Jack from Dead Poet Society.

Jack is my friend. You know, like an actual friend, which isn’t easy to come by as an adult. When you’re a kid, you can just say, “Hey, you’re neat. Wanna play?” But as an adult, speaking that way would make you sound unhinged, even if you secretly want to.

And I don’t mean friendly with a nod in passing – I mean friend. When we’re in the same city, we make time—hanging out, catching up on everything missed. We share the deeper parts of ourselves. Some conversations stretch long, treading lines far beyond the surface. Sadness, tragedies, hopes, and desires spill out with abandon. It’s rare, that kind of honesty, but when it happens, it reminds me how incredible it is to be human—to feel, to connect, to be alive.

Jack stands apart from other young men his age. He sees the world with an insight that belongs to someone much older—someone life has grabbed by the collar and shoved around. He’s honest, painfully aware of his surroundings, and, in his own way, tortured.

The first time I heard his voice was on a website where singers could be hired. If you had a song or a jingle and needed a great voice, he was the guy. And right away, I knew he had something most singers don’t. That elusive “it” factor people speak about with mysticism and wonder. I’ve heard managers, record execs, and agents reference it with reverence, yet most of them were clueless, empty-headed imbeciles wielding power over who “makes it” as if they alone could discern what “it” actually is. In reality, that so-called “it” factor isn’t a sound at all—it’s a feeling.

And it’s simple: it’s torture. It’s longing for something missing. Not a presence, not magic, though people describe it that way, but a deep, inescapable ache. A way of expression so raw and real, the listener has no choice but to stop and feel it. Jack has that sound. His lyrics and his approach to music resonate with me. Maybe because I’m tortured too—something of a given for a writer.

All great artists suffer from what I call Tortured Soul Syndrome. Unfortunately, you don’t develop it—you’re born with it. You come into this world sensing something is off, carrying a fire inside that never goes out. An unwanted roommate, a jackass squatting in your soul.

People who don’t have it think those who do are crazy. They ask, “Why can’t you just be normal? Get a regular job?”Meanwhile, the tortured artist silently thinks, Because I f*&king can’t! Conversely, why are you throwing your life away, you boring dentist schmuck?

Neither outlook is necessarily right, but I wanted to lay them out for context. I’m sure psychology offers a fix—some Jungian archetypal nonsense about mother wounds… blah, blah, blah. But without tortured artists, we wouldn’t have Tesla, The Beatles, or anything worth listening to, like Led Zeppelin, Radiohead or something more modern like Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

Unfortunately, for many, that torment eats them alive, leaving behind only the wreckage of bad decisions, substance abuse, and broken relationships. But for others, it fuels creation.

Create or die.

Only time will tell which category Jack ultimately falls into. So far, his creations are phenomenal. Listen to Running in Circles and Hard to Be God. Both incredible. I’ll go on record now and say Dead Poet Society will become a known entity. Just give them a minute.

Without further ado, Jack Underkofler…

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

A:  My favorite sandwich would be for my place called Nellies in red Bank, New Jersey. It’s a fat sandwich place, which is a type of sandwich and which they just put the entire meal on the thing. I’ve only been there twice, but I think about it at least once a week.

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom makes?

A: My mom used to make this sausage and grape dish. I don’t know if it had a name or if it was an actual thing, but you basically cook bratwurst in grapes and the juice would seep into the sausages. It was amazing.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

 A: I’ve had a few different best friends over the years all of which I’m still close to, but I think proximity plays a part in that. My roommates, Jina and Christian are probably my best friends. We met all the way back in 2017, Christian’s band used to play shows with my band. I went through a pretty rough few years and he and Jina took me in. Now I live with them and their family, so I spend pretty much every day with the two.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

 A: I think from the moment I first started playing guitar when I was 12 years old, I knew that this is what I wanted to do. My dad got me this book of Bob Dylan songs and I remember going through and learning every single one it’s interesting because I think my dad always wanted me to be a doctor, but looking back on it, he couldn’t help but raise an artist. He used to make me write poetry and pairing that with guitar playing and a love for Bob Dylan kind of ensures that you’re going to write music.

 Q: How did you pursue it?

A: For the first couple of years, all I did was learn songs. Then one year when I was in high school, I felt that if I didn’t start writing music, I never would so I wrote a song in a night and played it for my friends the next day. They were pretty amazed, and I loved that feeling so I kept chasing that feeling. When I was getting close to graduating high school, I had no idea where I was going to go. I knew I wanted to pursue music, but I didn’t think that that was an actual possibility. I gave myself a choice of fate really, I applied for one Music school and told myself that if didn’t get in, I would go join the military. I got in.

 Q: Did you have a mentor or mentors? Who were they and what did they do for you?

A: I had a couple mentors in high school, my guitar teachers. One in particular was only my Guitar teacher for a few months, but I thought he was just so cool, and I thought I wanna be like him. His name is Tom Stanley. He would always be jamming when I came into class and would have a riff of the day on the board, that was how I got introduced to classic rock. When I got to college, there were a few professors that were massive inspirations for me. It’s weird because I would rarely talk to the professors that actually pertain to my Focus which was Guitar and voice. They were people that had done things that seem so unattainable at the time, and I noticed that they had a similar mindset regardless of the field that they ended up succeeding in. I think that’s what drew me to them.

 Q: What do you dream of doing or are you already doing it? If so, what is the goal? 

A: It’s a tough question to answer because I am doing what I’ve always dreamed of doing. However, continuing to dream keeps me going so in that regard, I’m not doing that yet the growing up was to be able to share my feelings and thoughts with other people and find, the ones that felt the same as me. I’m doing that now it’s pretty incredible to think about for me. You got so lost in the weeds though it’s kind of hard to see that sometimes. I’d like for that to keep growing, but I’m pretty proud of how far I’ve come

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

 A: I think he’d be in as much disbelief as me that it’s actually working.

 Q: If life was a person, what would you say? 

A: I’d ask him to ease up on the perspective building experiences lol. Probably tell him that I appreciate the path and the challenges I’ve been given because they’ve made me a strong person, but maybe a few months of smooth every once in a while, road would be a nice change of pace to recalibrate.

 Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?  

 A: probably a telepathic ability to read people. I think that the way people treat each other is so determined by a lifetime worth of compounded experience and being able to see that as you interact with somebody, I think would change the way people treat each other drastically.

 Q: Do you believe God is real?

A: No

            If yes, then how does that belief help craft a better society?

            If not, then how do you think we can craft a better society?

A: I think that God is just a culmination and personification of what we naturally feel as people. There’s an inherent nature in all of us to know right from wrong. I think that people wanted an answer for that inherent nature, a foundation in which to put that into tangible form so they created the idea of God. I think that where they God or without a God, as long as those inherent principles are taught, that helps build a better society.

Q: Do we still need religion?

A: I think that people should do or believe whatever brings them fulfillment. The idea of “needing” is determined in individual to individual in our time. As long as that religion doesn’t have legal authoritative control it is fine. I think that governments in the past needed religion as a form of control and self-censorship. It was an assurance that you could maintain authority over an entire region because governments lacked the ability to maintain power from a distance. In that regard, I don’t think we need religion anymore.

Q: How is society getting things right?

