Where I’m Coming From
Compiled by Forrest Preece
Jesse Sublett, author, artist, and musician
- What’s something about you that not many people know?
There were 19 in the class of 1972 at Lyndon B. Johnson High School at Johnson City, 1972, and I was valedictorian. My speech was a clumsy attempt to mix radical Sixties politics and ideas from sci-fi novels that were current back then, but my writing ability wasn’t really up to the challenge. From the podium, I could see my mother crying and thought she was offended by the political stuff, but instead she was crying because she was so proud of me.
- What was your first job?
Dishwasher on the night shift at a place called Charles’ Restaurant on Highway 290, which inspired a lifelong respect for food service employees and wage-earners of all stripes, as well as an ingrained skepticism toward management and the capitalist upper class.
- If you could have dinner with three people – dead or alive, at any time in history—who would they be?
Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Mitchum. Imagine what they would say now, back from the dead, about the world we’re living in? Of course, Mitchum might just steal the show with his smoldering presence alone. If there was room for a fourth, could we invite the writer Denis Johnson? He was so passionate about life and writing. I was lucky enough to meet him, too. Loved that guy.
- If you had to pick three musicians for a playlist, who would they be?
Roxy Music, Rolling Stones, and Howlin’ Wolf.
- Favorite book and TV show?
I’ve got to mention a handful. Books are part of my life blood. Anything by Michael Connelly, our greatest living crime writer. Books that I read again and again include “The Iliad,” by Homer (even more so with the new Emily Wilson translation), “The Big Sleep” and “The Long Good-By” by Raymond Chandler, “The Maltese Falcon” and “The Glass Key” by Dashiell Hammett, and “Devil and a Blue Dress” by Walter Mosley. Everyone should read “A Natural History of Empty Lots” by Austinite Christopher Brown. “An Immense World” by Ed Yong is an amazing, essential book about the endlessly varied means of sensory perception in birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, bugs, and even one-celled eye creatures, written with a light touch, as humbling as it is mind-expanding. Oh, and John Richardson’s four-volume biography of the colossal artist Pablo Picasso. Finally, I humbly submit that my last book, “Last Gangster in Austin,” is a big favorite of mine.
As for TV, lately we’ve been devouring Columbo. Peter Falk’s detective is one of the greatest hero roles ever. Current series we love include Slow Horses, Project Q, The Diplomat, and, finally, Bosch and Ballard, two series adapted from novels by Michael Connelly.
- Most powerful movie you have seen.
Top of my movie list is usually a toss-up of “Out of the Past” (1947), directed by Jacques Tourneur, with Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas and Jane Greer, or Orson Welles’ “Touch of Evil” (1958), starring Welles, Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Akim Tamiroff, Dennis Weaver and Marlene Dietrich.
- What makes you happy?
I’ve published over 16 books, and I think most writers will tell you that the process of writing is not necessarily a happy time, but having written, that’s the key, because once the book is finished and published, that is a uniquely satisfying feeling. My wife Lois makes me happy and keeps me happy. Apple pie with Haagen-Dazs butter pecan makes me happy. Books, art, music and birds keep me engaged with life. I’ve been very lucky to live a life as a musician, author and artist for most of my life, and these days, I’m very happily studying birds and painting them. I’m very passionate about birds. The positive reception of my artwork to friends, fans and strangers is extremely rewarding. I have an art show at Link & Pin here in Austin July 25-August 3 and I’m happy to show off my new bird paintings. I am happiest of all, however, when I’m with our grandkids, Serafina and Mio. They are endlessly fascinating and inspiring and, in our opinion, quite exceptional.
- Favorite place in Austin?
Probably Lady Bird Lake. Go there on a beautiful, sunny morning, and we are blessed with many of them, and you’re bound to fall in love with Austin. Or Roy G. Guerrero Metropolitan Park, my go-to birding spot. Or booth at C-Boy’s Heart & Soul during happy hour or the bar at Vespaio, both on South Congress.
- Favorite restaurant and watering hole
Hands-down, it’s Vespaio. The people, the food, the atmosphere.
- Which living person do you most admire?
Anthony Fauci, the physician-scientist and immunologist is a real hero, a great humanitarian who has saved countless human lives.
- Best advice you ever received?
Love yourself so that you can love others, be kind, stay curious, and keep moving forward. I have to credit Lois for helping me adopt this philosophy.
- What did you want to be when you were growing up?
My first ambition, starting around age 10, was to be a famous poet. I wrote reams of poetry, all of it pretty bad. When I was 11, I wrote a not-so-bad poem about a classmate who had been killed in a horse-riding accident which was published in the newspaper and it really touched a nerve in people, including her family. This made a great impression on me and probably sparked my ambition to be a songwriter, performer and author. First step was playing in rock n roll bands in my 20s in Austin, which led to years of great experiences and rewards. And, you know, the music scene created in the late 1970s, including my bands, The Skunks and The Violators, helped put Austin on the map. I’m proud of that. I never became much of a poet, but poetry is still a very important part of my life.
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