Puddles Pity Party Explained

Mike Geier
Alias:Puddles Pity Party (performer)
Birth Place:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation:Singer, performance artist
Years Active:1990s–present
Module:
Embed:yes
Instrument:Voice, piano
Associated Acts:Postmodern Jukebox, Useless Playboys, Kingsized, Tongo Hiti
Genre:Cabaret

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.

Biography

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 in height. Geier is tall. He grew up in Richmond, Virginia.

Puddles Pity Party

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 Forces 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. 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.

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.

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

With Postmodern Jukebox

As Puddles Pity Party

Albums
Singles & EPs

As Mike Geier

Music composed and performed by Geier has appeared in television shows including iCarly and Victorious.[20] [21] 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.[22]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Gleim, S. . 100 Things to Do in Atlanta Before You Die, Second Edition . Reedy Press . 100 Things to Do Before You Di . 2016 . 978-1-68106-044-6 . September 19, 2017.
  2. News: DeVore. Sheryl. Puddles Pity Party brings humor, baritone voice to Genesee. September 19, 2017. Chicago Tribune. September 18, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920043953/http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/lifestyles/ct-lns-puddles-party-st-0929-20170918-story.html. live.
  3. Web site: Headshot, Resume, Contact. Michael Geier official website. October 9, 2017. January 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140105063438/http://www.bigmikegeier.com/home.html. dead.
  4. Let Me Live That Fantasy. Justin. Heckert. March 11, 2014. Grantland.
  5. News: Puddles: Sad clown, big voice. Gerrick D.. Kennedy. January 20, 2015. September 19, 2017. Los Angeles Times. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920043905/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-puddles-pity-party-clown-troubador-trepany-house-20150120-story.html. live.
  6. News: The wisdom and sorrow of Puddles, the clown with the golden voice. Paul. Bowers. Charleston City Paper. September 19, 2017. August 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170807060000/https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/the-wisdom-and-sorrow-of-puddles-the-clown-with-the-golden-voice/Content?oid=4889262. live.
  7. News: Zaino III. Nick A.. Puddles Pity Party brings mystery, joy to Sinclair. Boston Globe. January 7, 2016. June 16, 2016. August 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806125939/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/01/07/puddles-pity-party-brings-mystery-joy-sinclair/MnvUq1KXpoYc5EOn0eNF6K/story.html. live.
  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. Web site: Stafford. Jeff. Preview: King-sized Mike Geier continues to follow his ever-growing, ever-eclectic muse. ArtsATL.com. August 30, 2013. June 16, 2016. August 7, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160807050226/http://www.artsatl.com/preview-kingsized-mike-geier-continues-follow-ever-growing-ever-eclectic-muse/. live.
  10. Web site: Puddles Pity Party – Tickets – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA – January 23rd, 2015. Troubadour. September 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920043837/http://www.troubadour.com/event/730757-puddles-pity-party-los-angeles/. September 20, 2017. dead.
  11. News: Young. Amy. Puddles Pity Party Is the Most Bizarre Cover Band Around. June 16, 2016. Phoenix New Times. December 30, 2015. August 12, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160812035451/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/puddles-pity-party-is-the-most-bizarre-cover-band-around-7930780. live.
  12. News: Did Puddles Pity Party, Angelica Hale make it to the 'AGT' semi-finals?. Ho. Rodney. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. August 17, 2017. August 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170817054938/http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2017/08/16/did-puddles-pity-party-angelica-hale-make-it-to-the-agt-semifinals/. dead.
  13. Teen Titans Go! New Episode Promo – Talent Show (October 9, 2017). SerCom_KC. September 30, 2017. Cartoon Network. October 9, 2017. YouTube. October 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171008202721/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtvTLc8bxKs&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  14. News: Atlanta's Puddles Pity Party survives 'America's Got Talent' first round: 'This hulking Pavarotti with a retro hipness'. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rodney Ho. ajc. October 10, 2019. September 25, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240925015312/https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/atlanta-puddles-pity-party-survives-america-got-talent-first-round-this-hulking-pavarotti-with-retro-hipness/XTwW4JFeltr8h1Tl2VLAtO/. live.
  15. Puddles Pity Party Sets First Las Vegas Residency. Michele Amabile. Angermiller. Variety. October 17, 2018. August 8, 2019. September 25, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240925015320/https://variety.com/2018/music/news/puddles-pity-party-las-vegas-residency-caesars-1202982557/. live.
  16. Web site: Venable . Nick . 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 . May 19, 2022 . May 19, 2022 . September 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240925015313/https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/the-conners-showrunner-and-ep-on-how-season-4s-finale-handled-ben-and-darlenes-relationship-as-well-as-harris-and-aldos . live .
  17. Web site: Archived copy . September 23, 2024 . September 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240925015313/https://www.weirdal.com/tour/ . live .
  18. Web site: Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox* – Top Hat On Fleek. November 5, 2015. discogs. September 19, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920043935/https://www.discogs.com/Scott-Bradlees-Postmodern-Jukebox-Top-Hat-On-Fleek/release/7896191. live.
  19. Web site: Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox* – The Essentials. discogs. September 19, 2017. September 19, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170919233958/https://www.discogs.com/Scott-Bradlees-Postmodern-Jukebox-The-Essentials/master/1067760. live.
  20. iDate Sam And Freddie . . Steve . Hoefer . Dan . Schneider . Jake . Farrow . . 10 September 2011 . 5 . 2 . en . September 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240925015909/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1920729/ . live .
  21. One Thousand Berry Balls . . David . Kendall . Dan . Schneider . David . Malkoff . . 8 December 2012 . 4 . 7 . en . September 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240925015819/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2509634/ . live .
  22. Web site: 2022-11-10 . Everything you need to know about the song in this year's John Lewis Christmas ad . 2022-11-10 . The Independent . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Puddles Pity Party".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.