A: I think that the overwhelming amount of information that is shared, globally between people i.e. thoughts, ideas, etc. has brought a human element to unfamiliar cultures and languages. There are downsides to that kind of access, but I think that that one is overwhelmingly positive.

 Q:  How do we see others as equal of the same life that we wish for ourselves?

A: I think approaching every individual you meet with the same level of respect that you would show yourself is fundamental in that regard. The life that somebody’s born into does not determine who that person is, although it may greatly influence it. The saying “there but for the grace of God go I” should always be the place you start mentally.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

A: I do. People are natural problems, solvers, and where there is a problem there are people trying to solve it. We are inherently imperfect, but we strive for perfection. That is what humans do. The sum of that dedication for better has gotten us this far; we can save people’s lives through medicine, we can understand the universe in which we live through science, we can better understand each other through art and philosophy, and that undying curiosity for what’s next will never go away.

Q: What do you think happens after we die?

A: I don’t know, and I don’t have control over it so all I can do is focus on this life and make sure that I live it to the best of my ability. Whatever it is, I know it will be peaceful.

 Alternate practical question:

 Q: What is a -practical- thing that works for you? For example, I can’t find a good razor. So many products just don’t live up to their advertising.  

 Exercise. It’s a way for me to meditate. I work out very intensely so that it consumes all of my focus. There’s something about putting yourself in a stressful and painful state and finding calm there. It feels as if I’m fighting entropy, and the result is a healthier body of mind.

Jason McMaster – Dangerous Toys

I first saw Jason performing with his band Dangerous Toys years ago in Austin at the now defunct Backroom. They had a couple of hit songs, were an MTV darling, and, to this day, continue to be part of the festival circuit. I’ve since seen him a number of times and he still gives it his all, sounds great and appears to love it. I’ve rarely seen a man his age sing a two hour headline set with ease.

 And odds are, if you’re reading this, then I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know about Jason. But there’s more to him than that.

 So, I’m going to pause here and share an observation wrapped in a minor tangent…

 There are funny rules in the universe that when followed work out. Generously giving money, for example. It always comes back to the giver in a multitude. The supposed Golden Rule is another one. You know the quote, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I say supposed because I struggle with that one. I’ve known folks who are accustomed to being treated poorly and they will treat you just as rotten no matter how nice you are to them. So, I don’t lean into that one too much. Rather, I prefer “as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” I don’t know if King Solomon intended that to be the base for self-help as James Allen did, but I do believe that outlook is the strongest determining factor in success or failure in life.

 In that sense, I suspect that, reality is up for grabs.

 And so, when you look at life with optimism, which I’ll add, takes courage, and you combine it with talent then your success is likely a given.

 Jason McMaster epitomizes that.

 Even to the extent that his contemporaries have taken notice. As a consequence, he has become the go-to lead singer for hire for such bands as Accept, Armored Saint and Dirty Looks. And near as I can tell, in Austin he sings for nearly everyone.

 And I haven’t seen many genuine music lovers, who also perform. At some point burn out or misery creeps in. I guess with enough time that thing you loved dies. I’ve seen it repeatedly. Given the few musicians, who are actually successful, you’d think they’d be more appreciative. But it’s such a hard life, even if you’re famous.

 But Jason is a beast of his own making. It’s almost bizarre to see such enthusiasm for his craft.

 And in the great country of Texas, Jason is a local legend. He always has a smile, something good to say and more energy than you’d expect. And I wish that I knew him better, but I don’t. I’m often invited to a breakfast with him and a few other friends, but I don’t make it as much as I’d like. When I do the conversation is always interesting, the camaraderie warm.

And here’s a final funny thing I’ve noticed about Jason. I’ve never heard him say a negative word about anyone…ever. I’m telling you, it’s bizarre…and so very welcome.

 Without further ado…Jason McMaster.

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

– Actually, a great question. As far as store bought sandwiches, Thundercloud can make it however you like. Same with Subway, but, Subway bread has always been a bit “chewy”. I like tuna fish, with ranch dressing and diced jalapenos, with bacon. Delicious. At home, a good turkey sandwich, with mayo, mustard, pickles, cheddar cheese, bacon on toasted bread, is fantastic. Simple stuff, but with great tang, sweetness and crunch. By this answer, I do not go to boutique, or trendy places to sample, or find an exotic sandwiches.

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom makes?

– Growing up, it was probably fried eggplant with other various veggies. But it was delicious. She made a pretty good green bean casserole, but I always picked out the mushrooms. I still do not eat mushrooms.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

– He was wearing a Motorhead shirt, in the cafeteria, first day of 11th grade at Austin High School. He was by himself. It was 1980 or 81, Motorhead had just come through Austin, supporting Ozzy at Palmer Auditorium, I believe. Randy Rhoads, the whole deal. Anyway, someone wearing a Motorhead shirt in 1980…they know what’s up.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

 – I got into vinyl record collecting at a very young age. Older brothers, younger brother, who were also way into it. The babysitter turned me on to Elton John, and the neighborhood kids turned me on to KISS. I had Kiss, Elton and Queen records before I was ten years old. I saw UFO supporting Rush, in 1977, I was 12. After that first concert… I didn’t stand a chance. It was the next day, I decided I needed to figure out how these magicians were making magic.

Q: How did you pursue it?

– I was already dressing up like Gene Simmons every chance I had. Mom’s Gogo boots and black leotards made it easy to feel like I was doing it right. I would mime to the records. I would bang out noises on our stand up piano in the living room. My younger brother got an acoustic guitar before I had my own instrument. I would borrow that, and make noise, we didn’t know how to tune it, but I barely remember trying to play along with my records on that thing. Then, my mom and oldest brother, pitched in and got me my first bass guitar. Again, I did not know how to tune it, but I plugged it into my stereo, and played along with my records. I would just hit strings and press on frets until it sounded close and just guess by fumbling around on the fretboard.

I joined a band of older dudes doing covers at age 15. I was kicked out after my first show with them. Older teenage dudes are thinking about girls. I was just crazy about rock n roll. I think I cramped their style.

Q: Did you have a mentor or mentors? Who were they and what did
they do for you?

 – Some older kids in my hood had a working band, they were awesome, and I got to hang with them a bit. But, as mentioned, my brothers record collections seriously put me in the right frame. Lots of concerts in a short time. That was like church.

Q: What do you dream of doing or are you already doing it? If so,
what is the goal?

 – When I met my wife, and realized it’s not about me, it’s about sharing your life with someone, growing old with someone. Period. But, the other question, I’m kinda doing it at a capacity that I can handle. I do not tour, as in I’m not ever gone for longer than a week or two, anymore. Writing, recording, teaching, a handful of gigs at age 60, I’m pretty happy. If anything, more shows on the calendar.

I am digging my life. The goal is to remember, stress is created, stress is not real.

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

 – I am still 15 sometimes. Well, most of the time. So, young me would say to me ” if it’s not KISS, it sucks!

Q: If life was a person what would you say? 

 – Thank you for being my friend.

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions,
real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?

 -I would give it shit for not returning the shopping carts to the rack in the grocery store parking lot. Bigger reminders to just wipe your ass.

Q: Do you believe God is real?

