The man steps to the mic. He is tall and traditionally handsome, with piercing eyes, an exceedingly fair complexion, a red nose and a gold crown with the letter “P” on it. And with a doleful expression, he begins to sing: “I’ve never seen a diamond in the flesh.”
That October 2013 YouTube clip was my first look at Puddles Pity Party—the six-foot-eight-inch-tall clown whose soulful cover of Lorde’s “Royals,” performed with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, completely reformed my takes on Lorde, clowns and first impressions. Even after you’ve become familiar with Puddles’ exquisite baritone—an instrument he uses not only for pop and rock songs but also for jazz standards and showtunes—it’s still easy to be surprised by it. I’d be willing to bet that fully half of the 25 million views that “Royals” has received are from people watching the clip again, thinking: Is that voice really coming from that clown?
Now you can see this diamond in the flesh. Puddles Pity Party—the alter ego of star cabaret performer Big Mike Geier—is coming to Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace for a nine-date residency. You owe it to yourself to experience Puddles—the songs, the wordless gestures, the long and awkward hugs. And now, here’s the man himself—via email, of course; strong and silent types like him aren’t into phone interviews—to invite you to get caught up in his love affair.
Congratulations on playing Caesars. Do you feel at all daunted by the weight of the history behind the venue?Well, to tell ya the truth, weight has been a big issue for me my whole life. I’m trying really hard to eat right. It’s tough on the road, especially in a legendary food town like Las Vegas. But I’ll be performing on a barge and that is kinda where I got my start. When I was a wee lad, I performed on my Paw Paw’s shrimp trawler for all the crew. I was paid in shrimp cocktail. To this day, it’s my favorite kind of cocktail.
Who are your biggest influences, both in the worlds of singing and clowning? That’s a long list. Here’s the short version. Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, David Bowie, Frank Sinatra, Alice Cooper, Elvis Presley, Charlie Chaplin, Michael Jackson, Kiss, Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, The Carol Burnett Show, [Enrico] Caruso and Pee-Wee Herman.
How would you explain your act to someone who’s never seen you before? It’s hard to describe. But there is something for everybody. Sing-alongs, dancing, magic and snacks. A journalist once described it as “Pagliacci by way of Pee-Wee Herman and David Lynch.” Heck, even I’d go see that show!
You’re a big-time audience hugger. What’s the secret to giving a solid hug? Commitment. Empathy. Sincerity. Hugging is not a competition sport.
Do you hope to leave a legacy here? Would you mind if folks eventually called you “a Las Vegas act?” I hope folks want more. I hope. I don’t care what people call me, as long as they don’t call me late for supper.
PUDDLES PITY PARTY January 17-19, 24-26 & February 7-9, 8 p.m., $59. Caesars Palace, 702-731-7333.
