What Do Cowboys, Park Slope Nannies, and "Entourage" Have in Common?
Answer: Hopalong Andrew aka Andrew Vladeck
Hi, I’m Kelley MacDonald, and each week, I interview a fun Park Sloper about their life and favorite things to see, eat, and do around the neighborhood. If you'd like to read these interviews, please upgrade to paid. If you stick with a free subscription, you'll get my monthly emails, plus occasional free emails. Thank you so much for being here!
Hi! How are you? Today, I’m excited to feature singer-songwriter Andrew Vladeck. While you may know him as Hopalong Andrew — the beloved family musician who dresses like a cowboy and bikes to and from his events all over Brooklyn, Andrew’s music career began decades before Hopalong Andrew.
“My singer-songwriter career had been very active until the pandemic when I let Hopalong Andrew take over my life. I'm a musician first and that's what informs what I do as a family musician,” says Andrew. He also has deep ties to Park Slope: “My grandparents lived on Plaza Street West, right on the Grand Army circle, so I grew up going to Park Slope. My grandma would take us to the Central Library or the Brooklyn Museum where we would draw pictures of the mummies. Those were my first experiences of Brooklyn; they were magical. And that magic is still there.”
Andrew talks about the incredible support he gets from Park Slope nannies, his surprising job in the ‘90s, and the local music venue that books world-class talent. Plus, he tells us where to get his favorite slice of pizza in Park Slope and two “real New Yawk-y” food gifts.
Kelley MacDonald: Hi Andrew! So, I know you as Hopalong Andrew, the lasso-swinging cowboy singer who performs all over Park Slope — all over New York City. But you had this whole singer-songwriter career before Hopalong Andrew. Did you plan this transition?
Andrew Vladeck: I didn't even intend to start Hopalong Andrew — I just filled in for the great Lloyd Miller, who asked me to sub for him. And it was actually the Brooklyn nannies who were the ones who said, You should do this, Andrew! And so, I did start doing it because of them [laughs]. I could not do what I do if it were not for the support of Brooklyn's nannies, and Park Slope is home to some of the very best. They're the ones, particularly the West Indian caregivers, who were really encouraging with what I was doing when I started.
The more I've embraced and discovered what my journey is the deeper and richer it gets. This did not start fully formed. It started as a question mark; as me saying yes and here's an idea. I've slowly developed it more and more. You know, I've been a musician for my whole life, and I've played a range of projects. So while Hopalong Andrew has taken over my life, I've had a long journey in my musical life. As far as Hopalong Andrew goes, it's been an organic experience; it's been incredible.
All of us who are trying to make our way in life recognize when things are difficult, and we recognize when things come easily and are organically working. Hopalong Andrew was organically working for me. It was unique, and so I've continued to move forward.
You spend a lot of time performing in Park Slope. What do you love about the neighborhood?
I live in New York City, and I live in Brooklyn for reasons — Park Slope encapsulates a bunch of those reasons. I love the energy level and the vibe of these neighborhoods. I love the housing, the park, the amount of sky. I love the community. In my work, I love interacting with the families and the nannies. The people understand me, they get what I do, and they’re game. Park Slope is one of those special locations that has incredible resources to foster the community that I love to work within, such as Park Slope Parents and Susan Fox. They help foster and create this scene. Also, The Old Stone House with Kim Maier, who curates [Washington] Park and Old Stone House, which, I think, is one of the best community spaces in New York. It is curated so well, and it blows my mind. I've seen parks all over the city, not only as Hopalong Andrew, but previously as a park ranger too. As far as family stuff goes, what Susan and Kim are doing in Park Slope is really unique; it's really special. They are so supportive of what I'm trying to do here, and I'm very grateful for that.
Also, the parents in Brooklyn, particularly in Park Slope, respond to the vintage and novelty aspects of what I do. They can identify with me as a human, as a creative. And many people in Park Slope are creative, either professionally or in spirit, so it's a good fit.
It’s not uncommon for you to do a dozen(!) gigs a week, which is a lot in your line of work. Have you always had a strong work ethic?
Well, my work ethic has been motivated in part by the cost of living in New York [laughs]. And then, it's been motivated in part by the pandemic, which really took my legs out from underneath me for a few years. So, I'm working hard to catch up, especially as I am funding a new record, which is a huge project. I feel like people shouldn't work themselves like crazy though; people need to have a work-life balance. I've erred on the side of work a little too much lately, and I will be pulling that into balance later in the year, once I get over a certain hurdle. This will be my first full year not affected by pandemic closures, so that's really good. [Ed. note: Andrew shares his schedule and updates on Instagram.]
Congrats on your forthcoming album! What can you tell us about it?