Matt Wong: Reel Big Fish

I love’s me some Matt!

I first met Matt in the mid ’90s when his band, Reel Big Fish, hit mainstream radio with a song called “Sell Out” from their record “Turn off the Radio.” I was hired to mix them by their tour manager, who, incidentally, was Frank Daly from Big Drill Car.

I immediately liked Matt. I was drawn to him because he’s a no-nonsense, decent guy who can play the hell out of his bass. We bonded over music, tone, and art. And like so many tours, there was a breakup involved. So we talked about his relationship with the singer from another band and I tried to listen, lending a compassionate ear, but I’m not sure that I helped. Time seems to deal with matters of the heart much better sometimes. But what I like more than his playing, is his art. He did all the drawings on the RBF records. And he did the impossible‒Okay, maybe not the impossible, but something difficult: He made a fish look cool.

A freaking fish!

We toured together for about two years before I left to mix another band. For a number of years I lost track of him, only keeping up with advertisements for upcoming R.B.F. tours or common friends. Years later he left the band to do the right thing.

Be a dad to his little boys.

When I started writing the first Dragon and Mr. Sneeze book, I had Matt in mind. I was fairly certain that he could translate what I saw in my head onto paper, clearly. And I was right, mostly because he did more than that. A heck of a lot more! He added things that I didn’t see and has helped shape the DAMS world in ways that I couldn’t imagine. He even lent me a bass with the Reel Big Fish logo on the pick guard. How cool is that! You can hear it on some of the songs from Zinnia and The Skeleton Dance.

Thanks buddy!

I am a strong believer that great projects come to life through a group of talented people working together. I’m not saying that my book is great‒that’s for you to decide, but the first three Star Wars movies, for example, was a team project; so was Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Blink 182, and so on. As soon as the parts break up, usually because of ego, the solo projects never fare quite as well. And despite what popular culture would have you believe, a lone, tortured artist pining away his creativity in a hovel or dark corner until… VOILA!

Perfection!

It’s bullshit…

Genius is a team not an individual.

Don’t believe me? Consider this. The Police sold out stadiums, but Sting only sells out arenas. Yes, I get it. That’s still a good draw, but so that you fully understand my point, his audience size is down by two thirds

Do yourself a favor and go here: http://mattwongart.blogspot.com/. Check out Matt’s art for yourself.

Without further ado, Matt Wong.

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

M.W.  That’s a hard question. If I wanted, I could give you the extended version, but it would depend on the time of day. But I guess a BLT with extra mayo. I make the best one. That’s horrible, because I don’t want to come across that way, but I know what I like. It’s just one of those things.

Q: What is your favorite meal your mom makes?

M.W. She makes braised short ribs in the slow cooker that are completely, I don’t know if this is a word, uncshoish. They’re a little bit sweet, a lot savory and sticky. Everything you ever want from a meat dish. Melting in your mouth goodness. Homemade fried riche is amazing and Chinese chicken salad with HER dressing. Hands down any day, all day.

Q: How did you meet your best friend?

M.W. I saw her at a party and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Being the drunk fool that I am, I flirted. And it worked.

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

M.W.  I think it was when I saw my dad pick up a crayon and draw me a picture of Grover and the other of Batman. I looked at that picture and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Yeah, that was pretty awesome.

Q: How did you pursue it?

M.W. I still am. It always seems to be just out of reach, but I’m trying my hardest.

Q: Did you have a mentor/mentors in pursuing it? Who were they and what did they do for you?

M.W.  I don’t know that mentor is the right word, but I’ve had people who’ve been influences. And I appreciate it, but I’ve never had anyone take me under their wing and show me the ropes. It’s been a trial-and-error thing. I’m open to a mentor but never had the opportunity.

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

M.W.  My dream is to be happy with whatever I’m doing. I love to create things. I like the process of creation. I like the idea of taking something and developing it and seeing it in a tangible sense. Seeing it on the wall or paper or a cd or listening to it. So that other people out there can enjoy it too. Am I doing it? Not to the extent that I want to be. I’m trying to work toward that, but there are a lot of walls that I have built and I’m not sure why. The ones that are the most successful at living their dreams are the ones who can see through those walls and break through them.

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

M.W.  Just do it! It’s a horrible slogan that a shoe company took for its own, but those three words in my life are strong. With my mentality and my doubts and lack of ability to overcome those doubts, those three words are the best tool that I have.

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

M.W. I’m sorry.

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?

Shit! Good question. This is going to sound cliché and horrible, but I think that I would give the world an hour of peace, so that our entire existence – everyone at the same time – could experience that moment together.

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

M.W. Ha ha ha! I would hope not, but I see it getting there. It’s a sad state if that happens.

Q: How is society getting things right?

M.W.  I think that well, yeah. Here’s the light against the dark, right? Because of social media and the world getting smaller and info traveling so much faster, we are exposed to more injustice and inequality. Because of that awareness, some people are waking up and fighting against it. And I think that’s a great thing. There are good people in the world.

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

M.W. What people need, it’s cliché, but they need to walk a mile in another person’s shoes before passing judgment. They need to open their eyes and really experience someone else’s life. Everyone carries bias.

Q: Do we still need religion?

M.W. I think we need Faith, but not religion. I really don’t. Faith is internal in an individual.

Q: Do you have hope for the future?

M.W. I do. In my heart I’m an optimist. If I weren’t, I would end it, because what’s the point? I need to believe, and I do, that things will get better.

Hot topic of the week:

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

M.W.  Gay marriage, all for it. Whoever makes you happy, spend your life with them. A person is a person.

Trump: HA HA HA…he’s a character. I think he’s a showman. He’s a snake oil charmer. He’s misguided. He lives in a crazy world and says things just to say them. Makes me afraid. Not of him, but his propaganda. Mostly, that people actually buy into it. Surprises me how many people believe all that crap coming out of his mouth. Not a fan of politics.

Police killings of black people. Absolutely tragic. Being a person of color, I’m Asian, but um, I am fortunate and it’s sad, but I’m closer to white, so I don’t have to deal with it as much. Skin color should never be an indicator of goodness. That a whole life can be extinguished over it is disgusting and it breaks my heart.

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 their advertising. What works for you?

M.W.  Try a straight razor. Well, my wife would be so good at this, because she is so conscientious. I guess as a father of two, reusable containers. Things you can wash and use again. As an example, when I pack my kids’ lunch, I never use zip lock bags. I use things that can I bring home and use again. Great for portion control too. I’ve had the same three pairs of shoes for five years. Penguin shoes. I get them repaired. Craftsman works for me.

More thought-provoking questions:

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

M.W. No. We’re a country founded on immigration. We are a world populace. I would like to live in a world…. if Finland, for example, was better for my family, I would be able to go there easily and live there in peace.

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

M.W. Yes, it would seem so.

3: Would life be easier if racism were accurate?

M.W. Sure, but it would depend which side you’re on. Yeah, it would be simpler, but that’s not a world that I want to live in.