 – God is made out to be a cartoon so we can handle it. I always say, God is love. If you can put care and understanding into everything, that is the message.

Is love real? Yes. But, what the church, organized religions say, is very related. The message is clear, don’t be a dick. Try real hard anyway.

If yes, then how does that belief help craft a better society?

– it might not.

  If not, then how do you think we can craft a better society?

 – A better society is created by understanding others point of view and why they feel the way they do. Hate is taught and learned.

Q: Do we still need religion?

 – I guess so, but when injected into other opinions, war happens.

Religion should be your basic beliefs on how your decisions affect others. If you work towards a safe place for your community, I don’t care what you think outside of that.

Q: How is society getting things right?

 – There is still hope. There are folks that still care. There are non-profit organizations fighting for the little guy. This makes me feel there are still cultural beliefs of tribal community. Leave no man behind, kind of attitudes, without the locker room mentality. There are campaigns against bullying, and homelessness. There are suicide hotlines. There are meetings as well as resources that can help you step forward. This is still making me personally feel like we are at least trying to get it right. It’s work.

Q:  How do we see others as equal of the same life that we wish for
ourselves?

 – What people are really like when they close the door, is the click that they stick with when there is hidden agenda, or even abuse. When we are all at school, or work, etc…there may be a slightly different smile or laugh or, zero of those. I sure hope that the things I like about my life, that I dreamed of and had happen in even small abundance, that the way I work or play with others, is of the way I hope they would dream the same realities, have similar beliefs for the cause. This is as only as equal as I would hope to expect.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

 – These questions have your answer throughout my response. In a word. Yes. I get to pretty much do what I want. I have been called “naturally motivated.” I feel blessed. My family is mild mannered and lower middle class, with dreamers, but know they need to work hard to achieve anything. It’s a cliche, but, if no hope, than you’re gone.

Q: What do you think happens after we die?

 – That’s up to your legacy. How you treated people and yourself. If you shared, and smiled, you will live forever. I will say, we are dust and dirt, so, it is all up to us to bring something to someone else’s table.

Alternate practical question:

Q: What is a -practical- thing that works for you? For example, I can’t
find a good razor. So many products just don’t live up to their
advertising. 

– You have high standards, lol. A practical thing can be converse tennis shoes, I would hope. Vans also work very well for me. I do not wear out shoes fast, they last a few years. Light on my feet, I guess.

Ian Moore

If you call Texas home and have never heard of Ian Moore, you may as well hang your hat under a rock. Ian has been playing guitar better than most for as long as I can remember.

His self-titled record, Ian Moore is a must. I quite like the song Blue Sky because I find the lyrics touching. But there is a song on a more recent record that really gets me going. It’s called Lords of Levee. Check out the lyrics to the chorus.

Say everything that their talking about…

With their defensive and their righteous shouts to the skies.

And it’s easy when you’ve got a crowd…

When your voice can rise up to the sound of the times.

Fantastic! That one gives me chills and it’s insightful too.

I asked Ian which record is his favorite and in his own words, “I am fondest of the 3 mid period records. To me, they are one in an arc. ‘Luminaria’, ‘To Be Loved’ and ‘El Sonido Nuevo’.”

The last time I saw Ian was at the celebration of life for a dear friend who’d unexpectedly passed in 2019. It was a sad day, but Ian reminded me of a funny incident from years prior. We ran into each other when I was on tour with Macy Gray. Ian was an attendee along with his brother at an open-air festival called Bumbershoot in Seattle. Macy was on a co-headline bill with the Roots, who were growing quite popular at the time. Unfortunately, the Roots decided to double book themselves that night. Meaning that they had two commitments at the exact same time.

Imagine paying good money to see your favorite band, sweating in the sun all day, surrounded by thousands of other anticipating fans and the band doesn’t show up. We thought for sure that a riot would ensue, because instead of the Roots it was their crew who were scheduled to play the show.

Bad call!

The moment Macy was done performing I told Ian and his brother what was going on and, we agreed that we should get back stage…and fast. So, we stepped into a sea of expectant fans with little time to get clear of them before they got wind that the Roots were not there.

The audience was huge, so getting through them wasn’t easy. Imagine one of those over-the-top Lord of the Rings moments surrounded by a gazillion mindless Orcs. You know the phrase, “you shall not pass.” Alright maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but you get the idea.

Once on stage, we looked out into the massive audience moments before the Roots or rather fake-Roots aka their crew began to play.

Ian had described the entire event as, “surreal.” Macy and I shared an anxious look that said, “oh boy. Here we go.” And here’s the odd thing. Despite a sea of anxious teenagers waiting all day in the sun to see them…to my everlasting relief, nothing happened. Yep – you got it. Don’t ask me how they pulled that off, but they did. What a ruse…or perhaps a Christmas miracle in July. I don’t know, but thank goodness no one was hurt. Ha – maybe they were mindless Orcs after all. Alright, that’s harsh. I’ll take it back…kinda.

Anyway, enough of story time. Let’s get back to why we’re here – Ian Moore. We could talk about his skills until we’re blue “pun intended” in the face, but I’m not interested in that. I figure that anyone who can write lyrics like Lords of Levee has something interesting to say about the world and finding a better way. A better way of what, you ask. Well, I’d say at this point…just about anything, or rather everything. The news, for example, is a daily blast of what’s not working. It’s keeping everyone focused on the wrong things.

Personally, I’d like to hear a better spin on the world and look for what is working. I thought that I’d start this blog up again by asking Ian his thoughts, because quite frankly I’m tired. Tired of what you ask?

Come on…do you really need to?

Without further ado…Ian Moore.

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

Spending my life touring has put me on the dark side of the sandwich world. Too many of them, and too many bad ones, so I’m not really a sandwich guy. That said, Paseo in Seattle has the best Cuban sandwich I’ve ever had. I know! Sounds crazy, but the Paseo press is insane.

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom makes?

My mom was diagnosed with cancer when I was 7 years old. A big part of who I am came from that moment. She spent much of my life fighting for her life, and I learned how to cook. Before she got sick, she was really into ethnic foods (something I got from her) and when she passed, her molcajete (given to her by Diane Kennedy) was the thing that I remember her through.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

In Austin, when I was in 6th grade, the school district tried a new take on integration, by bussing students all over town. It was a messy ordeal that didn’t work out the way I imagine they had hoped it would. I was a huge music fan and obsessed with the Beatles. I walked onto the bus, and there was a kid with this crazy head of hair, wearing a military jacket. We made eye contact and I sat by him. We immediately started talking, and quickly fell into the most important subject, and a defining lens for me: “Who is your favorite Beatle?” Brady quickly shot back “George Harrison” and in that instant I found my brother.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

Music found me as much as I found it. In Austin, when I was a kid, families would go together to see live music, and the music we saw was the best in the world. We were watching a young Willie Nelson, Doug Sahm, Vaughn brothers, Meters, etc; all in small clubs. It was so deeply ingrained in me from a young age. I was obsessed with guitar and guitar amps, but my mom steered me towards the violin. I took to it quickly and got a lot of attention early on.

Q: How did you pursue it?

