While he’s best known today for his role throughout nine seasons and 201 episodes of NBC comedy “The Office,” actor/singer songwriter Creed Bratton also performed in the late 1960s as a member of pop rock group The Grass Roots, appearing on four studio albums and hits like “Midnight Confessions” and “Let’s Live For Today.”

In addition to film work and a book, Bratton is also prepping the release of his tenth studio album, “Tao Pop,” working, as he did in The Grass Roots, alongside members of famed Los Angeles session group The Wrecking Crew.

“The Office” featured Bratton-penned tracks like “Spinnin’ N Reelin’” and “All The Faces,” and his current tour, which arrives at City Winery on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, ties together all of his worlds, featuring music and comedy with a focus on storytelling during a one-man show.

Bratton has fond recollections across the Windy City, performing numerous times on the north side as a member of The Grass Roots at the former Cheetah Club in Uptown (now the Aragon Ballroom), while checking out blues acts like the Paul Butterfield Blues Band as a fan on the south side.

Chicago Concert Reviews spoke with Bratton about Tuesday’s performance at City Winery, many fond local memories, the process of putting together “Tao Pop,” his tenure on “The Office” and much more. Highlights, lightly edited for length and clarity, follow below… 

Well, I know you toured a bit last spring and you’re getting ready to launch this tour. How’s your year looking so far?

Creed Bratton: It’s all good. I’m in Boston. My first show is tonight. So, I’m putting together my setlist here, you know? We’re getting ready to go to Europe too. We’re still finalizing the last little bits. I can always go to Ireland and England – I’m popular there. But I’m trying to work my way onto the continent. So, hopefully, that’s going to be happening this spring. We’ll see. I’ve got a movie coming out that I’m going to be working on with Jonathan Banks from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” That will be up in Minnesota this summer. I also finished a couple of short films. 

How do you approach the process of curating a performance like this that draws from music, your acting roles and your real life?

Bratton: Well, it’s always very puzzling. I’m not even sure who I am! People always say, “But you’re playing yourself…” Maybe a little bit. But not entirely, you know? I’m really nothing like the guy from “The Office.” He was a character, even though I wrote that character myself. If I’m on stage performing, like at City Winery, telling my stories to the audience, it could easily be [in front of] a camera instead of the audience. You could be filming it too at the same time. It’s pretty close to the same thing. Music, you’re playing and singing of course – but you’re still telling a story. You’re still emoting and conveying emotion and telling a story to the audience (or the camera).

This is more personal. You’ll hear me tell my stories from the Grass Roots days, my days in Europe traveling before the Grass Roots and, of course, “The Office” and what’s happened since. In between, I do songs from my albums.

Any fond memories that stick out for you over the years in Chicago?

Bratton: Well, The Grass Roots used to play this club called The Cheetah with The Chambers Brothers. We toured with them a lot. We had some great shows back then in Chicago. Of course, it’s a great city. They dig their music. I remember when I first came there – god, it had to be 1967 or ‘68 – but we went down to the south side and we saw the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. I saw Mike Bloomfield play. I went, “Well, I shouldn’t even play guitar.” Because he was just blisteringly hot. Amazing. That was a great band. 
Great music comes from Chicago. I love it.

Speaking of the blues, have you ever visited the old Chess Records building? That building is actually still there… 

Bratton: No. I haven’t been in there yet. Didn’t the Stones go record there? 

They did. I know they recorded “2120 South Michigan Avenue” there. The instrumental.

Bratton: It’s got that sound – that one mic in the middle of the room practically. Not a whole lot. Not like they mic them today – where they mic the back of your neck to get a sound.

I’ve read that you’re working on a new album. How is “Tao Pop” shaping up?

Bratton: I’ve been working with the multi-Grammy Award-winning [producer/audio engineer] Dave Way, who’s worked with Sheryl Crow and Pink. So many people. And my friend Dylan O’Brien produced this album. So, this is my tenth studio album and my fifth with Dave and Dylan. After all of these years, I’ve got my pick of the L.A. musicians now that can get up to the studio. Dean Parks and people that are still alive from The Wrecking Crew will come up and play with me. It’s pretty nice. It’s an enviable position for me with the access of people that I have to work with. 

I have what I think are really interesting concepts for my albums. I usually use a different artist, talk with them and see what we can come up with. This one, I’m very, very happy with. You’ll see it. It’s coming out. It’s me reaching out to these two AI robots handing me their baby – and the umbilical cord is still connected to the mother. What this means? Your guess is good as mine! But, it’s what I saw when I was meditating. So, I said, “Well, I’m not gonna second guess it. Let’s do that. That sounds cool.”

You mentioned The Wrecking Crew, who backed The Grass Roots and so many others in the studio. What was it like watching musicians like that, who could play virtually anything, apply their craft?

Bratton: Dunhill Records did give us a shot. On the “Feelings” album, we did [play] everything ourselves. We played it all. People liked the album. But it was more of a garage band sounding thing. There was still some cool stuff on there though that I really like. That was a lot of fun. But it wasn’t the blockbuster hits. So, rather than work with us a little bit, they decided, “Forget it. We’ll just use you to sing.” I thought they could’ve spent a little more time. In retrospect though, it worked out right – for me.

In syndication and on cable, “The Office” has continually exposed you to a new audience now for almost 20 years. That’s not something most artists get to experience. How gratifying is it to see that play out?

Bratton: It’s astonishing. I’m kind of like a big deal on TikTok – 4.7 million watching my stuff, you know? I have to protect myself in L.A. from the screaming fans. The kids start screaming. It’s kind of nuts! I don’t know why. But that’s not your problem. My fame is not your problem! (Laughing) My songs “Spinnin’ N Reelin’” from the karaoke party [episode] and “All The Faces” from the finale. Those are still downloaded a lot! Those songs actually went viral. It’s remarkable! I wouldn’t be out touring at my age playing for people and doing what I do if it hadn’t been for “The Office” opening that door – again.

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Creed Bratton performs at City Winery on Tuesday, January 23. For additional details, visit CreedBratton.com and CityWinery.com/Chicago.