Nathaniel Anderson happily strums his guitar out front of Oak Park Natural Pet & Fish on Harlem Avenue. The store is trying to drum up business but Anderson sees the job as a chance to perform. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Anderson unfurls an extension cord plugged in inside he store that will lead to his amplifier. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
A Santa suit in the summer time, while maybe affective for attracting attention, is awfully hot. Here, Anderson takes a break in the store’s back room. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Child passing through the store’s parking lot glance at Anderson, who acknowledges their curiosity with enthusiastic strumming. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
One of three costumes Anderson wears when playing outside Oak Park Natural Pet & Fish. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Another musician passes by Anderson and pays little attention. (David Pierini/photographer)
Heads turn when motorists see Anderson. Store owner Scott Arient says he gets customers who say, “I’ve been seeing (Anderson) and I had to stop.” (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Anderson is always upbeat and smiling, ready to sing an Al Green tune when asked of his favorite singer. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
A motorist slows to snap a quick cellphone picture of Anderson. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Heads turn when motorists see Anderson. Store owner Scott Arient says he gets customers who say, “I’ve been seeing (Anderson) and I had to stop.” (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Heads turn when motorists see Anderson. Store owner Scott Arient says he gets customers who say, “I’ve been seeing (Anderson) and I had to stop.” (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Sunglass provide his eyes protection from the sun but a Santa suit and beard does little to keep him cool. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Nathaniel Anderson happily strums his guitar out front of Oak Park Natural Pet & Fish on Harlem Avenue. The store is trying to drum up business but Anderson sees the job as a chance to perform. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
A sale sign for duck feet, a chew toy for dogs, and boxes of aquariums are part of Anderson’s stage. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Reviews for Anderson’s performance come in the forms of waves and car-horn honks. “Making people happy is a beautiful thing,” he says. (David Pierini/staff photographer)
Oak Park is home to many musicians and performers, but none have a stage like Nathaniel Anderson.
Anderson, 60, has performed for thousands, but his audience does not sit still. It zooms by and catches just a glimpse of his act on Harlem Avenue, outside Oak Park Natural Pet & Fish.
His amplifier sits alongside aquariums and a sale sign for duck feet — a chew toy for dogs. There’s no light show, only a grudging sun. There are costume changes: Santa suit, gorilla outfit, or a big monster head.
His act is meant to attract attention to a pet store trying to be creative in its marketing. But for Anderson — who once sang and danced in polyester suits and platform shoes for a singing group that covered Temptations and Spinners tunes — it’s a second chance at performing.
“It’s a joy just to perform,” said Anderson. “People see me and they blow the horn or give me a thumbs up. Making people happy is a beautiful thing.”
Anderson can be seen in the afternoons on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays strumming blues rifts on his guitar and giving motorists pause.
“Strange and weird are probably a little more effective,” said shop co-owner Scott Arient regarding his promotional strategy. “I’ve had a lot of people come in and say, ‘I saw that gorilla and I had to stop.'”
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