Mike Geier

Mike Geier
Geier performing as Puddles in Ghent, Belgium in 2014
Born (1964-03-12) March 12, 1964
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation Singer, performance Artist
Years active 1990s–present
Height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Musical career
Genres Cabaret
Instruments Voice, guitar, drums, bass guitar, harmonica
Associated acts Postmodern Jukebox, Useless Playboys, Kingsized, Tongo Hiti
Website puddlespityparty.com

Mike Geier (born March 12, 1964), known as Big Mike Geier, is a singer, entertainer, and leader of the band Kingsized, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.[1][2] Performing as the clown-costumed Puddles Pity Party, Geier has appeared in YouTube videos since 2013, including some with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.[3]

Biography

Geier was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States,[4] the fifth of seven children of "Big Oz" and Peg Geier. He says that he "grew up in a houseful of giants", with his two brothers and four sisters all growing to at least 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) in height. Geier is 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall. He grew up in Richmond, Virginia. Living in, and based in Atlanta since 1995, Geier is married to his business partner Shannon Newton.[5][6][7]

In the early 1990s, Geier led a touring "Swing Noir" band, The Useless Playboys, before settling in Atlanta in 1995.[5]

As Puddles Pity Party, Geier wears a distinctive whiteface clown costume. He has a baritone singing voice, and sings mostly covers of songs. Puddles has a depressed persona and refrains from speaking on stage or giving interviews.[8][9][10] Puddles Pity Party performed in Aqua Teen Hunger Force's 2010 tour.[11]

In 2011, Geier appeared regularly at the Manderley Bar in New York’s immersive theater show Sleep No More. In 2012, he moved to Seattle to appear in a European-style vaudevillian cabaret, Teatro ZinZanni. In 2013, he opened for Eels during their U.S. and European tour.[12]

In October 2013, Geier recorded a cover of Lorde's "Royals" with Postmodern Jukebox on YouTube. As of August 2018, the video had received over 24 million views.[13] Lorde declared his cover to be her favorite cover of "Royals".[14] Geier, in the persona of Puddles, has collaborated with Bradlee on YouTube several times since.[15]

Since 2014, Geier has toured the world, playing concerts in the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, and Australia.[16] On September 27, 2014, his live performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, was filmed by director Gary Yost and was later described by HuffPost as "A Strange Kind Of Beautiful".[17] As of August 2018 the video on YouTube had received over 6.4 million views.[18]

In 2017, Geier, as Puddles, participated in season 12 of the reality series America's Got Talent.[2] He advanced to the quarterfinals at the Dolby Theatre, where he performed his version of "Royals" and received an "X" from Simon Cowell. He was ultimately eliminated the following night.[19]

In October 2017, Geier, as Puddles, made an appearance in a Cartoon Network ad promoting new episodes of Teen Titans Go! and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.[20]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Gleim, S. (2016). 100 Things to Do in Atlanta Before You Die, Second Edition:. 100 Things to Do Before You Di. Reedy Press. ISBN 978-1-68106-044-6. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  2. 1 2 DeVore, Sheryl (September 18, 2017). "Puddles Pity Party brings humor, baritone voice to Genesee". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  3. ↑ Goodman, William (October 31, 2013). "Sad Clown Rendition Of Lorde Song Will Certainly Haunt Your Dreams". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  4. ↑ "home". www.bigmikegeier.com. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  5. 1 2 "Mike Geier Wiki: Facts to Know about Puddles Pity Party on "AGT" 2017". EarnTheNecklace.com. June 1, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  6. ↑ "Michael Geier". www.bigmikegeier.com/. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  7. ↑ "Michael Geier". Facebook. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  8. ↑ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (January 20, 2015). "Puddles: Sad clown, big voice". Retrieved 2017-09-19 – via LA Times.
  9. ↑ Bowers, Paul. "The wisdom and sorrow of Puddles, the clown with the golden voice". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  10. ↑ Zaino III, Nick A. (January 7, 2016). "Puddles Pity Party brings mystery, joy to Sinclair". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  11. ↑ Stafford, Jeff (August 30, 2013). "Preview: King-sized Mike Geier continues to follow his ever-growing, ever-eclectic muse". ArtsATL. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  12. ↑ "Puddles Pity Party - Tickets - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA - January 23rd, 2015". Troubadour. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  13. ↑ Royals - ("Sad Clown With The Golden Voice") - Postmodern Jukebox Lorde Cover ft. Puddles Pity Party on YouTube
  14. ↑ Goodman, William (March 4, 2014). "Puddles Pity Party, The Sad Clown With The Golden Voice, Is Back With A Cover Of Lorde's 'Team' (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  15. ↑ "PostmodernJukebox". Retrieved 2017-09-24.
  16. ↑ Young, Amy (December 30, 2015). "Puddles Pity Party Is the Most Bizarre Cover Band Around". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  17. ↑ Barness, Sarah (October 16, 2014). "A Pitiful Clown Singing 'Hallelujah' Is A Strange Kind Of Beautiful". Retrieved 2017-07-08 – via Huff Post.
  18. ↑ Hallelujah – Puddles Pity Party at the SF Regency Lodge Ballroom on YouTube
  19. ↑ Ho, Rodney. "Did Puddles Pity Party, Angelica Hale make it to the 'AGT' semifinals?". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  20. ↑ SerCom_KC (September 30, 2017). "Cartoon Network - Teen Titans Go! New Episode Promo - Talent Show (October 9, 2017)". Retrieved 2017-10-09 – via YouTube.
  21. ↑ "Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox* - Top Hat On Fleek". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  22. ↑ "Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox* - The Essentials". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
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