George Hrab

GEORGE HRAB

Best known in his home town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as the longtime drummer for The Philadelphia Funk Authority, George is internationally beloved as the sparkling personality behind more than 750 episodes of The Geologic Podcast. Ranging in tone from incredibly serious to unbearably silly, his award-winning show features weekly musings about science, music, comedy, and life at large.

Also an accomplished guitarist and songwriter, George has written and released seven albums—[sic] , Minutæ, Vitriol, Coelacanth, Interrobang, Trebuchet, and 21812—as well as a full-length, live concert film. His funny, clever, and often thought-provoking songs draw on a panoply of styles and influences ranging from Ellington’s A-Train to Zappa’s Zombie Woof.

In addition to his recordings, George wrote, produced, and performed the live stage show, Occasional Songs for the Periodic Table—a 118-song cycle featuring one tune for each element of the periodic table. In celebration of his 20 years recording albums, he produced The Broad Street Score, a re-imagining of his most popular compositions arranged for string quartet and voice.

George’s commitment to science communication has led him to emcee countless conferences and conventions all over the world, including The Reason Rally on the mall in Washington DC, The Amaz!ng Meeting and CSICON in Las Vegas, The Australian Skeptics National Convention in Sydney,  LogiCal-LA in Los Angeles, Q.E.D. in Manchester, and NECSS: The Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism. He’s been a TEDx speaker (Rethinking Doubt: The Value and Achievements of Skepticism) and has presented multiple talks about the importance of critical thinking, science appreciation, dealing with grief, and popular culture.

With a knack for quick-witted improv and a deep appreciation of history and trivia, George is also co-creator and host of both the multi-generational game show, Boomer vs. Zoomer and the touring educational roadshow, A Skeptical Extravaganza of Special Significance. He has published two books of humorous essays (Non-Coloring Book, and Spiritual Healing & Balance Through Colonic Regularity) on subjects ranging from new suggestions for Pantone color names and the possible benefits of using a metric calendar, to the awesomeness of Elaine Stritch and the repercussions of punching a horse.

During the pandemic, George launched a streaming series entitled Seven Songs with George Hrab, in which he performs and expounds the theory, history, and trivia of seven songs around a common theme: anything from odd time signatures to “secret” cover tunes, to great bridges, 80’s hits, yacht rock, and even James Bond.

Never one to sit still, George is currently working on his eighth album of original material, with a release planned for later this year.