Altoona native ‘mixes parody, humor, punk rock-edged vigor’
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When Thomas Michael Brunner returned to his family's home after 30 years away as a nationally-touring musician, he fulfilled a promise to his late father -- and continued making music.
His most recent Hot Dog Boy's "Saucey Sausage" is a heavy metal, five-song CD with a ukulele-backed commentary about his musical career and tribute to his late aunt.
Brunner has played bass and done standup on tours largely through the south, mostly in various bands. He's lived in Ocean City, New Jersey, and Honolulu, Hawaii, and places in between.
"I learned the grass isn't always greener," he said.
Local residents may remember his aunt Patty Cameron, who took him to play for her on gigs in the '70s, encouraged his musical talents and had him become a member of Local 41, American Federation of Musicians, in Johnstown so he could earn union scale wages of $60 an hour when he played.
"I've been in so many bands in my life and I've done solo work. I played bass for Black Elvis on a tour throughout the south, Clarence Skins, and played in a band that warmed up for Jimmy Buffet on tour," he said. "I just love music. I've been doing it since I was 9 years old."
More recently, he's performed musical satire/parodies as Elvis Chicken, Sharky and Hot Dog Boy.
"I have seen Tom both in his band and solo endeavors," said Jim Price, a local music expert and broadcaster.
"His solo shows are eccentric to say the least, as he mixes parody and humor with punk rock-edged vigor and unpredictability. Audiences often don't know how exactly to react to him," Price said, adding Brunner's "rock and metal-flavored original creations can be intriguing and innovative, and he isn't afraid to explore with different sound textures on his bass. His parody and solo material can often be tongue-in-cheek, but he does a few nice-sounding ukulele instrumentals as well. Tom doesn't pigeon-hole himself into a singular style or sound, and takes a wide-open approach to his music."
Jason Feathers of Duncansville described Brunner as being an inspiration to him.
"He's one of those dudes that was playing around when I was coming up as a musician. He was one of the local guys who inspires you to pick up the instrument and say, 'I can do this.'"
Price, known on air as "The Professor," attended high school with Brunner, played his music on air and followed his career.
"He was a member of Pulse; he also fronted and played bass in his own self-named band, the Tom Brunner Group (or TBG for short). While in that project, a few of his songs received radio airplay locally on WFBG's "All Night Album Rock" and "Top 9 at 9" programs," Price said.
Brunner's eponymous recording features snippets of on-air interviews he did with Price, including when TBG won the top spot with "Cheap Love."
When in Ocean City, Brunner fronted and played bass for a heavy metal group, Killer Elite, which attracted attention through a review in a popular British heavy metal magazine "Kerrang," Price said.
"After Killer Elite, he started to pursue his solo career, first as Elvis Chicken, where he would dress in a chicken outfit, play ukulele and sing song parodies plus his parody-based original songs," Price said, noting Brunner expanded and created Sharky (where he donned a shark outfit and played a shark-shaped guitar and some ukulele as well), and Hot Dog Boy. Yes, he wears a hot dog suit during appearances.
Several years ago, Brunner played bass briefly with the rebooted local heavy metal group Giornesto, which went on hiatus after "membership defections" about four years ago, Price said.
Feathers met and became friends with Brunner after being introduced by mutual friends at a gig.
"I got to know him and I've certainly learned some things from Tom," Feathers said. "One of the things that has held consistent with Tom is he has always had a unique character and voice no matter what style of music he is playing. He is genuine to whatever genre he is playing but his genuine personality comes through his playing. He is authentic ... unique. He's quirky as all heck. But he also has an altruistic side."
When a Feathers family member battled a life-threatening illness, Brunner -- unsolicited -- came forward to assist monetarily and emotionally.
"He doesn't do it for attention. Tom's a truly good human and friend," Feathers said.
Brunner is affiliated with Canadian-American Records -- an independent record label founded by Joey Welz, former pianist with Bill Haley & the Comets during the mid-1960s, a decade removed from Haley's hit "Rock Around the Clock," Price said.
Ever reinventing himself, Brunner said he's working on a comic book featuring his characters -- yet he remains committed to music.
"I don't think I will retire," he said. "I could record as long as I can play -- and I will. I'm going to keep recording until I pass. I'm still young at heart. Music has been good to me."
The Brunner file
Name: Thomas Michael Brunner
Age: 59
Residence: Altoona
Education: Altoona Area High School and Vo-Tech, 1979
Employment: Entertainer, musician, recording artist for Canadian American Records: Elvis Chicken, "The Final Cluck"; Sharky the Clown "Are These All Your Guitars?" and Tommi Mushroom, "Greatest Hits;" Hotdog Boy, "Saucey Sausage" and "Thomas Michael Brunner."