By Julie Senger

If you’ve ever been to a live music show in Cherokee County or the surrounding areas, you’ve probably seen an older man near the stage, sporting one of his “too-many-to-count” local band T-shirts. Everyone who’s anyone in the local music scene knows Carl Oligny. At 78, he’s live music’s oldest and most devoted groupie in the greater Atlanta area. And his music tastes are probably not what you’d think (check out his “Faves” list).

It’s a rite of passage for new artists to see Carl in the audience of one of their shows, and an honor for new and established musicians to take a photo with him. He is so well known that he even has his own merch, a T-shirt called “The Carl,” which was designed by local musician Hunter Blalock.

So, what’s Carl’s story? Inquiring minds want to know.

After arriving at his house for our scheduled interview, I was greeted by his darling wife, Paula. While we waited for Carl to return from picking up a late breakfast, I asked her what it was like being married to someone who goes out to hear live music 5-7 nights a week.

“It’s like raising a teenager! We recently began looking for a new house to buy, and I thought he was taking notes on his phone about a home we just finished touring, but he was Googling how far it was from the Star Bar!” laughed Paula.

How It Started

At around eight years old, Carl began his fascination with music by listening to blues artist Guy Mitchell and husband-and-wife team Mary Ford and guitar innovator Les Paul on old radios and Victrolas.

Now, in addition to being a fixture in the local music scene, Carl has a prolific social media presence, often posting photos and videos from the shows he attends. Despite the stereotype of those in his generation not being very tech savvy, Carl’s professional background in information technology makes such online platforms a natural fit for him.

His posts also allow followers glimpses into his past, such as images of him serving in the Marines in the Vietnam War, during which he was listening to artists such as Buffalo Springfield and the Rolling Stones’ Aftermath, particularly “Goin’ Home” and “Flight 505.”

“Funny story during that time, I had a suitcase record player that played 45s and 78s, and somebody sent me the single ‘96 Tears’ by ? (Question Mark) and the Mysterians. One day, I decided I was going to play it 96 times. On about the 30th play, the guy from the tent next to me came in with his 45 drawn and said, ‘Play that one more time, and I’m gonna put a bullet in you,’” Carl said, chuckling.

How It’s Going – Concerts and Music Festivals

Though many people indulge in the occasional concert or music festival, Carl plans all his other travels around the events he wants to attend. Even though he and Paula spend a few months each year renting a place in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, he will sometimes fly home for a festival and then fly back to rejoin Paula.

He has met people from all over the country who often message him on social media to meet up at the following year’s event.

“When I started going to festivals, I would just listen and not engage with anyone. The Imagine Music Fest changed all that because young people would come up to me, probably thinking, ‘Who’s this old guy?’ I enjoy engaging with young people,” Carl said. “It keeps me young.”

And you’d be mistaken if you think this 78-year-old fan only attends festivals where he can drive back and forth each day from his home or a hotel room. In fact, he spent three nights sleeping on the ground in a tent in the heat of summer at last year’s Muddy Roots Festival in Cookeville, Tennessee.

The Mosh Pit Incident

While Carl has many wild stories about his experiences at concerts and festivals (be sure to ask him about his Belushi Speedball story from the Muddy Roots Fest if you ever run into him at a show), his telling of the time he got caught up in a mosh pit at The Masquerade during a Suicidal Tendencies concert is priceless:“Mike (the band’s lead singer) is firing up the crowd, and the circle starts widening, and I’m not paying attention because I’m videoing. All of a sudden, BAM! I got hit on my right side and knocked down to the concrete floor. As I’m going down, I’m still filming, and you can hear people say, ‘Oh my God, are you alright?!’ The security guy leaped over the rail to try and help me, and I just said, ‘I’m good.’”

But because Carl had existing hip problems, the fall made things worse, so he went to have an MRI.

“When I had to fill out the paperwork, where it asked, ‘What brings you here?’ I had to write, ‘got knocked down in a mosh pit,’” Carl laughed.

Other Music Endeavors

Though he owns three guitars that he’d eventually like to learn how to play, Carl said, “It was a thrill and an honor” when local musician Mason Embers asked him to record some voiceover work for his 2021 and 2023 albums. He also joins Embers on the cover of his 2023 release, Woodstock Dream.

Additionally, Carl loves being a conduit to help newer artists get in to perform at clubs and music venues where he has connections.

“People often tell me they want to be me when they grow up. I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up,” Carl laughed, “But I love my life. People sometimes call me a legend. I shake my head and say, ‘I’m more like a Kardashian. I have no talent. I’m just famous for being famous,’” he continued, adding, “I’ve told my family I want to die dancing at a music festival, and if it’s tomorrow, I’m perfectly okay with that because I’ve had such a fabulous life.”

Carl's Faves

Music Genres

• Blues
• Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
• Metal
• Punk Rock

Artists/Bands

• The Doors
• Bob Dylan
• Jimi Hendrix
• And “the last band he heard”

Concerts

• Joe Bonamassa
• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Frank Sinatra (He had second-row seats!)

Music Festivals

• Imagine Music Festival (He’s been to all but the first one.)
• Lollapalooza (He saw Rage Against the Machine and Tool on a side stage in 1992!)
• Louder Than Life (He met Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies!)
• Muddy Roots (His newest favorite)
• Welcome to Rockville (He’s been three times.)