I started so young, that outside of a good aptitude for it, it pursued me. My mom found the best programs and teachers for me, and that compounded on itself. I have found that most people that end up doing well in the arts or in sports, probably had a parent or someone close who pushed them a bit early on. You are fighting the entropy of youth and once you get a toehold, if you can find your own motivation, it can be a very powerful path.

Q: Did you have a mentor or mentors? Who were they and what did they do for you?

I had so many mentors. The musicians of Austin were family friends. I learned, first indirectly, and then directly, from them. My father was a huge mentor for me. He was a Buddhist Scholar and a big, out of the box, thinker. I feel like the whole way of approaching arts and culture came from him. I spend a lot of time leaving the civilizations I build and wandering through the wilderness. The wilderness brings you the insight to build new things, but the very nature of leaving the things you’ve built puts you at odds with a lot of society. I am most grateful for that lesson and modeling the bravery to walk that path.

In music, I would say Doug Sahm was probably my biggest mentor. He supported me at really important points in my life. Denny Freeman, Derek Obrien, Stevie Vaughn. They taught me directly and indirectly. Stevie gave me my first guitar.

In high school, I had an AP English teacher, Brendan Kinney, who connected my pain and angst, with literature, and that started a long, deep relationship with narrative fiction and the written word.

When I started playing music and trying to figure out how to make a life out of it, Terry and Jo Harvey Allen not only showed me how to be an artist, but also how to have a rewarding family life while doing it.

Q: What do you dream of doing or, are you already doing it? If so, what is the goal? 

I think I live my dream. It is a challenging dream, but it is definitely mine. Playing music, but more deeply having the opportunity to completely open up and energetically connect to groups of people with love and communion in your collective sites is pretty much the best thing in the world. All the stuff to do it is really challenging. It’s hard to have a family, friends, and health when you live this lifestyle, but the connection is so amazing.

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

I think 15-year-old me would have no idea how to conceptualize the width of life that I live. Things were so much more simple and concrete when I was 15. I think 15-year-old me wouldn’t say much but would listen.

Q: If life was a person what would you say? 

I can’t even wrap my head around that? I couldn’t see life as one person. Life is all people. If life were one person, I would imagine I would try to not talk and see what it-they could share with me.

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?  

Peace.

Q: Do you believe God is real?

Such a hard question to answer. In the sense of a singular being, no. In the sense of a greater force in an abstract way, yes.

There is no greater duality in humans than this. Faith is the single greatest thing humans have, and largely that is based on some version of “God” so through that, with a large percentage of humans believing it, it is real because it shapes our society. Religion, and the pulling of God to an angle that only one belief can own, is the single greatest tragedy in all of humanity. It is at the core of all of the darkest moments in human history.

            If yes, then how does that belief help craft a better society?

If God is an inclusive force that unites all sentient beings, which I think becomes evident when we meditate and open ourselves up to these concepts on an energetic level, then it naturally pulls us to be global citizens who live with a sense of both our importance and our smallness. This is an empathetic, sympathetic existence that gives us the best path for peace and gives us the impetus to continually work on ourselves to be a better part of this deep path.

            If no, then how to you think we can craft a better society?

It’s the same thing. Regardless of the word God, there is a vibrational frequency that all sentient beings are connected to. As we have become more industrialized, we have largely tuned out that connection, but if you study animals and other beings you see this awareness. This “sense” is innate to who we are, and if we work to connect to that part of our being, we naturally become better to ourselves and to the society around us.

Q: Do we still need religion?

We have never “needed” religion. It’s like music. Some people need to have a sheet of music to play the music, but the music is there without the sheet. We need spirituality. Religion is mostly a distortion and unfortunately often built on cultural manipulations, but there is communion and community within those frameworks, and it gives many people a path to faith, which is key.

Q: How is society getting things right?

I think the movement towards thinking in bigger terms outside of “me and mine” is an important shift towards the next chapter as we continue to become more interconnected. We are such deeply tribal creatures and I wonder if we truly can get past that way of being, but if we can, we have the best chance for a deeper sense of living. Looking at race, gender, and culture are all tricky and convoluted paths, but the very nature of trying to understand these is a huge evolutionary step that has never really been taken before and actually gives me hope that we truly are evolving in our capacity for who we truly are.

Q:  How do we see others as equal of the same life that we wish for ourselves?

I think Communism failed because when you try to make everything equal, humans naturally want “just a little more” for themselves. I think it is important to recognize and appreciate where we all come from, and to try to understand those who are different from us. Politics and the manipulation of media to instill fear and keep people wary of “outsiders” is probably our single biggest current challenge to this. Travel and education are key to both appreciating the differences, and seeing the similarity of all people, and in that, we naturally desire this for others.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

I have a lot of challenges, but my biggest strength is my faith. I honestly don’t know where it came from, but I am so grateful for it! I have hope for all things. I don’t know that it will look like it does now. Humans are doing a pretty good job of making things difficult for ourselves and we will be paying this price deeply in the next century. I am concerned about the rise of fascism and tribalism, which both seem to be bellwethers for dangerous cultural movements, and it looks like we will be dealing with a much less stable world in terms of weather and climate, but through that I think humans will still find a path. I really think there is a dual movement happening. There is some of the biggest positive cultural change in human history happening. I see so many people doing amazing things. There is also a darkness that the world hasn’t contended with since the early 1900’s. Who knows which route is the dominant one? I’d like to think that the sine wave of human evolution trends upwards, though through some dark down swings. If we can truly harness tech to work for us, instead of the current trend where we seem to largely work for it, maybe it will be the path. In any case, the world will keep on spinning, and the importance that we all place on this sliver of our existence will fade into the long line of history.

 Alternate Questions:

 Q: What are three things that work for you? For Example, I can’t find a good razor. Because of the need for profit over practicality, I find that many products don’t live up to their advertising.  

Breath is the key to life. Everything I do falls apart if I lose my breath, and when I catch myself losing my breath and fall in sync with it, I am easily my most powerful self. Living a life in our breath lets us know when our body is stressed, when we are safe, or not safe. It is the key to everything.

Vivian Campbell – From Dio to Def Leppard

The neat little thing about this blog is that I get to be a fanboy – a dorky-fanboy, who is lucky enough to talk with people that I admire. Those of you that have read any of my writing or books know that I love music, so I was very excited when Vivian agreed to do this interview.

I first met him on a stage somewhere in southern California – San Diego, I think. He asked me how his guitar rig sounded where I responded – in my head, “You’re asking me? Dude, you’re a legend. Seriously.”

But I guess that’s the kind of guy he is. Humble, sweet and still concerned that he’s doing a good job despite playing in some legendary bands. Speaking of, he co-wrote my favorite Dio songs, The Last in Line. Which is wild, because he would have been a kid at only 22 or so. For nearly 30 years, he’s been a member of Def Leppard, who’s been at the top of the rock and roll world for over 40 years. What a career! I’ll take a few of his years as opposed to most of mine.

Without further ado…Vivian Campbell.

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

There was a deli called Victors at the corner of Franklin Ave. and Bronson in Hollywood. Avacado, Jack cheese, tomato, on egg bread with mayo. Best sandwich ever, in my opinion. Unfortunately, they closed many years ago… I haven’t eaten since.

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom makes?

