Chicago native, Mike Szymanski, has played in live bands since the inception of his drumming career, which began in 1998 at the University of Illinois with the formation of Lunar Breakdown, an original psychedelic rock band. Having quickly developed a strong reputation and following via the house-party circuit, the band increased its popularity by performing live on WEFT Champaign 90.1 FM, a community radio station for East-Central Illinois, and at The Canopy Club, a venue known for booking regional and national acts. Despite having an enormous amount of potential, the band ultimately met its demise in 2000 when the band members drifted apart upon graduation.

Upon returning to his native soil, Szymanski was not idle in his musical pursuits. He was soon recruited by Hypnofugue, an original urban-techno-rock group that was generating a buzz in the Chicago music scene as a result of their top-flight performances at notable venues such as Double Door and Metro. The band was also chosen in 2002 to participate in MOBfest, a three-day music conference that gives bands in the Midwest an opportunity to be seen and heard by a gathering of A&R reps from both coasts, media executives, managers, producers, and other music industry professionals. In 2003 Hypnofugue moved to Los Angeles, California. When the band wasn’t rubbing elbows with celebrities at Rainbow Bar and Grill or appearing as extras in science-fiction westerns, they were performing at venues on Sunset Boulevard such as Stray Cats’ Slim Jim Phantom’s The Cat Club. At this time the band also had their record produced by Logan Mader (of Machine Head and Soulfly fame) and were managed by Shawn Barusch of Music Gallery International (Hollowpoint Management).

Mike Szymanski currently plays the drums in Handsome Dave and the Ravens. He also presides on the drums in a Chicago cover band, The Heard.

Mike Szymanski’s drumming is ubiquitous and omnipresent. You never know when you might see him at work. He could be shaking a tambourine and banging on a djembe behind a guitarist and singer at the next open mic, or you might see him marching in step as cymbal player for The Chicago Symphonic Wind Ensemble during an Independence Day parade near Dyke Stadium. You might see him through the haze of a festival drum circle, or you might see him hanging on the rocks with some instruments near Montrose Harbor. After all, why not? He is Don Idiot–the cream and skimming of drum-errantry!