Meet the Bumbys

Photo: Deborah Sabet, District HommeMost people choose to have music at their parties—whether it’s the latest band, or a rocking DJ, people want to dance, and sing along—but lately, there’s another form of popular entertainment: The Bumbys.But who are the Bumbys?  The short answer is Brooklyn’s latest avant-garde performance artists-meets-mystery couple.  They were a hit at Sundance, and then EMI’s Grammy party and most recently at New York Fashion Week.   Neither Jill nor Gil reveals their face, both work in masked costumes and even wigs.  They set up shop at whatever event and wait for front lace wigs you to approach them, at which point they’ll type out a “fair and honest appraisal of your appearance.”For example: “You win hottest beard in the room. Dude, we’re in Dallas. You think we’ve slept together, but we haven’t. But just so you know, I WOULD totally give in, like totally on the first date. You should call my manager and take me out and let me use your hair products in the morning. Stop being such a total girl, Euroman. Overall: when silent, 9.4″Sure, the Bumbys are a fun and quirky tool to attract people to brands lace wigs and products—the duo’s built strong relationships with the Patrón Social Club, Fiji Water and Puma—but plenty, including their producer Viranda Tantula of Foundtrack, think there’s more to their act and go so far as to compare them to Andy Warhol.Next week, the performance art duo will be profiled in the New York Times, and they’ve sworn it’s their first, and last, interview.  They’ll go silent and leave their hipster typewriter collection to do the talking so the only answers you’ll get are those typed out on their Bumby paper.