My mother loved food, loved cooking, and was a great cook, so it’s a tough choice. I’d say the savory rice was a strong contender.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

I met Raymie Haller when I was 15 and putting together my first (real) band, Sweet Savage. Raymie had a great music collection and turned me on to so many of the artists who greatly influenced me. Raymie’s positive vibe still influences me to this day.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

Seeing Marc Bolan and T-Rex on Top Of The Pops in the early 1970’s was a lightbulb moment for me. The course was set!

Q: How did you pursue it?

I relentlessly wore down my parents until they got me something with strings ands frets. The pattern continued all throughout my adolescence and teens; I was infected, I was obsessed, and I refused to listen to the naysayers.

Q: Did you have a mentor or mentors? Who were they and what did they do for you?

I didn’t have a guitar teacher, but when I came across anyone who played I would bug them to show me a chord or riff. After a few years my father realized that I was very serious about this passion and he became my greatest champion and supporter.

Q: What do you dream of doing or, are you already doing it? If so, what is the goal? 

I consider myself very, very fortunate that I got to live my dream of a career in music. My more recent goals involve trying to be a better human.

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

Stay the course and believe in yourself a bit more; your difference is your strength.

Q: If life was a person what would you say? 

Sorry, I know I should try harder.

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?  

Knowledge.

Q: Has morality disintegrated to the point that we now need Yelp for people?

I like people. I believe in them and I try not to give up on them. Some people just need more hugs than others.

Q: How is society getting things right?

With exception to the setback that was 2020, I’d say that we’re slowly following the science more than the fairytale.

Q:  What do people need in order to see each other as equals?

I’m tempted to say a swift kick in the balls, but likely the better answer might be something like less fear.

Q: Do we still need religion?

Hell no!

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

Very much so.

Q: Hot topic of the week: This is an open discussion. Could be politics: Biden/Trump.

Yes please/No thanks.

Q: What are three things that work for you? For Example, I can’t find a good razor. Because of a near unbridled need for massive profits, I find that many products don’t live up to their advertising.  

Modern cars are amazingly competent. Modern drivers are unfortunately less so.

I recommend sleep to all my friends.

Good food and good company make for the best moments.

 Alternate Questions:

 1:  Do Americans have the right to complain about immigration?

No.

2: What would you say to someone just starting out?

Work towards being comfortable in your own skin.

Bass Player – Leland Sklar

I’ve known about Leland Sklar my entire adult life.  Even so, I googled him and there is a mountain of info. So, I’m not going to tell you how great of a musician he is or how successful he’s been. You can find that out for yourself. I’m generally not interested in those kinds of interviews anyway, so I don’t ask questions regarding career or technique or comments loosely concealed as ego baiting. Instead, I am more interested in what a person, like Lee, thinks about the world that we all share.

That we all share!

He said several things along the lines of – unity within diversity is a must in order for humanity to survive. And I agree with him.

I will say that the sheer number of recordings that he has played on is staggering. And whether you know it or not, you’ve been listening to him your entire adult life, from James Taylor to Phil Collins to Vanessa Carlton.

Without further ado…Lee Sklar.

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

My favorite sandwich used to be the Rueben at the Carnegie Deli in NYC, but I have not eaten meat in many years now so that is out. Not sure what to say at this point.

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom makes?

My mom has passed away but back in the day she made a great meat loaf. Again, that would be an issue now without eating meat.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

In college……………. married her!

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

I always wanted to play music. I studied piano starting at 5 years old. Have never stopped. Changed to bass at 12 years old when I entered junior high school and there were many pianists, but they needed an upright bassist.

Q: How did you pursue it?

By doing it every day…. when I was a kid, I was not pursuing it. I was just doing it. As an adult I focused on it as my profession.

Q: Did you have a mentor or mentors? Who were they and what did they do for you?

The only person that I would have considered a mentor was my junior high school music teacher. He is who brought me to the bass and got me started with it. His name was Mr. Ted Lynn. You can never underestimate the importance of great teacher. Many influences have come into my life, but he is who I would consider a mentor.

Q: What do you dream of doing or, are you already doing it? If so, what is the goal? 

I have been living my dream for over 50 years now and I have no intentions of slowing down. I am fortunate to do what I love and with people I deeply care about. I pinch myself every day knowing this and still get excited when the phone rings and there is a new gig.

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

Bitchin’…. you did it!

Q: If life was a person what would you say? 

Love what you do and do what you love….

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?  

Compassion for each other….

Q: Has morality disintegrated to the point that we now need Yelp for people?

So much is in danger of disintegrating it goes far beyond YELP…we are living in very difficult times.

Q: How is society getting things right?

When people focus on what we need for humanity as a whole they are then getting it right but it’s becoming rarer and rarer these days. Polarization is killing us.

Q:  What do people need in order to see each other as equals?

Open eyes and open hearts. Understanding that diversity is what makes each of us special and to embrace that rather than using it as a wall to separate us.

Q: Do we still need religion?

I have never felt we need religion.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

Absolutely. If not, why go on? It is a great challenge but we for the sake of humanity should be up to it.

Q: Hot topic of the week: This is an open discussion. Could be Gay marriage or Confederate flag, Donald Trump, for example. 

Right now, the hot topic is saving humanity from this deadly virus that is plaguing the planet.

Q: What are three things that work for you? For Example, I can’t find a good razor. Because of a near unbridled need for massive profits, I find that many products don’t live up to their advertising.  

Music, friendship and animals……….

 Alternate Questions:

1:  Do Americans have the right to complain about immigration?

The only Americans who are not immigrants are the indigenous people who were here before any European set foot on this land. Our history is stained with so much misery and horror towards other people we have little to be proud of when talking about immigration. Diversity makes the world a better place as far as I am concerned and to narrow that down lessons us as a people and a species. So much hate and fear are killing us.

2: If our value system is based on scarcity then what of a human life, now that the population is in the billions?

I do not know if scarcity is what things are based on. There is an arrogance of the human being that this magnificent orb in space is here just for us and everything else on this planet is here for our needs. We will eventually be removed from life here for we are terrible custodians, but the world will go on and probably be a far better place without our inability to co-habit this world. Things could change for the better, but I see little sign that this happening on a scale necessary to save our time here.

3: What would you say to someone just starting out?

Do your very best to be a good person and find something that brings you joy and do it to the best of your abilities.

Record Producer – Matt Wallace

Some folks are born with fire in their bellies. You might not recognize it at first, as some part of you screams out at the continual injustice in the world, but for some, it’s always there. I suspect that if there’s a God it’s that feeling you get when your soul rages against humanities inhumanity. If there isn’t, well…it’s probably the same.

The nightly news is a constant rerun of atrocities, a Syrian boy washes up on a shore dead, Darth Cheeto once again spits on a less fortunate group. The list could go on indefinitely.

Personally, I don’t know how anyone lives in this world and doesn’t want to punch society in the face, with a Hulk hand…at least from time to time. I guess that too many people have let those feelings quietly die or traded them for comforts. I know those feelings well, because I have them and they never let up. Always stalking in the corners of my mind ready to pounce out of a hidden closet of forgotten dreams or things left undone. I call it tortured Soul Syndrome and I suspect that Matt Wallace has it too. I don’t know him personally and I wish that I did, but I know him from the music that he’s helped to create and I suspect he’s has a plethora of fire in his belly.

