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 Actor, Musician, Cow-Tipper -- Jeff D'Agostino has high hopes for the future. You might have seen this easy-on-the-eyes fellow in some of your favorite episodes of Veronica Mars, CSI, Weeds, Without a Trace...Maybe you saw him in the feature film The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang. No? OK, fine, there is his pop punk band The Perfect Victim as well. We'll leave the cow-tipping for later...
Although born in Colorado, D'Agostino made the move a few years back to LA to find his fortune in tinsel town. He dabbles back and forth between music and acting, with both careers just waiting to take off. It isn't easy, but he manages.
D'Agostino explains, "I juggle them like a circus clown. Alternating one at a time, with
dual-shifting focus, while I wear a huge curly, colored wig." Of course, this means we should buy him the big shoes to go with his outfit -- it is only right...
Because he feels the pressure from both the music and acting worlds, it makes his stressors unique to deal with. How exactly does he deal with it and not turn into a local, loony postman? Hmm... "They are both tough careers that require a lot of hard work and
dedication. I get a little overwhelmed sometimes, but I love every
second of it because I can't think of anything else in the world that I
would want to do. If I could think of something else to do with my
life, I would do it. It would probably be less stressful, but not as
rewarding. With sacrifice comes great triumph," he reflects seriously, whilst sporting his colored, curly wig.
On the music front, The Perfect Victim have been neatly stuffed inside the genre of pop punk by many, but D'Agostino does not think it is quite that simple. "If Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, and Fall Out Boy had a baby, we would be that baby's bastard cousin. It's rock, with touch of punk, pop punk, and metal." Outstanding.
When it comes to stage presence, this band likes to get around -- the stage. This requires a little preparation. "I S-T-R-E-T-C-H! If I don't, I am in pain after the show. We have a
highly energetic and physical show, with a lot of jumps, guitar spins,
etc.
"The last show we played at House of Blues. I jumped out into the
audience, moshed with the crowed, jumped over the barricade, fell into
the moat, climbed back up on stage and continued with the show...all
while singing and not missing a note. I had some bruises the next day.
I always do. It just means it was a good show," he explains.
When they are on the road touring there is one thing Jeff misses more than anything. Can you guess what it is? Is it his pet dog? No -- I am not even sure he has a dog! What is it... "My king-size bed," he laughs, "You can sleep in pretty much any position you can think of." Yes, beds are important, especially when an adequate amount of sleep is necessary for a good performance! Snooze on.
There are many frustrating things when dealing with the entertainment industry, whether music, television or movies. D'Agostino explains, "The mismanagement of marketing and promotion... In both careers it
can be very frustrating when a company has a great project, but doesn't
know how to market it, or doesn't market it enough. "
His band also enjoys a bit of tour traveling when he is wearing his musically-inclined, big and fluffy colored wig. "One of the great things about playing music is that it can give you
the ability to travel the entire world. I look forward to traveling
everywhere, including the planet Venus. I hear there are a lot of cool
women there," says D'Agostino. I can vouch for that statement -- I have been to Venus personally and the ladies are much lovelier than those from Uranus.
Because music is an interstellar, other-worldly experience for all involved, Mr. D thinks a unique combination of genres might be in order for future tracks. "I really want to collaborate with some hip hop artists. I don't listen to a lot of hip hop
anymore, but I think a half rock, half hip hop song could be really
innovative and popular. I have some ideas and look forward to having
them come into fruition." We like musical innovation here at ACED, look forward to that ourselves...
Switching gears a wee bit to a more theatrical tone, D'Agostino reveals to us the one actor he would like to collaborate with...and that would be... Mr. Johnny Depp. "I tend to play a lot of character roles myself, so I've always looked up to him," he says.
When he looks for movies or television shows to participate in he doesn't just pick the first thing that comes along (thank goodness). "I look for original material. Something offbeat, quirky and
interesting. I really get bored with the typical cliché scripts or the 'boy next door' roles. When I read The Sasquatch Gang script I fell in love with it. It was really different, funny and unpredictable. I was really stoked to be a part of it."
Of all the things this very talented musical and dramatical clown could partake in, D'Agostino is set on his current path, except maybe for one other thing... "I can't think of anything, other than being a professional cow tipper. It's always been a dream of mine." Well...Moo!
For more information on Mr. D'Agostino, visit his Band's MySpace (Make sure you listen to the track "Loser".) or his Personal MySpace sites.
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