About Me
Born on Armistice Day 1985 at Hinsdale Hospital, Kyle started playing music at a young age when his parents, realizing he was too weak to play sports like the other kids, rented a saxophone for him to play in the school band. Kyle started playing guitar when he was 13 and by the time he arrived at Lyons Township High School word had spread that he was "one of the fastest shredders in the western suburbs." /////////////In autumn of 2002 Kyle started playing music with drummer Doug Story and protege guitarist Mike Virgilio. A few months later Kyle switched to bass and the group solidified their line up by adding proven vocalist Dan Veldman known for his raspy voice and excesive partying. By summer of 2003 while the Chicago Cubs were on their way to winning the NL Central, the four friends were performing under the name The Main Street Bandits. The group, which would practice in the Fitzgerald's garage, would cover songs such as "Fortunate Son", "Black Dog" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" while penning originals like the swinging "White T-shirt Blues" (named after Mike's uninspired wardrobe) and the funky "All Star Game" (written by Doug and Kyle while attending the MLB All Star Game at Sox Park). ////////////////The Main Street Bandits toured the tri-town area of Western Springs, LaGrange and Brookfield from 2003 to 2004 at venues such as The Coral, Lyons Township High School, Mike Moran's basement and Doug Story's graduation party. MSB was known for their high energy live performances including sexually provocative dancing, alcohol induced arguments and theft. /////////////////Tension began to grow in the band everyday, however, as the artistic differences between the two songwriters Mike and Kyle began to deepen. Delta Blues, which had brought the two guitarists together in the first place, was not a musical option for MSB. Mike began leaning towards progressive rock while Kyle, who had been introduced to the music of Wilco in autumn of 2003 and still wanted to retain some of his jam band and classic rock roots, preferred to play music people would actually enjoy. ////////////////The Main Street Bandits' problems ran deeper. Dan was having an increasingly harder time remembering lyrics and songs probably due to problems with alcohol, drugs and an overall lack of interest. Furthermore, the summer of 2004 would ultimately lead to the four musician going to seperate colleges. The Main Street Bandits played their last show at Courtney Svaboda's garage in Brookfield in late August 2004. The band played three hour-long sets making sure to play every song they had ever practiced. It is understood between the four members that there will be no reunion. ///////////////////While attending the College of DuPage and living with his parents, Kyle shifted in musical interest and began to write quiet, emotionally intense folk songs about religion, death and moonshining. He recorded the twelve song album "There's Something Staring At Me From Within The Church and I Don't Think It's God" in autumn 2005. The public greeted Kyle's first solo recording unenthusiastically. ////////////////Yielding to pressure from friends and family Kyle decided to enroll in Columbia College's music school for spring semester 2006. In a music theory class taught by local jazz legend John Paris, Kyle met the talented multi-instramentalist and songwriter Pat Campbell. Upon hearing Pat's solo work "History of the Western Death Thing" Kyle demanded that the two collaborate. Pat finally agreed and in autumn of 2006 the two were working on new songs every week. ///////////////////////Around this time Kyle met Brittany Moffitt, a young and extremely talented vocalist. While drinking rye whiskey in his room and strumming "Shankhill Butchers" by the Decemberists he suddenly heard a voice singing along with him from the living room. Kyle was shocked that this strange girl who was with his roommate knew the words because that particular album had only been released a few weeks prior. Kyle and Brittany immediately realized that their musical interested were almost exactly alike. Brittany began playing with Kyle and Pat in the winter of 2007. ////////////////////The Date, an experimental rock group comprised of Pat Campbell, Brittany Moffitt and Kyle Fitzgerald quickly collapsed in on itself like a dying star in a lonely galaxy devoid of meaningful life. Shit. Thus, in the face of severe and brutal adversity in the form of simple writers block, Kyle turned his interests towards working on a degree in anthropology at St. Vincent DePaul University. Brittany went on to become Columbia College's greatest jazz vocalist ever. Pat, meanwhile, locked himself in his apartment and recorded the Vegetable Sex Demos which would turn out to heavily influence the next part of the story. /////////////////////Enter The Blamers..... In May 2008, brothers Pat and Jeff Campbell formed The Blamers with Jay Wheeler, an elusive "magic man" and Molly Shanahan, the daughter of the last good Chicago cop. Soon there after, multi-instrumentalist and one man brass section Luke Wilson joined the group. Kyle, who was originally asked to play bass, realized at a charity show on the south side that The Blamers were in dire need of a drummer. Never having played any sort of percussive instrument in his life, Kyle blindly dove into the role of rock n roll drummer. His enthusiasm earned him many points with the rest of the members but his devastating lack of drumming experience soon began to take its toll. In the autumn of 2008, Kyle relinquished his drumming duties in order to play bass. The Blamers then added the drummer Myrick to solidify the group. //////////////////////Currently, The Blamers, are recording in HiZ Studios and touring around Chicago. Jay, Molly, Luke, Myrick, Kyle and the brothers Campbell are looking forward to seeing you at the next show.
