And I was doing Puddles in the Dames Aflame show as an operatic moment. Its August and 80 degrees at 10 p.m. Everyone is chain-smoking and guzzling Rolling Rock. . And then I got my guitar out and I started playing this song [sings] You Killed My Love. Its this big over-the-top song. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and he is the fifth child in a family of seven Mike is the son of Big Oz and Peg Geier. No introduction, and I picked up the guitar and I did this bit Mark Twain did it, a lot of people have done it; its a silent bit. I have always liked Clowns and I grew up fascinated by Emmet Kelly. Mike Geier and wife Shannon Newton of the lovely Dames Aflame. Mike Geier and wife Shannon Newton of the lovely Dames Aflame. In 1996, he created Elvis Royale, a Las Vegas-inspired spectacle with him and the Kingsized band channeling the music of the king of rock n roll. And as if those werent enough, Geier has created smaller musical spin-offs from Kingsized, such as Bogey and the Viceroy and the Kingsized Jazz Trio. It was a wild performance in a surreal setting. What else can I do? Theres something about a giant sad singing clown that comforts us, lets us know its ok to feel, to show our feelings.. Some of the guys from that band were brought around for another burlesque show about a month later, including Scott Davis, a trombone player for a band called Donkey. The last attribute is particularly significant, because Kingsized Entertainment LLC, owned and operated by Geier and his wife, Shannon Newton, has enriched the Atlanta music scene. What else can I do? Puddles' original appearance was mostly non specific, but eventually developed into adorning a whiteface clown costume. He had an absurd concept of what comedy was. [citation needed], In 1998, Geier decided to found a clown-themed band with several other Atlanta-based musicians. Michael Geier (born March 12, 1965), known as Big Mike Geier, is a singer and entertainer based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.[1][2] Geier has garnered international fame through his most critically acclaimed act: a Pagliacci-type clown alter ego named Puddles Pity Party. ArtsATL: What was the first band you formed once you moved to Atlanta from Richmond? In the 1990s, Geier led a band named SWING NOIR band and others like The USELESS PLAYBOYS and more before residing down at Atlanta. independent local journalism in Phoenix. And then once it becomes stable, I need to move on. Check the following table to get more information. Mike Geier bio: age, wikipedia, family, height, net worth, career. Im always learning what my boundaries are with an audience and what things work and what things dont work. No such media news is also mentioned regarding his sexual orientation to be gay. It is not clear or mentioned anywhere. A singer and a performance artist Mike Geier is a man behind the silent and sad clown,the Puddles Pity Party,whowalks on the stage dressing in the costume of a whiteface clown and starts entertaining the audience with his improvised singing style. It could be said that a lot of clowns grace the stage at Crescent Ballroom, but just over a year ago, the term held a little more weight when Puddles Pity Party visited for a fun night of music and, uh, you know, clowning around. Imagine 350 people crammed in the Star Bar. He also likes R&B music and is a fan of those shows too. Photo credit: David Stuart. There are many comedians in America who do a better job than Mike Geier does. Sometimes Ill keep trying something that doesnt work until it submits to my will and it finally starts to work. Thats why Im going in thinking, Theyre gonna hate this thing. Were at the intermission of the show. mayo 29, 2022 . It started turning into the Big Mike show. In 2012, he moved to Seattle to appear in a European-style vaudevillian cabaret, Teatro ZinZanni. In the year 2011, he again appeared regularly at Manderley Bar in New York for the theatres shows. ArtsATL: What was the initial audience reaction at the House of Blues in New Orleans? The last attribute is particularly significant, because Kingsized Entertainment LLC, owned and operated by Geier and his wife, Shannon Newton, has enriched the Atlanta music scene. Signup for our Hollywood and pop culture newsletter. Geier: I call them up and say, Hey, were coming down to New Orleans to see you guys. Dana Snyder, the voice of Master Shake, had been in our Dames Aflame show, and we were buddies with Dave Willis, Jay Edwards, the editor over there, Matt Maiellaro. Hes from the Scott Walker-Lee Hazlewood weirdo drama music scene that I love. Geier was bought up in Virginia in the town of Richmond. But Elvis is getting the applause. By Samantha Fowler Wednesday November 16, 2005 12:04 AM EST . At the end of Lonely Guy, I walked out into the audience. I dont want to say it was a vacation, because it really wasnt for me. My favorite memory would be filling up my 1960 Cadillac Coupe De Ville for $21, then driving out past The Starlight Drive-In to Rio Vista for mountains of fried catfish and sweet tea with my super hot girlfriend who is now my super hot wife. Michael Geier is him real name. The 6-foot-8-inch singer not only leads jazz-swing-pop-rock-country-R&B outfit Kingsized, but performs with tiki band Tongo Hiti, dances with burlesque troop Dames Aflame, re-creates the King for the annual Elvis Death Day celebration, and leads a band in Cartoon Network's "Sunday Pants." I had to move the show or else it would have killed me. ", A long-time freelance writer for the AJC Jon Waterhouse profiled him last year. Geier got married in the year 1996 to his business partner Shannon Newton. Hes from the Scott Walker-Lee Hazlewood weirdo drama music scene that I love. And through the process of doing it, you realize that starts to change over time. "It has to be a story or a poem. In the story, he noted: "Throughout the years, he could be found fronting the neo-swing of Kingsized; sharing the stage as Puddles with a gaggle of surly clowns in the band Greasepaint; waxing Polynesian pop in Tongo Hiti at He is actually Mike Geier, a long-time Atlanta entertainer who has been performing around town since 1995, especially the Variety Playhouse. Therefore, American comedian Big Mike Geier has an estimated net worth of $500,000. But Elvis is getting the applause. In January 2019, Mike began a headline act residency at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Several years into this band, Geier thought of giving a clown-themed side project a chance, and he called it Greasepaint, and this became the foundation of Puddles, which became his later alter ego. Around this time, Geier started up an Elvis tribute band, Kingsized. It requires somebody who can say, Be here at this time. All of a sudden, I was the guy in charge. . Before settling in Atlanta in 1995, Mike was a member of the touring "Swing Noir" band The Useless Playboys. I wish I could see that this is happening. I got some in Birmingham (2018?2019?) ArtsATL: This led to Puddles going on tour with Eels in the U.S. and Europe? If youre from Atlanta, skip on to the questions. [12], In October 2013, Geier recorded a cover of Lorde's "Royals" with Postmodern Jukebox on YouTube. Delving into his wife Shannon Newton's details, she is a musician and performs alongside her husband, Mike Geier. READ MORE: Fannie Flagg & Fried Green Tomatoes. Then Big Mike came to Atlanta in 1995 to host the citys first full neo-burlesque show, Go-Go and Torchys Taboo Revue, and he never left. Family Details The heartthrob pair tied the wedding knot on 1 st January 2001. ; and generating standing-room-only rave-ups with his Elvis Royale concerts. Im immersed in the love of the craft. Oh yeah, and he plays birthday parties and weddings.