Matt has produced some of my favorite music including Maroon 5, Andy Grammer and of course Faith no More. Great artists that you should listen to right now. Speaking of music…computers and committees make most of it and I hate that! Consequently I think of current music as sonic-representations-of-square-boxes, but I digress.

One of the things that’s impressed me about Matt’s approach is that he believes vibe and performance are the only things that really matter. In other words…things that make you feel. I love that!

I find him to be an intelligent and thoughtful person, who has empathy for his fellow human beings. While digging around, I found some of his wisdom, “The right song at the right time will make somebody make a decision to maybe stick around a day longer. Music at it’s best can be a source of change.”

I find great comfort in that. I’ll wrap myself up in those words tonight and sleep peacefully.

Without further ado, Matt Wallace.

P.S. Even though I’ve presented some weighty topics don’t let the first questions throw you. We’re going to tip-toe into Matt’s head.

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

The Farmer’s Market sandwich at PitFire Grill in North Hollywood. That or any Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger.

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom makes?

No meal in particular as they were all good but her chocolate cake with peanut butter icing was a treat during birthdays.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

In PE/Gym class… singing Carpenters’ songs. Then met my other best friend while taking a Literature of The Sea and ended up living at Stinson Beach in Northern California for a month.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

From when I was 13 years old I played guitar (and eventually bass, drums, and vocals) in various bands. Subsequently, I built an 8-track studio in my parents’ garage and started recording my friends’ music (all while taking a full load of classes at U.C. Berkeley. As time passed, I became an engineer and, eventually a mixer, then a producer.

Q: How did you pursue it?

Sold almost all of my instruments, got in debt with a credit card company, borrowed money from my parents, then built the physical structure, purchased the equipment, and started recording. Eventually built a larger, 8-track studio in Oakland with a variety of acoustic rooms/spaces which made up for the notable lack of professional equipment, specifically good reverberation units.

Q: Did you have a mentor or mentors? Who were they and what did they do for you?

Only one, Dave Porter taught a music recording class at DVC, a community college in Contra Costa County, North and East of San Francisco. He taught me audio basics, physics, etc. After that, I stayed in touch with him and sought out his advice over the years. He regularly told me to NOT get into the recording studio business.

Q: What do you dream of doing or, are you already doing it? If so, what is the goal? 

Sailing. Initially local sailing in Southern California and then up to San Francisco. Eventually, I’d like to sail from California to Hawai’i.

 And, I’d like to continue to help homeless youth in Los Angeles.

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

‘Dude! You became a somewhat successful record producer! Sweet!’

Q: If life was a person what would you say? 

‘Take it easy and be nice to those who are struggling.’

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?  

Peace for everyone. No wars.

Q: Has morality disintegrated to the point that we now need Yelp for people?

Absolutely not. That’s just a façade constructed by society and/or the internet. We need far, far less judging and far, far more compassion, acceptance, empathy, and genuine care for our fellow humans.

Q: How is society getting things right?

Things are getting better, albeit painfully slowly, in terms of the reduction of racism and sexism. It is still horrible but it’s incrementally getting better.

Q:  What do people need in order to see each other as equals?

Far less judgement and much more compassion, empathy, understanding, love, etc.

Q: Do we still need religion?

Absolutely not. It has done far more to divide us into ‘us and them’, to render women as second class citizens, created the false perception of ‘the chosen few’, and given us false boundaries and differences that have justified far too many wars.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

Always. Good will prevail. Society is bending towards fairness and justice… painfully slowly, to be sure, but we are heading in the right direction.

Q: Hot topic of the week: This is an open discussion. Could be Gay marriage or Confederate flag, Donald Trump, for example. 

Everyone deserves the ability to marry. Period. No man-made nor ‘God’-made rules shall deem any section of society ‘lesser than’ others. If one group can marry, then all can marry.

 Confederate flag is the equivalent of the Nazi flag in that they both have ugly histories and I believe that we should move on from the eras that both were known for. But, that being said, the American Flag has quite a bit of nasty business behind it, too.

Q: What are three things that work for you? For Example, I can’t find a good razor. Because of a near unbridled need for massive profits, I find that many products don’t live up to their advertising.  

Love.

Family.

Compassion.

Those three work for me.

Alternate Questions:

 1:  Do Americans have the right to complain about immigration?

Americans, by virtue of free speech, can complain about whatever they want. But, when they start making laws about immigration then it’s time to reflect on the fact that ALL Americans, except for the Native Americans/First Peoples, are immigrants. To say that one group of immigrants is ‘good’ or ‘legal’ and another isn’t goes against not only original American values but, if you happen to believe in The Bible, it says to something to the effect of loving the refugees as yourself.

2: If our value system is based on scarcity then what of a human life, now that the population is in the billions?

Hmmmm. Not sure that our value system is based on scarcity but, what are my thoughts regarding the value of a single human life when compared to a growing human population? We need to better address our stewardship of Earth and its people. There are far too many trajectories to discuss but, basically, slow down on the consumption of our Earth, care for one another, consider ways to stem the growing human population, care for animals, plants, etc.

 3: Would life be easier if racism were accurate?

I’m not even sure how to answer that question.

Are you asking if life would be better if discrimination, antagonism, and society’s downward pressure on non-white people because one group feels superior would make life easier? If so, sure, it will be easier for the oppressors and but even more horrific than it already is for those being oppressed. Life would be easier if racism didn’t exist.

That’s an odd question and ends the interview on an uncomfortable note.

Greetings from the Other Side of the Graveyard…

Good news…I may have found someone to read the audio version of Dragon and Mr. Sneeze: Charli’s Story without it costing a fortune.

I’m not holding my breath, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

In the mean time I reached out to Trever Keith from the band “Face to Face.” He’s a great songwriter and as a lyricist, I think, he’s underrated. Go here and listen to Bent but not Broken. A personal favorite! And, in another tab go here and read along to the lyrics. Even if you’re not into punk rock, give it a whirl. Seriously though, punk is just pop sped up and played by actual people as opposed to most modern pop, which might as well be played by Siri.

Not only is Trever’s music great, but he’s also an interesting guy. Many of his thoughts about the world – life –society, resonate with me. He gave some great answers….

Happy reading…

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

Turkey Avocado Sandwich from Mitchell Delicatessen in Nashville.

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom makes?

When I was a kid, my favorite was Beef Stroganoff.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

At a rock concert.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

When I was about 10 my mom bought me a keyboard from a swap meet and I started writing songs on it.

Q: How did you pursue it?

I played music as often and as much as I could. I was obsessed!

Q: Did you have a mentor or mentors? Who were they and what did they do for you?

For most of my childhood, my dad would work during the week but played in nightclubs on the weekends. He was my mentor.

Q: What do you dream of doing or, are you already doing it? If so, what is the goal? 

I always wanted to write music and make records. I’ve been lucky enough to do it now for over 25 years. There was never a defined goal except, to just keep it up.

Q: What would your 15 year old self say to you now?

“You got old and fat!”

Q: If life was a person what would you say? 

“Where did you come from and why do you exist?”

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?  

Answers.

