By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
September 6, 2009
Chris Isaak has had hit singles (“Wicked Game,” “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing”), acted in feature films (“Silence of the Lambs,” “The Informers,” “From the Earth to the Moon”) and toured the world. Now add talk-show host to his resume, as he interviews other musicians on the Biography Channel’s series, “The Chris Isaak Hour.” Born and raised in the Bay Area, the 53-year-old entertainer lived briefly in Tokyo when he was a college student. Though his hometown of Stockton, Calif., will always hold a special place in his heart, it’s Tokyo that he’d like to revisit one day.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. I have been pretty much all over the world, but my favorite place would probably be to go back to where I came from, my hometown of Stockton, Calif. There is just something about going back that gives you a sense of time, belonging and the fact that the world just keeps spinning. If I were going to retire somewhere, I would have a long list of places. I liked Australia. I also liked Japan. I could eat Japanese food all the time and I love Japanese movies, but it would be a long, long drive to see my folks.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. If I am home for a while and I have a chance for a quick trip, I might head up to Point Arena, Calif., and surf. There are a million corners and coves to try around this area. You won’t need to dress up, but you might want to bring some canned food in case you end up in the middle of nowhere surfing and hanging out all day.
Q. What are your favorite restaurants?
A. When I’m in San Francisco I like to go to Harris’ Steakhouse (www.harrisrestaurant.com). It feels like you walked into the 1950s — like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra are going to be sitting in the padded leather booths. I don’t eat red meat all the time but I go for it there. There is a great sushi bar called Shimo in San Francisco. The owner is a quiet guy who knows how to fish and how to serve fish. The place is low-key with people laughing and the waitress remembers what you had last time. Shimo’s rocks!
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. I take some kind of sketchbook to draw in. I take a very small guitar, a ukulele and a St. Christopher (charm) that has been with me a long, long time.
Q. Where would you like to go back to for a visit?
A. I haven’t been back to play a show in Japan, even though I speak a bit of the language and lived there for a while. It is the one place I haven’t toured that I am really anxious to return to and to play.
Q. What is your best vacation memory?
A. I went to Molokai, Hawaii on vacation only to find out that the hotel I had booked my room at had closed. I was stuck on the island with nothing but a guitar and a bag of clothes. I ended up getting a good-natured local to get me a key to the closed hotel room and I was the only guest at the closed hotel. No pool, no room service, no nothing. It was great because I came to work on my songs for an album and with no distractions I got things done in record time!
Q. How do you try to fit in when you’re a tourist?
A. Be considerate, dress neat and clean. And when you have problems don’t get angry or loud — be patient and smile. Chances are you are the one screwing things up. Actually, I try to use this same system even here at home.
© 2009 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
