story and multimedia by Chance Solem-Pfeifer
Mike Fratt is an Omaha music Swiss Army knife.
One-third musician, one-third broadcaster and one-third record merchant, Fratt has been a triple threat in and around the Omaha scene for nearly 30 years.
In the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s, Fratt worked his way through a half dozen bands, including Hanna’s Porch, Acorns, Compost, Goodbye Sunday and Midwest Dilemma. And while Fratt and his bass are well-traveled within Omaha, he’s currently taking time away from live performance, cultivating his love of bluegrass music — which he compares to “acoustic jazz” — and waiting for the right band in that genre to pop up nearby.
Fratt made a few local headlines recently for leaving his 10-year post at the “Sunday Morning” show on 89.7 The River, showing his willingness to retract from the spotlight when he feels it no longer serves its purpose or gratifies his creative interests the way it once did.
For the many things he’s moved on from over the years, Fratt has a calm and clear message.
“I felt good about the contribution I made at the station,” Fratt said. “But just like bands and street weeklys, nothing lasts forever and I don’t feel like I have to do that forever. I’m not so obsessed with ‘the Mike Fratt brand’ that I need to have to do something forever.”
As the general manager of Homer’s Music for 10 years, Fratt isn’t shy about saying he’s found his deepest passion. In our interview, it showed the moment we turned to the subject of record sales. Statistics about vinyl resurgence and the details about expiring leases on now-closed Homer’s stores came forth easily as Fratt carefully explained the growth and downsizing of Homer’s during his tenure as general manager.
For this second installment of Sessions, Mike Fratt invited me into his Benson home for an hour-long conversation about bands that fell apart, occasionally having to do Sunday morning radio fresh from the bars and how he explains the continued success of the flagship Homer’s store in downtown Omaha.
Listen to the full interview with Mike Fratt here:
Chance Solem-Pfeifer is Hear Nebraska’s staff writer. Did you know that 65 percent of full album sales are physical sales? That’s a Fratt Fact. Did you know that a Fratt Fact is a thing? Bam! That’s another Fratt Fact. Reach Chance at chancesp@hearnebraska.org.