Chicago – In August, a lively crowd gathered at The Wieners Circle in Lincoln Park not for hot dogs alone, but for a surprise concert by local musician Chris Dunn, who performs under the name Fleshed Out. With a microphone in hand and his band behind him, Dunn turned the late‑night hot‑dog stand into a makeshift stage, delivering original songs and a dance‑filled set.
Turning restaurants into music venues
Dunn admits he prefers unconventional spaces to traditional clubs, which he finds “boring.” At the start of 2024, he and his band set a goal to play a series of shows in local eateries. To date, each performance has taken place in a different restaurant, ranging from the iconic Wieners Circle to smaller spots such as Flub A Dub Chub’s in Lakeview, Miss Egg Roll, and Taco Burrito House in Uptown.
Audience sizes have varied. The Flub A Dub Chub’s show in May attracted about 20 people, while the Miss Egg Roll and Taco Burrito House gigs drew between 50 and 100 attendees, according to Dunn. “We couldn’t fit another person,” he said of the latter shows.
How the gigs happen
Dunn’s approach is straightforward: he walks into a restaurant, pitches the idea of a live performance, offers a modest cash payment, and promises to bring in customers. “We just had to give this pitch to as many businesses as we could walk in until one of them said yes,” he explained.
The Wieners Circle gig materialized after the establishment commented on one of Dunn’s social‑media videos. After two postponements—one due to a denied rooftop request and another because of smoky air in July—the third attempt succeeded, and Dunn felt the night “was gonna work out perfectly.”
Social media and the “tongue takeover”
Dunn’s online presence is quirky and memorable. He frequently posts photos of himself with his tongue sticking out, a motif that appears on T‑shirts and other merchandise he calls “tongue takeovers.” The humor, rooted in an obscure internet culture, has helped him build a small but engaged fan base.
He describes the social‑media side of his promotion as an “afterthought,” but acknowledges that the novelty of his tongue‑themed images helped attract attention and fill seats at the restaurants.
Music, ambition, and community impact
Originally from Memphis, Dunn moved to Chicago in 2018 to study audio engineering at DePaul University. He began making music in his dorm room and launched the Fleshed Out project around 2019. After opening for indie‑pop band Arlie in 2022, he has released eight songs and is working on a debut album, hoping to finish it this year.
Beyond the music, Dunn says the shows foster a sense of community. Patrons who attended one restaurant often return for another, recognizing familiar faces and sharing the experience. “Instead of the big numbers game, I’ve just kind of been placed into this small audience that actually really cares a lot,” he noted.
Local businesses benefit
Restaurant owners report increased foot traffic and sales on the nights Dunn performs. The combination of live music and novelty draws both regular customers and curious newcomers, providing a boost to establishments that might otherwise see slower evenings.
As Dunn continues to seek out new venues, his model demonstrates how creative, low‑cost entertainment can support local businesses while giving artists a platform to share their work.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
