About Us
CAPTAIN GEECH & The Shrimp Shack Shooters Est. 2001
How it all began...
On a gloomy afternoon in 1996, manager and founder, J Bird enters a small movie theater in his hometown of Jacksonville, Illinois to see the latest movie from Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! A musical comedy written and directed by Hanks set in 1964 about a group of young men, The Wonders quickly rising to the top of the charts with their hit song That Thing You Do (which actually became a hit song), only to fall apart nearly before it got started. So, what does this have to do with anything? In the the movie, on their way to The Ed Sullivan Show (sort of), they get asked to play a cameo role in the latest Frankie & Annette movie (sort of). The role is of a beach band playing background in front of "The Shrimp Shack" by the name, wait for it... "Captain Geech & The Shrimp Shack Shooters". Ta Da!!! What a great name for a band. J Bird leaves the movie theater and immediately purchases the domain www.captaingeech.com and let's it sit lifeless for five years.
In October of 2001, just returning home from a six month U.S. tour with another band, J Bird with nothing to do for the winter, decides to start forming his piped dream Captain Geech, a band completely devoted to the happiness of others, CHICKS! Nearly all of the central Illinois bands of that time were not doing anything unique. " Old Time Rock n Roll", "Jack & Diane", ect... Even the good 80's bands were all doing hair band stuff. No one was doing Top 40 80's, which so happens to please most of the women in many age groups, GENIUS! And so it began.
Today, Captain Geech & The Shrimp Shack Shooters are at top of their league, largely entertaining the Midwest, voted "Best Band", "Best Rock/R&B Band", "Best Local Band" in several Illinois/Missouri/Iowa Readers Polls reaching millions. Captain Geech is a "Show Band" that will take you back in time by uniquely performing hit songs from an era that hasn't really past yet, "The 21 year old(s) know the words as good or better than the 50 year old(s)". The show is an energetic, non-stop musical ride that brings the audience to their feet and never quits, Geech will wear a crowd Out!
Captain Geech & The Shrimp Shack Shooters has performed at thousands of county and state fairs, festivals, corporate functions, vacation spots, bike weeks, nightclubs & taverns all over the Midwest since 2001. 2022 brings many fresh elements to a whole "new show" worked up just for Geech Fans new and old. Geech fans are the driving force of this very successful "Party For Hire", returning night after night, forgetting their troubles by dancing the night away. Next time your gloomy, get Geechie. Peace.