It’s been a while since I posted here! In fact, my overall online presence has been a bit lacking these days… Smooth Tuba Tuesday has been on its longest hiatus since I first created the series in 2019 😞, and I haven’t been uploading much of anything else either. I haven’t been lacking in things to post about, though!
Last week I gave my second piano recital of the year in Evanston. This time, I recorded it! Here’s a snippet from the very end of the recital.
As for things ahead, I’ve got three shows just this week! What’s more, they’re with three different groups…
This Thursday I’m playing with OPLIAM at Subterranean for the album release show of Apocalypse Dance Party. I recorded bass and keys for the album, so you can also hear me on the release streaming everywhere!
On Friday I’m playing bass at Liar’s Club with Ricky Liontones. We played there twice in February, and now we’re back! It’s one of the best bars in Chicago, and I’m always excited to be a part of the all-loving madness that tends to take place there.
Lastly, on Saturday, I will once again be joining the gang at Snack King Comics for a comic book reading with live music. We first collaborated a year ago to bring their series “Man Boy” to life, and now we’re adding a second series to the lineup! “Wei Station Diner” is a sci-fi workplace comedy that takes place at a diner in outer space—need I say more?
We’ll be playing at Living Water Teahouse on Taylor Street, where the fun will be getting started at 7. Come for the comics, the tea, the tuba, or just a truly unique experience!
It’s going to be a great year! I’m looking forward to all kinds of new opportunities, including teaching a world music course at Saint Xavier University, giving several classical piano recitals (stay tuned for public dates!), recording tracks for some upcoming album releases, and even taking on some tour dates around the country (and beyond?)
Here’s an upcoming show that I’m especially excited about: on February 1st we’re opening up for L.A. Guns! This glam metal band has been a staple of the rock scene since 1983, and it’s an absolute honor to share the bill with them. Come to The Forge in Joliet to catch this amazing show!
It’s that time of year again, as Presidio Brass makes a triumphant return to the “Happiest Place On Earth” as featured clinicians for the 2023 Thanksgiving Day Parade of Bands! This is one of my favorite gigs all year (for obvious reasons), and luckily the whole event will be live-streamed! You’ll hear Disney classics, holiday favorites, and more, all backed up by an enormous All-Star ensemble of several hundred high school band students. You can catch all the action on Thursday through the link below, starting at 8:45 EST.
Tomorrow night, I’ll be playing bass with Ricky Liontones as local support for the UK alternative rock band Demob Happy. They’re a great band with an awesome sound and really fun songs, so it’s a night you won’t want to miss!
The show starts with us at 8PM, with Demob Happy going afterwards. Be there!
This weekend I’m proud to be performing as a part of Chicago’s Indigenous Peoples Day Arts & Music Festival! This event brings two nights of music, culture, and dance that will sure to have you dancing along all night long.
Rather than attempt my own take on this important cultural event, here’s what the organizers have to say about the festival:
We are excited to announce the 5th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Music Festival, a vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture, music, and a powerful call to abolish Columbus Day. Taking place on October 8th and 9th at the renowned Chop Shop in Wicker Park, this year’s festival promises to be a remarkable event featuring some of the biggest names in Indigenous music from Canada, the United States, and Latin America.
The Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Music Festival serves as a platform to honor and amplify the voices and contributions of Indigenous peoples while fostering unity, resilience, and cultural pride. By reclaiming this significant day, the festival aims to challenge the historical narratives surrounding Columbus Day and shed light on the rich tapestry of Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas.
During the two-day extravaganza, attendees will be able to immerse themselves in an awe-inspiring lineup of renowned Indigenous musicians from diverse backgrounds. From captivating performances by celebrated artists from Canada, the United States, and Latin America, the festival will showcase the incredible talent and cultural diversity of Indigenous music.
In addition to the captivating musical performances, the Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Music Festival will feature various engaging activities, traditional craft artisans, and an interactive workshop hosted at The American Indian Center. Festival-goers will have the chance to observe the vibrancy of Indigenous culture firsthand.
The festival is open to the public, and admission is free. However, due to limited capacity, attendees are encouraged to reserve their tickets in advance through the festival’s official website or other designated platforms. Individuals can secure their spot at this highly anticipated event celebrating Indigenous culture and music by booking tickets early.
“We are thrilled to host the 5th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Music Festival and provide a platform for Indigenous voices to be heard and celebrated,” said Liam McDonald of Sky People Ent. , the festival’s organizer. “This event is an important step towards acknowledging the contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples while advocating for the abolishment of Columbus Day.”
The Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago Arts & Festival will testify to the power of community, culture, and music in driving social change and promoting understanding and appreciation of Indigenous heritage. Participants will join a growing movement dedicated to raising awareness and dismantling harmful historical narratives by attending and supporting this festival.
This year’s event will include musical performances from Digging Roots (Canada), Keith Secola (USA), Novalima (Peru), OPLIAM (USA), Raye Zaragoza (USA), One Way Sky (USA), Earth Surface People (USA), Tres Hermanos Bautista (Mexico) and Hobawea Nahish (USA).
The event’s sponsors include The American Indian Center Chicago, The International Latino Cultural Center, and DCASE.
For more information about the festival, lineup announcements, and ticket reservations, please visit the official website at https://skypeopleentertainment.com/ipdchicago/. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #IndigenousPeoplesDayChicago.
Sky People Entertainment
On Sunday I’ll be performing with Keith Secola, and on Monday I’ll be with OPLIAM. Both are terrific acts that I’m looking forward to joining on stage. Hopefully you can make it too!
I’ve got a couple of shows to announce— the first one is tomorrow night! I’ll be playing bass with Ricky Liontones as we perform the first Queens of the Stone Age album in its entirety, an homage to the 25th anniversary of the record’s original release. But that’s not all… There will also be a tribute to the Violent Femmes’ eponymous debut on its 40th anniversary, and a big band (!) performance of the Led Zeppelin classic “Houses of the Holy”, in full, by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Players, in celebration of that record’s 50th anniversary. This is all part of Ian’s Classic Albums Night, a regular staple of the vast musical empire that Reggies has created in Chicago. It’s going to be a very full night with a wide variety of styles, so come by at 7 and enjoy the evening!
After some private engagements over the weekend, the next official show to announce is on Wednesday, October 4, at Bookclub. This time, the Ricky Liontones Revue hits the stage with Kansas City rockers The Sounds Of Many, as well as Chicago’s own Lost Pyramids. Shoot me a message if you’re interested in catching this awesome show and I’ll give you the address 🤙
If you didn’t know, every Tuesday I release a smooth tuba cover of a popular song, complete with a music video that’s full of surprises. This week’s video was the Isaac Hayes classic “Walk On By.”
Tuba Walk On By
Here are more Smooth Tuba Tuesday videos that have come out this month, including a funny take on a modern classic, and a tuba ode to a smooth legend. You can watch the entire catalog, which contains nearly 200 videos to date, on the Slapsauce YouTube Channel!
After touring and traveling all summer, I’m back in Chicago for the long haul. I’m going to miss all the time spent out on lakes (like the one I photographed here), but I also have plenty of exciting things on the horizon (including a triumphant return to the lake life this Thursday!)
My cats are also glad I’m home!
This week I’m diving back into the scene with four shows in a row, all with the legendary Ricky Liontones. Here’s our schedule going into the weekend:
People in the Chicago area should come check us out later this week!
That’s all for now, although I’m gearing up for big new things starting as early as next week. Stay tuned for more show announcements!
Happy Flag Day, and Happy Pride Month! You can get the latest pride flag design on all our merch at Slapsauce.com, and use the code PRIDE23 for 10% off your entire order—this month only!
In other news…
Last weekend’s run with the Chicago Tap Theatre was simply amazing. Synesthete was honestly one of the most incredible projects I’ve have the privilege to be a part of, and I really hope that it makes a return someday.
In the meantime, I’ve got a more gigs coming up!
6/16 1PM @ O’Hare Airport
6/16 9PM @ House of Blues
6/30 (Time TBA) @ Irish American Heritage Center
7/1 7PM @ Studio Lockport
For now these are my final performances before a two week vacation in Michigan. I’ll be needing that time off, especially since I’ll be going straight into a Midwest mini-tour afterwards (stay tuned for news on that!)
No, I don’t know how to tap dance. Yes, the actual tap dancers are terrific! I’ve been rehearsing with the Chicago Tap Theatre all week to put together this incredible show from the mind of Sterling Harris, and I’m super excited to be contributing my talents on keys this weekend at the Den Theatre.
Shows are happening at the times below, so find a date and get your tickets now!
Plus, you can catch me tonight playing bass with Ricky Liontones at Subterranean. We’ll be opening up for the awesome power trio Silvertone, along with Rainbow James and Lever. It’s a fun week of shows, and as usual the music is all over the place!
Mike Frasier Music 