Q: Has morality disintegrated to the point that we now need Yelp for people?

Absolutely not! You can’t trust the advice on Yelp. Civility has disintegrated, but morality is an evolutionary human trait, which is required for the survival of the species.

Q: How is society getting things right?

By it’s very existence. Although, there is always room for improvement, since the beginning of recorded history, our organized societies have continued to further the progress of knowledge and make life better, however incrementally and tediously slow.

Q:  What do people need in order to see each other as equals?

Lobotomies.

Q: Do we still need religion?

It seems to give people comfort, but at the expense of much greater potential and actual harm to humankind. The cost is too much for some perceived well-being. I think the sooner our world cultures can move away from religion the faster we will progress.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

I have many hopes for the future.

Q: Hot topic of the week: This is an open discussion. Could be Gay marriage or Confederate flag, Donald Trump, for example. 

I think the discovery of the star Trappist-1 and the seven terrestrial planets in its system 39 light years away is fascinating. Now if we could only travel at the speed of light…

Q: What are three things that work for you? For Example, I can’t find a good razor. Because of a near unbridled need for massive profits, I find that many products don’t live up to their advertising.  

My Cuisinart coffee maker, my Sony Playstation 4, and my Gretsch guitars all work well for me at the moment.

Alternate Questions:

1:  Do Americans have the right to complain about immigration?

We have the right to complain about whatever we want, because our freedom of speech is protected. America is a nation of immigrants and it is those people who have come from other countries that define what it is. Illegal immigration is a problem in America. We are a nation of laws and the rule of law should be carried out, or if the laws are found unjust, should be changed.

2: If our value system is based on scarcity then what of a human life, now that the population is in the billions?

A value system based on scarcity is for comic books and baseball cards.

3: Would life be easier if racism were accurate?

Certainly not for the group targeted by the racists.

There is no simple way to describe her.

She’s crazy talented, a little crazy, very shy, and smarter than you would expect.

Way smarter!

I got to know her in the late ‘90s, spilling into the early 2000s, as we toured around the world together. Her record, “On How Life Is” exploded, eventually selling over 7 million records. It felt like we were never home. At one point I frequented the same restaurants in New York and London so often that the owners began to know me by name.

And despite the amount of time that I spent with her, I was always a little intimidated by Macy. I could never put my finger on it because she was kind to me, always asking in that raspy voice of hers, “How you doing today?” Most nights ended with some of us from the tour in her hotel room, watching movies and ordering room service.

But it wasn’t until the end of my time with her that we finally had one of those conversations that made us friends. I had to leave the tour early and I didn’t feel good about it. Somewhere in England I knocked on her hotel door to let her know. After mowing through room service we spent half the night talking life, religion, family troubles, and how to make the world a better place.

A few years later I worked on a Gap commercial where the high-minded production team treated the crew horribly. My friend Tom and I were subject to what we called, “The week that we died and went to hell.” Normally this particular production team hired a different audio vendor, but we’d just finished another commercial for Gap and the clothing company preferred us.

Needless to say there was tension.

So when Macy arrived, the producers paraded her around the set like she was royalty. They expected us to bow down before her eternally funky throne.

It was a dark stage and she didn’t see me standing behind a group of other technicians. Typical of her, she smiled shyly, but didn’t say much as she was introduced. When the director finished his diatribe about nothing-I-would-ever-care-about . . . I spoke up and said to Macy, “What? That’s all I get?” The director nearly went nuts. I’m certain that if he could have killed me with his mind, he would have. But then Macy smiled, stepped forward and hugged me, which completed diffused the situation. Funny thing, but that’s the sort of righteous justice we all dream about and movies are made into.

Nice when it happens for real!

Thanks, Macy…:)

Randomly, I’d run into her around town: once at the same valet. The last time I saw her she was backstage at Chelsea Lately with Laverne Cox from Orange is the New Black. Classic Macy style, she was shy, but warm. It was good to see her.

I sometimes hope that we get another chance to have a repeat of that conversation back in England, because those are the things that really matter. Those are the special moments when a connection is made and you make a friend.

Without further ado, Macy Gray…

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

M.G. Oh that’s a good question. I hate to say it, but Subway, ‘cause I can tell them exactly how I like it.

Q: What is your favorite meal your mom makes?

M.G. Steak and rice with macaroni and cheese. It’s so good. We sit there all day, full.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

M.G. At a club. We were hanging out there…All my answers are so boring … I wish I could say something like “on the moon.”

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

M.G. Just doing it, really. I guess. I came out to L.A. from Ohio to be a screenwriter, but then music sort of happened.

Q: How did you pursue it?

M.G. Going to studios; hanging out. Watching lots of musicians doing shows. Started really loving it. It grew on me. I’m working on a screenplay actually.

Q: What would you say to your 15-year-old self?

M.G. Get out of here. You fucking … get the fuck out of here.

Q: If life were a person, what would you say?

M.G. I’d say, “Go easy.”

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you had no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?

M.G. I don’t know. I hate violence. I’d find a way to give the world a reason to stop beating each other up. I don’t know how I would do that, but I’d take violence away.

Q: Has morality disintegrated to the point that we now need Yelp for people?

M.G. What would that do? I don’t know how that would help people. I don’t know about Yelping people and I don’t know if it would help that much.

Q: Do we still need religion?

M.G. (Pauses) Yeah.

Q: Do you think we need a new religion or should the old ones get it together?

M.G. No, I just think it’s important that you have a personal relationship with God. Don’t depend on your church or pastor to speak for you. Some people really think that it’s their pastor who prays for them. That it’s okay. I personally don’t believe in religion, but I believe in God. You know people make up this shit. Some dude just made up some stuff. It’s just some dude’s perspective. They get a bunch of people to listen to them, like L. Ron Hubbard. [In a] documentary he said, “The only way to make any real money is to start a church.” That was the most profound thing I got out of all that. It’s such a hustle, you know. And you get all that cash every Sunday. That made me think of the old church that I used to go to. What a baller the pastor was. He drove a Bentley, so I can’t really trust if it’s motivated properly. I don’t know. Maybe God is overwhelmed.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

M.G. Yeah, for sure.

Hot topic of the week:

This is an open discussion. Could be Gay marriage or Confederate flag, Donald Trump, for example.

M.G. Trump: It’s been such a soap opera. I can wait to see who wins. The tragedy is going to be when we wake up and we have a new president. You know it’s been like watching a reality TV show. I don’t know. It’s kind of scary. Trump supporters don’t care about what Paul Ryan is doing. Trump just talks in their terms whether they’re racists or not. You know when Hillary speaks, she’s talking about Benghazi and who cares. Nobody even really knows what that shit is. We just want to know if we have a job next year or not and Trump is good at that. I think that’s why he might get ahead.

I don’t know why the Democrats don’t catch onto that, but I think that’s why Trump might win.

I first met Fortune at Chelsea Lately in 2013. For those of you not acquainted with Chelsea’s show, it was made up of a roundtable that was not physically round, with guests talking the funny-ha-ha about current celebrity-driven shenanigans. There were a handful of roundtable regulars, and Fortune was one of my favorites.

