Niko profile picture

Niko

I've been to Sugartown, I shook the sugar down

About Me

Born Athens, Greece 1977, named in memory of my uncle Nikos Frangos. Raised and currently residing in southeast Michigan, USA. Among other things, I specialize in 1930's-style swing rhythm guitar, which I do in Gino Fanelli's Red Hot Sugar Daddies (f/k/a Gypsy Strings of Detroit) and my own Detroit Swing Trio featuring Wendell Harrison--check out the band profiles to see where we'll be. I'd love to see you there...

My Interests

CULTURE

I'd like to meet:

"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." -- Thomas Jefferson

Music:

1920's/30's Acoustic Blues; Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens; Billie Holiday; Django Reinhardt; Rev. Gary Davis; Dylan; Otis Redding; Jimi; Velvets; MC5; Stooges; Bob Marley; '70's Ramones; early Clash; lots more....

Movies:

Rockers; City of God; Big Lebowski; O Brother Where Art Thou; Wild at Heart; From Hell; M; Network; Coal Miner's Daughter; Harlan County, U.S.A.; Music Documentaries; Filmmakers: Fellini, Kubrick, Scorcese, Stanley Kaufman, Wes Anderson

Television:

The Johnny Cash TV Show, Sopranos, Deadwood, The Wire

Books:

Herman Hesse; Nikos Kazantzakis; Ayn Rand; Noam Chomsky; Earnest Hemingway; W. Somerset Maughm; Marcus Aurelius-Meditations; many many more....

Heroes:

Frederick Douglas for "Narrative"; George Orwell for "Homage to Catalonia"; many more..

My Blog

detroit swing trio & special thanks

I am honored to present my new side-project:  The Detroit Swing Trio featuring Wendell Harrison!  Check it out at  www.myspace.com/detroitswingtrio or by clicking the link in my prof...
Posted by Niko on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:04:00 PST

a good quote

Here’s a good quote from one of my literary heroes:  "Two tasks are required of every spirituality and culture: to give assurance and encouragement to the many, to comfort them, to bestow a...
Posted by Niko on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:11:00 PST

a worthy read

If you have any concern for history and the realities of the world we live in, I say this book by George Orwell is one of the most important you’ll ever read.  Best known for novels like "A...
Posted by Niko on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:05:00 PST