Local musician spreads talent

Bloomington resident Zach Frasier has been performing for years, playing a slew of instruments and juggling several bands in different genres.

“He’s a great musician,” bandmate Alex Arnold said. “He’s one of those musicians you can show kind of like any genre to and he can prepare a vibe for it. He’s really eclectic.”

When Arnold began an electronic music project called !mindparade and needed a live band, he said he knew he wanted Frasier to play guitar.

“It just felt really natural to ask Zach,” Arnold said.

Along with !mindparade, Frasier said he is affiliated with bands Elephant Quiz, Jefferson Street Parade Band, Potty Mouth and Fire Engine Red.

Juggling so many bands does not come without its perks, Frasier said.

He said he once had the opportunity with one of his bands to open up for Victor Wooten, a bass guitarist who has received five Grammy Awards.

Frasier also remembers opening for the Wailers, made of the continuing members of Bob Marley & The Wailers.

“There’s been a few really amazing shows,” Frasier said.

Frasier first started playing music when he was 12 years old, and has picked up many instruments in performances since.

“Guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele I guess, piano, drums,” he said. “I also have turntables.”

When Elephant Quiz were scheduled to open for the Wailers, they didn’t have a key band member, but still had to perform.

“We were stuck between a rock and a hard place because we didn’t have ‘Pickle,’ and he is key to the Elephant Quiz sound,” he said.

In order to make the show happen, Elephant Quiz reached out to other local musicians, some of whom Frasier had previously played alongside.

“It was cool because all these musicians around Bloomington had our back at the time,” Frasier said. “Also, it was like, ‘We are opening up for the Wailers, will you guys help us?’ So, there was incentive for them, but it was really cool seeing everyone help out in our time of need.”

As well as playing Bloomington bars and house parties, Frasier said that his band Elephant Quiz plays shows all around the U.S.

His other band !mindparade has even collected a large audience in Italy via blogs, Frasier said. 

“Music has taken me farther than anything else,” Frasier said.

Frasier said his inspiration to play is in part taken from the way playing makes him feel.

“Playing rock guitar, or guitar with metal influence, or being able to do whatever you imagine on the guitar is kind of like the closest thing to having a super power,” Frasier said.