Mike Frazier’s reveals with the Unhealthy Quitters, the Shut Ups symbolize SA homecoming  

You might name Boise, Idaho musician Mike Frazier’s two upcoming San Antonio gigs a homecoming of kinds. 

As frontman for the Austin bands Transmography and the Shut Ups, Frazier developed a passion for the Alamo Metropolis, and the latter band was extra of a fixture right here than in its hometown. 

Now, he’s returning to the 210 along with his latest group, the Unhealthy Quitters, who will carry out Thursday, April 23, on the Lonesome Rose — a present that celebrates the group’s newest single, “Spend It All,” that includes the Alamo Metropolis’s personal Garrett T. Capps on fiddle.  

And to rejoice the previous, Frazier’s different band, the Shut Ups, will play Lowcountry on Saturday, April 25, for King William Fest.  

The Unhealthy Quitters supply a refreshing tackle Americana, drawing on the Neil Younger and Loopy Horse template of uncooked, thrashed guitars holding up a tenderly melodic sensibility. In the meantime, the Shut Ups are a noise-rock whirlwind, whose reveals are typically 20-minute meltdowns marked by frantic drumming, skittering guitars and outlandish costumes. 

Although not a San Antonio native, Frazier’s had an extended historical past with the town — and with music-scene fixture Capps specifically. Frazier, who’s 10 years older, was the native singer-songwriter’s camp counselor at Camp Rio Vista, the oldest summer season camp within the state. 

“I used to be his counselor when he was 11,” Frazier mentioned. “Once I met him, he was only a actually cool child. Had a giant CaseLogic CD ebook of about 200 CDs, and we’d simply discuss music on a regular basis. He was already a drummer. I used to be a man from Austin simply figuring my method by means of music and thought it was nice — right here was this child already with cool style in music.”

Frazier acknowledged a kindred spirit and the pair bonded instantly.  

“He was all the time the identical man he’s now, man,” Frazier mentioned of Capps. “He seemed and talked the identical. Effectively, he did have inexperienced hair one summer season.

Capps’ highschool band, the Boy Scout Cookies, even performed the White Rabbit with Frazier’s Transmography. Finally, Frazier snuck Capps and the band into his SXSW showcase.  

Quick ahead just a few extra years and Frazier had began The Shut Ups. Although primarily based in Austin, San Antonio embraced the group and their specific model of improvised madness.  The Shut Ups performed Capps’ 2016 Cinco de Mayo blowout, offering Frazier along with his most treasured San Antonio reminiscence.

“We have been enjoying at Paper Tiger after they nonetheless had the radio antenna,” Frazier recalled. “We have been enjoying the courtyard, packed home. Our drummer, Eric Inexperienced, type of the entrance man of the band, he scaled that antenna. I had my eyes closed, and I observed everybody wanting up – Garrett had gotten on the drums and Eric scaled the antenna, no less than 50 or 60 toes within the air, hanging the wrong way up, in a monkey or shark costume.”

Finally Paper Tiger’s proprietor — native restaurateur Chad Carey — was compelled to take down the antenna resulting from legal responsibility considerations. The stunt made it apparent why. 

“[Carey] needed to place a statue of Eric up there … however truly needed to take it down,” Frazier added.

Now, quick ahead once more to the current, and Capps is internet hosting Frazier’s The Unhealthy Quitters at his membership, the Lonesome Rose, not lengthy after he performed fiddle on the band’s single, recorded with Josh Bloodsworth and Justin Morris at San Antonio’s Cornpound Complicated.

A full album from the Unhealthy Quitters, referred to as I’ll Be Damned, is due out in a few months. 

Greater than something, the decades-long friendship and collaboration between Frazier and Capps is a testomony to the facility of music to deliver us collectively.

In a world hell-bent on siloing everybody by age, gender and political persuasion, it’s refreshing to see these two musicians attain throughout the years and craft indelible, ass-kicking tunes.

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