NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS FROM CHARLIE OTTO + HIS GEAR

The GEAR + I are playing Martyrs’ on Chicago November 17. This venue is special to me, probably because I used to work there, I met my wife and art partner Kasey Foster there, and the owners Ray Quinn and Kate Hill are my mentors and benefactors. Maybe the most pertinent reason is that in my opinion it’s the best sounding room in the city.
EGI boasts a virtuoso drummer named Drew Littell, and I’ve played with him in a bunch of projects, so he’s gonna join me for a couple songs. If you want to see a very weird video i did with him that has nothing to do with his drumming, click here.

We are the first act of the night. Doors are at 8, we probably go on around 8:30. Click this link to get tickets in advance, cuz it might sell out.

Every year, Charlie and Kasey get asked to participate in a very worth cause and all around crazy show, Illumination. Below is a photo by Christopher Andrew, and here is a link to a bunch more.

Illumination Photos

I’m hard at work on my full length album, what my brain keeps assuring me will be my first masterpiece. One very fun part is getting a good drummer to come in and smash, and I have the best drummer in the world for that, Matt Walker. Here is him rehearsing for a song called “versatile.”

Through my email list, I’ve been describing the songwriting and tracking process in detail, so feel free to sign up here, or even help me out by promising me some money when I finish the album on Patreon. I plan on making beautiful vinyl for this album, very excited.

the 2023 album “collaborations volume 1” has been out for a few weeks, and i’ve been thrilled to hear people shouting out requests at my recent shows. i’ve also been selling some records online and at shows, very exciting.

now i am thrilled to announce an album release show, which will be truly epic. 16 ! of my collaborators will join me to perform most of the songs off the record plus a handful more. i’ve never used the word star-studded before, but maybe now is the time for it. list of performers below, but first, here are details of the show:

July 11, 2023

21c Museum Hotel

chicago, IL

$FREE w RSVP

RSVP link: click here

doors: 6:30pm

show: 7:30pm

performers, in order from left to right in picture above:

Leslie Hunt, Kevan Eftekhari, Kiley Moore, Alan Maniacek, Nate Urbansky, Kasey Foster, Ryan Chamlin, Leslie Beukelman, My Boy Elroy, Matt Rezetko, PHENOM, Matt Walker, Joe Re, Papamack, Ryan Tedder, Patrick Dinnen

after 18 grueling months of work, here is a new full length music video: “what’s that say” featuring leslie beukelman

leslie beukelman – vocals

thorne brandt – video help

kasey foster – choreography

matt rezetko – percussion

rollin weary – mix

brandyn spacely – equipment