NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Modi Rosenfeld -- known as "Modi" to his legions of fans across the the world (just check out his tour locations) -- has a chance encounter on a downtown 6 train about ten years ago to thank, in part, for his skyrocketing success.
Why? Because after locking eyes with Leo Veiga, the pair dated, married, and fast forward to today, he now essentially oversees Modi's career.
With a slew of accolades under his belt -- from being honored by Mayor Bill de Blasio with "Mordechi 'Modi' Rosenfeld Day" on June 26, 2018 to appearances on "The Sopranos" and "CSI: NY" -- the Israeli-born, Long Island-raised performer's trajectory continues skyward.
Ahead of a special taping on Thursday, Feb. 1 of the 100th episode of his podcast "And Here's Modi" at 92NY -- with his co-host, author/comedian Periel Aschenbrand -- Modi spoke to 1010 WINS about growing up in the Five Towns, his Jewish identity, what it was like touring in Germany and Austria (he jokingly dubs it "The Reparations Tour") and what exactly is "Mosciach Energy."
Below, the interview, followed by excerpts:
HIS RISING STARDOM:
Two years ago, maybe two-and-a-half-years ago, my husband began taking over my social media, managing andproducing shows, finding agents, finding social media teams, finding a publicist. And he basically took me into the next level and making sure that a critical mass of people are seeing me.
OCTOBER 7:
The week before October 7th, I had a tour in Israel ... so we had a full tour. Six shows in venues that were so gorgeous and so beautiful in Israel. We were in Israel and we had a flight that evening [of Oct. 7] to go to Paris for four shows in Paris.
We had booked the flight months before ... There was like a four-and-a-half delay, where we sitting on the plane on the runway, hearing sirens, not knowing what was going on. And the plane finally took off and we went to Paris. And people were like, 'Shouldn't we be in a bomb shelter?' It was a pretty insane day.
I'll be going back soon. I'm scheduled to go back in June, and God willing things will be a lot better by then.
COMEDIC INFLUENCES:
I always say Alan King, Jackie Mason, George Carlin ... Louis C.K. is one of my inspirations comics, Dave Attell, Jim Norton are amazing comedians that are around today are still my inspiration to me.
And as for the old school guys, I can say I'm like the last surviving Catskill comic. I caught the tailend of the Catskills and I saw comedians up there that no one's even heard of. And they were amazing and there was a next level delivery of humor and a connection with the audience.
Freddie Roman, I don't know if you ever heard of him, and Stewie Stone, and Mal Z. Lawrence, and the younger generations don't know them.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LIFE IN NYC: WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
We live in the Lower East Side ... I bought my first apartment, and then another one next to it and broke through. The neighborhood kept changing. Mayor Bloomberg made sure that there were big lots and land here that were not developed, and he made sure before he left that they were going to be developed.
I feel like I've moved, even though I haven't moved. I feel like I've moved three times. There were these empty lots in front of our house, and now there's a Trader Joe's, there's a Regal movie theater, this beautiful thing called Essex Crossing.
AND YOU ATTEND THE SIXTH STREET COMMUNITY SYNAGOGUE IN THE EAST VILLAGE?
Yes, that's my shul [synagogoue in Yiddish]. I love it. And if I'm there, I'm usually the one davenining [praying in Yiddish]. It's amazing.
It's Orthodox but not many people are fully Orthodox there. You can go dressed like your are or me. No one care. I've gone there Friday night from the gym straight there.
We have people there who are gay, trans. The rabbi is super welcoming, Rabbi Gavriel Bellino. He's been on the podcast a few times. It's an amazing synagogue, where you can be a proud Jew and be you.
AND FINALLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SUBWAY WAS AN EFFECTINVE MATCHMAKING SERVICE YOU?
That's where I met my husband, on the same train. We met each other nine years ago ... we had three dates, he moved in, and that was it.
6 train between 42nd St, and Astor [Place] is where I think we got off.
SO WHAT WAS THE CONNECTION?
You lock eyes, and you just know this is, 'oh, wow.'
Visit modilive.com or 92ny.org for more info about Modi and his Feb. 1 show at 92Y.