: Anyways, you started living in Eclectic this year as a boarder, and now you’re the new president. How did that happen?
SO: I always have a keg in my room. So people like me.
CB: No, but really, what’s up with Eclectic? What’s going to be different about it now that you are in charge?
SO: Well, Eclectic is already an amazing place. We provide a free space for most of the shows on campus. Eclectic also brings in a lot of great artists from off campus. For example, we had Beach House play the other day, and MGMT (Eclectic alums) are coming on Wednesday, April 9. Our members are all super creatively inclined and many play important roles in the creative arts community on campus. As far as next year, I plan on turning Eclectic into a video arcade…I’m not a hipster; I’m a venture capitalist and an avid gamer.
CB: Well, the gaming thing is news to me, but you’re right in that you don’t exactly fit the stereotypical “Eclectic” mold. Is the society turning over a new leaf?
SO: Hmm. That’s bullshit. I don’t think we are turning over a new leaf, I just think the stereotype is inaccurate. We’re not a hipster enclave. But people should just come over and find that out for themselves. My goal as president is just to make sure that everybody has a good time.
CB: Well, cool man, thanks for the interview. Any last words?
SO: Fuck the Alliance!
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