Tic and Tac: Dynamic Duo

I couldn’t resist posting this. I came across these guys in Washington Square Park last week as I was combing the pavement for some street performers and they are most definitely on the top of my favorites list.

Brother duo Tic and Tac have an absolutely amazing resume. They’ve worked with the likes of Michael Jackson as well as the Harlem Globe Trotters, among many others. They’re no stranger to NBA half-times either, but still make time to come out to the street and engage with the people of New York. Here are a few clips I captured from their performance the other night. Not only were they hilarious but the build up to the finale act was worth it.

Courtesy of Krista Golia

Courtesy of Krista Golia

Washington Square Park: Then and Now

Courtesy of Colin's Facebook

If you recall, my second post was on Tony Vera, a New York City and Venice Beach, Calif., performing legend. Now he’s retired, which means that since his time new street performers have taken to the streets of the city to make it their stage. In the 1980s Washington Square Park was the platform for Vera and other notable performers, now the park has become the venue for different performers who are making legendary tracks of their own.

These performers include “The Crazy Piano Guy,” Colin Huggins. I caught up with Colin and asked him a few questions about performing and what it means to be the new talent in Washington Square Park, especially when he has Vera’s big (and fire-y) shoes to fill. Here are a few snippets from our conversations:

Gabriel Aldort: West Coast Native turned Underground Piano Man

Courtesy of Gabriel Aldort

When I started this mission to reach out to as many street performers as possible, Gabriel Aldort was the first to respond. A MUNY performer since July 2010, Aldort performs throughout the subway system playing and singing some New Orleans inspired blues on his piano (His performance is called Galdort Gumbo). A New Yorker since he was 17, Aldort hails from the West Coast where he originally began playing piano when he was only six years old. Now, he resides in Washington Heights and not only focuses on his MUNY career and other live performances but also manages blues club Terra Blues in Greenwich Village.

I caught up with Aldort over the weekend, and we talked music, the coast-to-coast move and the simple pleasures he gets out of street performing:

You Bred Raptors?

Courtesy of Krista Golia

I decided to check out one of the other costume-clad MUNY singers known as You Bred Raptors? The duo, which consists of Epileptic Peat and Zach Schmidlein, claim to be aficionados in what they describe as velociraptor blues. By the time I arrived a crowd had already formed around the boys and cellphones and digital cameras were out and recording the creative performance they were witnessing. (The girl next to me decided to elbow me as well, but I let it slide and didn’t give up my spot)

I took to Twitter to find the guys, and lucky for me, they responded with in a few hours. They were ready and willing to answer some of my burning questions (while staying in character of course).

Tony Vera: Washington Square Park Legend

Courtesy of Tony Vera

A lot has changed in New York City. Our favorite lunch spot/study spot/lounge spot known as Washington Square Park was once the stage for some of the best street performers–ever. The likes of Philippe Petit and Tony Vera used to call the spot their stage for performing acts ranging from the classic Vera fire eating/chair balancing or the Petit slack roping routine. Back then, much more was allowed in the park and people knew what they were coming to see.

I recently caught up with Vera, who now is retired and living in California, and we discussed the good old days:

Theme Song Time!

Like every good TV show, every good blog should have a theme song. I think that no song is more appropriate than “Empire State of Mind.” So here is a tune for your Friday, Happy Weekend!

Courtesy of jayz via YouTube

Xylopholks: costume-wearing, smile inducers

Courtesy of The Xylopholks

For my first profiled performer, I chose the Xylopholks for a couple of reasons: 1. They have some pretty unique costumes, 2. They like making people smile, and 3. They’ve been extremely insightful in helping me in my quest to dissect the subculture of street performing.

The Xylopholks were formed with the intent to perform ragtime music from the 1920s, and of course feature the xylophone in their act. The group, made up of four animal costume clad members that include Skunky, Piggy, Doggy and Froggy, is not only part of the MUNY (Music Under New York) program but also travel around the world in hopes of getting people groovin’ and smilin’.

I recently caught up with lead singer Skunky, or Jonathan Singer, and we talked what’s it’s like using the mean, bustling streets of New York City as your platform and if success will ever find you:

Welcome!

Welcome to my new and soon-to-be extremely cool blog. There will be musicians, dancers and even fellow bloggers featured on the site, so there’s a lot that’s coming in the next few months. I’ll be bringing you some extremely hip and innovative band soon to profile soon, but while you wait, check out these subway break dancers that were posted on Youtube. You’ll never know when they’ll busk a train near you!