Mike Hunt
Bassist and Scientist
Mike Hunt is the unsung hero of The Illusions. As a bassist and hemp-oil producer, Mike’s life revolves around extracting the essentials, whether it’s groove worthy bass-lines or health-boosting CBD.
Known for his deadpan humor, Mike once described his job as “bottling zen for the masses.” He even had T-shirts made with that phrase printed on them.
Onstage, he’s the picture of calm - until he lets loose with bass-lines so smooth, you’d swear they were distilled in one of his laboratory tanks.
Despite his low-profile persona, Mike has a surprising competitive streak and often challenges his band-mates to ‘Name That Strain’, a game he’s yet to lose.
Other groups Mike has worked with.
Quantum Chords
An experimental math rock group famous for only playing in time signatures inspired by quantum physics (think 13/7 or 23/5). Their career ended when their saxophone player vanished mid-solo during their ‘Schrödinger’s Tour’, leaving fans to argue whether he ever actually existed.
Ska-Pocalypse
This ska band’s "end-of-the-world" motif was all the rage until their signature move, starting every set with air raid sirens, resulted in several false evacuations. Their farewell tour was aptly titled ‘The Final False Alarm’.
Unforgettable Moments
Bassline Bargain
Mike once convinced his band-mates that he could play bass with a hemp-infused oil bottle as a slide. While it worked musically, the bottle broke mid-performance, leaving his hands so slippery that he spent the rest of the set playing one-handed. He still claims it was an “avant-garde” decision.
Bottling a Jam Session
While experimenting with a new hemp-oil formula, Mike accidentally spilled some into his amplifier. Strangely, it gave his bass a warm, mellow tone for the entire practice. He now jokingly markets it as ‘Bass Boost Oil’.