Gene Dante

• There's no grace from which tramps like we can fall. •

My influences are worn on my sleeve. Compare me. Contrast me. It's all good. My themes evoke a sparkling mess of crushes, tailored shirts, yearnings, cheap beer, pride, faded eye make-up, anger, vintage designer ties, martinis, and a trail of tattered hearts. I am a fighter who will break a sweat for whatever or whomever I love.

• Starring in films that will never be made. •

I've endured a lifelong on-again/off-again injury-laden romance with theatre. It led me to a recent, successful run starring in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Boston 2002-2003). I've also appeared with Ryan Landry's Gold Dust Orphans (CINDERELLA ROCKS, CLEOPATRA); held the title role in Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (the latter, not the former...duh); and toured Europe in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (as Riff Raff). A lotta passion and a whole lotta physical math.

• Free from this storm of hands, lips like quicksand, and gravity. •

It led to a self-imposed immersion in (exile to?) New York City. I transitioned, I auditioned, and I wrote. I recorded demos and recruited (convinced? coerced? seduced?) musicians I'd previously only dreamed about playing with.

• Yo, hear us holler from beautiful squalor! •

My band is a post-glam rat pack who mix up a stiff cocktail of trash-meets-class. IN A SHAKER: Combine bitter, seen-it-all lyrics with smooth guitars. Shake with upright bass and simple beats. Serve in a chilled martini glass and garnish with sweet harmonies. After the Oscars, after the Grammys. Did we win? Does it matter? Something once beautiful in its pristine state, surely takes on a new beauty when it begins to fall apart.