American Wedding!

I was just casted in Gogol Bordello's new music video for American Wedding!!! I'm jumping out of my pants! It's going to be filmed at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Church in Williamsburg, and of course the premise is a standard bullshit American wedding quickly transformed into a debaucherous eastern european gypsy celebration! I imagine it'll be like my every Thursday night with Eugene at Mehanata. Which is something like this..

This was filmed at Mehanata, Bulgarian Gypsy Bar in the Lower Eastside, where Eugene Hutz dj's every Thursday night. By far my favorite party in all of NYC!

3' ante meridian:

South Street Seaport

Wish list:

These are all things that I have really wanted/needed for over a year now and have yet to obtain them. Why is this?! I know where and how to get them, but they're all small investments and just haven't had an extra couple hundred bucks.

Citizen ~ Black messenger bag by Chrome.

Accordion - preferably black and vintage. There's an accordion store in Manhattan called The Main Squeeze, sells new and used. They even make custom accordions.

It's only natural to shave with a straight razor. I've been window shopping on www.ClassicShaving.com for about a year.

Paris is in my near future.

Kraken Tattoo ~ Giant Squid illustration from the original 2000 Leagues Under The Sea. Half sleeve on my left arm.

Anderson Coat of Arms tattoo on the back of my left arm. This is a rough rendering of what I'd like. It would also have a tree at the top and our moto. ~ Sto Certus ~ Stand Sure

Childhood Role Models

The fact that these four men were my childhood heroes explains a lot about myself. Somethings never change.

Tristen Ludlow, from Legends of the Fall. My absolute definition of a man. Scholar, scoundrel, and complete bad ass. One of the most tormented and sexiest characters ever created. Raised by an old indian man and his father a U.S. general. Watches his brother die in the trenches of WWI and cuts out his heart just after it stopped beating to bring home to his father. Breaks the hearts of all those around him, sails the world, becomes an exotic hunter in africa, kills all the elected officials in his hometown to avenge his young indian wife's death, but lives to be an old man till he dies battling the bear he faught as a boy.

Gene Kelly, playing a sailor in Anchors Aweigh with Frank Sinatra. As a kid Gene Kelly was my hero in just about anything though. Incredible dancer and always looked so damn sharp!








Mad Mardigan, from Willow. Ex-warrior turned vagabond/thief with a heart for a peck and a redheaded warlord. With a gold earring , ass-length braids and a sense of humor he's the greatest swordsman in all the land and pretty much defeats anything.


Kevin Kline as The Pirate King in the 1983 Broadway production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance! This is what started it all. Was watching this vhs before I could talk, wore out the tape by the time I was 8yrs old and my ma had to buy another.
Sidenote: Does anyone know that my birthday is International Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day? I tell no tale, September 19th. Look it up.

Rom

Whats a guy gotta do to have friends like these?

Some recent sketches

Doing Business.

Finally did the finishing touches to my business card. Plan to get them printed very soon. What do ya think?

Lockin

As you all know I love the dance. My boys Itchy and Mikey have taken me to a place I thought I'd never know. They've shown me the way and I don't think I'll ever turn back. They're pretty damn good and I always find myself pulling out moves I've never done when I'm on the floor with them. Then Itchy showed me Hilty and Bosch, the Japanese masters of Locking. Then the original Lockers. I'm a changed man. I'll keep practicing, then we'll take it from the hipster realm to the real deal hip hop clubs and start battling. Watch out Shakalock!

Mentors.




The creators of Lockin

Latcho Drom

Beautiful and rare film that I have yet to get my hands on because it hasnt been released in the US. Latcho Drom, meaning "Safe Journey" in the Romani gypsy tongue. Director Tony Gatlif films the travels, singing and dancing of Romany groups from Rajahstan India, Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, France, and Spain. There are no actors, dialogue or narration. Just vagabonds doing what they do. Absolutely beautiful film that makes me think more and more everyday that my heart is from a different time and place.







The old man playing Violin is Nicolae Neacşu "Culai", of romani gypsy band Taraf de Haidouks. Culai died in 2002, R.I.P. I highly recommend Taraf to any gypsy soul. Taraf de haidouks

Cabaret Kiki

She breaks my heart and makes me sweat.

Cary Ann Hearst aka Caramella Guillotine of Charleston's Cabaret Kiki.

The Nicholas Brothers

After watching this Nicholas Brother video with Cab Calloway about 10 times in the past week I figure I should share it. They blow my mind on so many levels. So much style and they look so damn good! I've been window-shopping online for tap shoes..
I want to blow minds.



When they were younger..


Even younger..

Riot in Greenpoint

I've always wanted to be in a riot, two weeks ago I had the pleasure of leading a group of renegade rioters into battle against a stronghold of riot police. One of the most liberating experiences of my life. This was all possible and produced by Zach Gold, incredible NY photographer and one of my favorite directors I've ever worked with. It was a 6 hour shoot and I loved every second of it. He has so much passion for his work and really made me want to match that to produce this incredible shoot. He likes me so he let me have a few of the photos but the rest of his finalized shots will be on his website ZachGold.com soon, as well as photo and art magazines.
There were hundreds of photos taken but here are a few. RIOT
I fought hard.

What are you fighting for?

Pointer fingers and Wall dancing!

The newest craze amongst New York nightlifers.


Amalia I love you

Films that have changed my life..

Gangs of New York
Swing Kids
Legends of the Fall
Children of Men
Batman Begins
V for Vendetta
Trainspotting
Newsies
Anything Tim Burton
Pulp Fiction
Pirates of Penzance
Top Hat
Singing In The Rain
Braveheart
Goonies
Fight Club
On the Waterfront
Dogtown and Z-boys
Grosse Point Blank
Godfathers
Titus
Dreamers
Rocky
Velvet Goldmine
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Hasn't exactly changed my life but I saw 3:10 to Yuma recently and it is unbelievably incredible!

Children of Men was the last movie that effected me to my core. Ridiculously well done and intensely realistic. Director Alfonso Cuarón shot it with the feel of a documentary with amazing sets, handheld cameras, and incredibly long shots. This was the longest shot in the film, 6 minutes and done in one take.

BIRTHDAY PICTURES!

The rest of the photos, courtesy of Jack, can be found on my Facebook. HERE!

Gypsy Sweat

I finally had the pleasure of having a peak experiance of an emotion kind last Thursday given by Eugene Hutz. When Hutz isn't on tour with his Gogol Bordello he is the resident DJ at a small Lower Eastside Bulgarian gypsy bar Mehanata on Thursday nights. Last week before djing he had a special performance with Odessa accordian Alec Kopyt. Craziest fucking party I've ever partaken. Eugene and I stomped the floor with our boots and shared gypsy sweat.
This Thurs night theres a screening of the documentary The Pied Piper of Huzovina, complete with Q&A with Eugene, followed by the possession of DJ Hutz .
Viva la Hutz

Birthday hysteria

Jack and Francesco have the rest of the photos from the monumental night known as my birthday party. They'll be available for your viewing pleasure shortly.