Her southern accent reminds me of home and her humor is my flavor of funny. She seems like a genuinely nice person, because she is. And I think that comedians give a voice to all those things that most of us are thinking, but are too afraid to say. They are the clearest barometer to measure how society is ticking; they can clearly spot what I refer to as the “trinity of nonsense.”

News.

Politicians.

Religious leaders.

And Fortune is as gay as the day is long.

…I know, difficult to believe (he said sarcastically).

And I’m going to say something that might sound horrible, but I’m kind of tired of the argument about gay rights, gay marriage, or gay equality. The news is full of headlines that shouldn’t exist. That the Supreme Court got involved is insane. That “we” as a society have to give it any time at all is beyond all reason to me.

Why do I say this?

…because being gay isn’t a real problem.

It’s a fabricated problem.

Children starving. That’s an actual problem. I know it’s cliché, but clearly – the people in charge are still making wrong decisions.

Other made up problems….

Racism, Sexism, War.

Unless we as people give these problems life…

…they cannot exist!

It seems kind of dumb to put that much energy into something that’s made up, doesn’t it? On the other hand, treating folks horribly over made-up problems actually IS a problem.

While I’m not trying to downplay the struggle of the gay community, my point is that they should never have gone through it.

Ultimately, I’m left wondering what we will do when faced with actual issues. Will we have the tools, the knowledge or the wisdom to heal and/or combat a global threat, for example? Will folks still scream like lunatics in the streets warning us that the “Gays are taking over” when they are waist deep in frigid water as the oceans flood our coastal cities?

I wonder…but for now, let’s focus on the moment.

…without further ado, Fortune Feimster…

Q: What is your favorite sandwich and who makes the best one?

F.F.  My favorite sandwich is a BLT.  It always seemed like such a wussy sandwich until I tried one at a place in Los Angeles called Joan’s On Third. I don’t know what they do to that sandwich, but it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever put in my mouth… and I’ve had a lot of things in my mouth.

Q: What is your favorite meal your mom makes?

F.F.  I know she won’t like me saying this, but my mom is a terrible cook. I wish I could say she mastered at least one meal, but she did not. When she did attempt to cook, she always made BBQ chicken. I think that’s why I hate BBQ chicken to this day.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

F.F. I have several best friends. Yes, I’m one of those. And I met a couple of them during my six years studying and performing at the Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles. Some I met in college. One was my roommate for seven years.

Q: When or how did you find what you wanted to do?

F.F.  I stumbled into comedy. I had done acting in college, but I wasn’t very good. Or at least I didn’t resonate with the kind of material we were doing, which was not comedy. But two years after moving to Los Angeles, I decided to take some improv classes as a way to make friends… and the rest is history.

Q: How did you pursue it?

F.F. I immediately fell in love with making people laugh, so I kept studying improv and kept moving up through the Groundlings school. Then I started my own improv and sketch comedy group just to have more experience performing. But I became really passionate about it once I started doing standup. From there I was getting on stage five to six nights a week. I was constantly writing and working on material and trying to prepare myself for when I would finally get an opportunity to do this for a living.

Q: Did you have a mentor/mentors in pursuing it?

F.F.  I had a lot of people help me along the way. I had some incredible teachers at Groundlings, which helped me build a really strong foundation and they made me a better actor. Then I had a comedian friend named Lisa Joffrey who insisted I start doing standup after she came to a sketch comedy show of mine. She introduced me to a standup named Adam Barnhardt who taught a class, and after I completed his course, he let me do 10 minutes a week on his show at The Comedy Store for a whole year. That kind of stage time is huge for somebody starting out. In general, the staff at The Comedy Store was very supportive of me and made me a regular fairly quickly. As I was coming up through the ranks, I was hoping to catch a break, but nobody in a position to give me a job seemed to get what I did. Finally Chelsea Handler took a chance on me by making me a writer on her show and putting me on television and I’ve had a career ever since.

Q: What do you dream of doing or are you doing it?

F.F.  I’ve wanted to be an actor for a very long time, but for some reason I thought I didn’t have what it takes. In college it seemed like the goal for most people was to be a future Meryl Streep, someone who emotionally digs deep and morphs into various complex characters. But I realized as I got older that not all of us who perform want to be Meryl Streep and that’s okay. Some of us just want to entertain people and make them laugh, and the longer I live in Los Angeles, I’ve seen that you can do that and still be a successful actor.  Now I’m proud to say that I’m acting full-time on “The Mindy Project” and doing various guest roles on TV, so my dream has become a reality. (And just for the record, I couldn’t be Meryl Streep if I tried so I’m glad I lowered the bar!)

Q: What would your 15-year-old self say to you now?

F.F. I think my 15-year-old self would be in shock! My parents divorced when I was young. My brothers and I lived with our mom, who was a teacher trying to provide for all four of us on a small salary. I come from a tiny town in North Carolina, and as far as I was concerned, Los Angeles was on another planet and surely too far for someone like me. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I could be living 3,000 miles away from home and actually finding success in a very cutthroat business. So I would tell myself to chill the eff out. Oh, and I would tell myself to stop eating so much cake!!! For the love of God, why do you like so much sugar!?!

Q: If life were a person, what would you say?

F.F.  I would tell them that they are very difficult to understand and full of surprises but ultimately I’m grateful they exist. And then I would give them a big high five.

Q:  If you were in charge of the world and you have no restrictions, real or imagined, what is the one thing you would give it?

F.F.  It sounds so cliché, but I would give it peace. I would make it impossible for us to kill each other using weapons and violence. I want people to be able to go to school or to a movie and know that they are going to make it back home alive afterwards.

Q: Has morality disintegrated to the point that we now need Yelp for people?

F.F.  Morality can seem quite bleak when you look online and see the awful things people say to each other, and all the people who are dying at the hands of one another. People can be so mean and negative. But then I go into all of these cities to do standup and I meet the most wonderful people. They are kind and full of life and hope. They do good things for the world. And that’s when I breathe a sigh of relief.

Q: How is society getting things right?

F.F.  We still have a lot of people out there doing good things for each other. You just don’t hear about it as much as the bad stuff. And if you have any doubts, just remember that you can now buy Girl Scout cookies online!

Q:  What do people need in order to see each other as equals?

F.F.  Everyone needs to quit thinking that their way is the right way and the only way. Not one person is better than the other. Except for Beyonce! She’s better than all of us.

Q: Do we still need religion?

F.F. Religion is so complicated because so many people believe so many different things and wars are started and rights are taken away because one group of people thinks their way is the most righteous and they will do ANYTHING to protect that. I see the need and the good in believing in something greater than all of us; something that gives us hope and strength in the time of need; something that lets us know we’re not alone. Quite frankly, it’s a beautiful thing and should be sacred to those who believe in it. I just wish it didn’t make us turn on each other. Maybe one day we’ll realize that there’s enough room in the world for all of our beliefs and me believing in one thing doesn’t mean your belief is any less valid.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

F.F.  Yes. I’ll always have hope. Otherwise what are we doing here?

Hot topic of the week:

This is an open discussion. Could be Gay marriage or the Confederate flag, or Donald Trump, for example.

F.F.  I just want Donald Trump to go away. It feels like he’s bringing out the worst in this country. The more radical he becomes, the more support he gets, and it’s horrifying. Could he just fire himself already?