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Puddles Pity Party

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Mike Geier
Geier performing as Puddles in 2014
Born
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other namesPuddles Pity Party (performer)
Occupation(s)Singer, performance artist
Years active1990s–present
Height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Musical career
GenresCabaret
Instrument(s)Voice, piano
Websitepuddlespityparty.com

Michael Geier, better known as his Pagliacci-inspired clown alter ego Puddles Pity Party, is an American singer and entertainer based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.[1][2] Geier now performs almost exclusively as Puddles, and he also refers to Puddles in third person when speaking about the character.[when?]

Biography

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Geier was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the fifth of seven children of "Big Oz" and Peg Geier.[3] 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.[3]

Puddles Pity Party

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Puddles Pity Party at Bumbershoot in Seattle in 2023.

In 1998, Geier decided to found a clown-themed band with several other Atlanta-based musicians. Having named himself Puddles in the band, this collaborative project eventually broke up, but laid the foundation for his solo project Puddles Pity Party. Puddles' original appearance was mostly non specific, but eventually developed into adorning a whiteface clown costume.[4] Geier refers to Puddles in third person while speaking about the character, and will also refer to himself as Mike in third person while performing as Puddles. Like Geier himself, Puddles 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.[5][6][7] His shows include a mix of silent prop comedy, mime, and audience participation with songs interplayed throughout creating a narrative structure.[8] Puddles Pity Party's first performance as an independent act was an experiment for Aqua Teen Hunger Force's 2010 tour. Initially skeptical if his singing clown character would be well-received, Geier stated that his wife convinced him to continue with the act after his premiere performance garnered an overwhelmingly positive response from the audience.[9]

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.[10]

Since 2014, Geier has toured the world, playing concerts in the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, and Australia.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13] Geier previously collaborated with Cartoon Network's Sunday Pants series writing music for the show as well as playing the Slacks' band leader in the live action segments.[14]

In January 2019 Geier, as Puddles, began a headline act residency at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada.[15]

In 2022, Geier, as Puddles, made a guest appearance on the season 4 season finale of The Conners.[16]

In April 2024, he performed with A Perfect Circle, singing the song "The Hollow," as part of Maynard James Keenan's Sessanta tour.[citation needed]

In August 2024, Puddles performed Dio's "Holy Diver" with Primus at shows in Big Flats, New York, Saratoga Springs, New York, Portland, Maine, Richmond, Virginia, and Birmingham, Alabama.[citation needed]

In September 2024, it was announced that Puddles would be touring, as a special guest, with "Weird Al" Yankovic on his "Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour".[17]

Discography

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With Postmodern Jukebox

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As Puddles Pity Party

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Albums
  • Live at Joe's Pub (Puddles Pity Party self-released), 2015
  • Holiday Jubilee (Puddles Pity Party self-released), 2018
  • You Down? (Puddles Pity Party self-released), 2018
  • Unhappy Hour at the Loner's Lounge (Puddles Pity Party self-released), 2020
  • Songs That Got Me Through the Plague (Puddles Pity Party self-released), 2021
Singles & EPs

As Mike Geier

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Music composed and performed by Geier has appeared in television shows including iCarly and Victorious.[25][26] In 2022, Geier's cover of blink-182's "All the Small Things" was featured on the John Lewis Christmas TV commercial in the United Kingdom.[27][28]

References

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  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 September 19, 2017.
  2. ^ a b DeVore, Sheryl (September 18, 2017). "Puddles Pity Party brings humor, baritone voice to Genesee". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Headshot, Resume, Contact". Michael Geier official website. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  4. ^ Heckert, Justin (March 11, 2014). "Let Me Live That Fantasy". Grantland.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (January 20, 2015). "Puddles: Sad clown, big voice". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  6. ^ Bowers, Paul. "The wisdom and sorrow of Puddles, the clown with the golden voice". Charleston City Paper. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  7. ^ Zaino III, Nick A. (January 7, 2016). "Puddles Pity Party brings mystery, joy to Sinclair". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  8. ^ Willis, Daniel. "Puddles Pity Party mixes laughs with a golden voice" Riff Magazine. 23 January 2019. https://riffmagazine.com/reviews/puddles-review-20190122/
  9. ^ Stafford, Jeff (August 30, 2013). "Preview: King-sized Mike Geier continues to follow his ever-growing, ever-eclectic muse". ArtsATL.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  10. ^ "Puddles Pity Party – Tickets – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA – January 23rd, 2015". Troubadour. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  11. ^ Young, Amy (December 30, 2015). "Puddles Pity Party Is the Most Bizarre Cover Band Around". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Ho, Rodney. "Did Puddles Pity Party, Angelica Hale make it to the 'AGT' semi-finals?". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  13. ^ SerCom_KC (September 30, 2017). Teen Titans Go! New Episode Promo – Talent Show (October 9, 2017). Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ Rodney Ho, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Atlanta's Puddles Pity Party survives 'America's Got Talent' first round: 'This hulking Pavarotti with a retro hipness'". ajc. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  15. ^ Angermiller, Michele Amabile (October 17, 2018). "Puddles Pity Party Sets First Las Vegas Residency". Variety. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  16. ^ Venable, Nick (May 19, 2022). "The Conners Showrunner And EP On How Season 4's Finale Handled Ben And Darlene's Relationship, As Well As Harris And Aldo's". CINEMABLEND. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ Scott Bradlee & Postmodern Jukebox - Clubbin' With Grandpa, May 20, 2014, retrieved July 27, 2023
  19. ^ "Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox* – Top Hat On Fleek". discogs. November 5, 2015. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  20. ^ "Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox* – The Essentials". discogs. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  21. ^ Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox - Squad Goals, July 14, 2016, retrieved July 27, 2023
  22. ^ Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox - Fake Blues, 2017, retrieved July 27, 2023
  23. ^ Ursula 1000 - Voyeur, October 30, 2015, retrieved July 27, 2023
  24. ^ Various - I Expect You To Die / I Expect You To Die 2, 2021, retrieved July 27, 2023
  25. ^ Hoefer, Steve; Schneider, Dan; Farrow, Jake (September 10, 2011). "iDate Sam And Freddie". iCarly. Series 5. Episode 2. Nickelodeon. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
  26. ^ Kendall, David; Schneider, Dan; Malkoff, David (December 8, 2012). "One Thousand Berry Balls". Victorious. Series 4. Episode 7. Nickelodeon. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024.
  27. ^ "Everything you need to know about the song in this year's John Lewis Christmas ad". The Independent. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  28. ^ The Beginner - John Lewis & Partners - Christmas Ad 2022 on YouTube
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