The second novel by TSOL frontman Jack Grisham is ready for your perusal: Titled Untamed, the book consists of 10 messed-up-yet-entertaining (would you expect anything less from Grisham?) short stories complete with illustrations by psychedelic artist Scott Aicher.
Sex, suicide, murder, and sex with stuffed bunny rabbits–it's all in Untamed, which Grisham says is still based on his own life experiences.
“[The stories] are kinda based on whatever–betrayal, you know. Honesty and truth and the nature of human beings,” Grisham says. “And what we can be.”
To celebrate, Grisham's throwing a book release show–while his last novel came with a boat party, this time, Grisham is hosting an all-ages matinee with TSOL, the Detours, Unit F and the 405 Pile-Up on June 9 at the Observatory.
]
The best part? Each ticket to the show comes with a copy of Untamed, which, Grisham adds, he'll gladly deface for you. (Can't make it out to the show? Punk Hostage Press says they will announce book purchase details shortly after on their Facebook page.)
And, if little Tommy hasn't yet been to his first punk rock show, this may be the chance for you to properly indoctrinate your kid: Children 15 and under get in free–two per paid parent.
Why? “Because if you're 15 or under, you probably shouldn't be reading it,” Grisham says. “'Cause I don't want them to read it.”
Grisham pauses. “Well, I don't care if they do, but it's totally not for kids.”
I ask Grisham if his own two daughters ever read his books.
“Sometimes. They get to hear little bits of them. Like, the clean part. There are some clean parts,” he adds.
Grisham goes on to describe some of said clean stories in Untamed: Something about a pissed-off angel who falls in love but is bitter about the indentured servitude that comes with the job description.
“… And so he's not happy about it, and he's a real shit, so he tortures some old lady at an old folks' home and …,” Grisham says.
“That's a clean story?,” I ask.
“Yeah! That's kinda clean. They're supposed to be fun. Stories are supposed to be fun and you're supposed to think a bit and you know … That's the whole point of it. There are a couple of clean ones.”
Grisham trails off.
“I mean, I don't know. Shit,” he laughs. “Maybe not.”
Untamed will be published by Punk Hostage Press, a publishing house that stands by the fact that they make zero profit off their books and giving back to the community at large.
[
Meanwhile, Grisham says the movie based on his previous novel, An American Demon, is still stuck in its early stages.
“The status of the movie is like every other damn movie,” Grisham shares. “It's like, hurry up and wait. They're getting the casting together … and they have to cast the casting director! it's all still in motion.”
Grisham is already working on his next novel–or next two novels, actually. He adds that he has the perfect new environment to churn out more books: The haunted, refurbished school house in Huntington Beach he now calls home.
“The house I moved into was the very first schoolhouse in Huntington Beach,” Grisham explains. “It was built in 1900 in Long Beach and then moved here. I live in a one-room school house.”
And, yes, Grisham adds that it is indeed haunted, weird cold spots and all.
Grisham has a few things to celebrate lately: He's also set to wed his fiancee Robin O'Connor (“A gorgeous divorcee with three kids, an iron fist, a sharp wit, and a heart of
estate sale gold,” Grisham says of O'Connor) next week in Santa Ana.
Jack Grisham's Untamed Book Release Party, Sun., June 9, noon with TSOL, the Detours, Unit F and the 405 Pile-Up at the Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd, Santa Ana, (714) 957-0600. All ages. $20 at the door. For more details, visit the event's official Facebook page.
Follow us on Twitter @OCWeeklyMusic and like us on Facebook at Heard Mentality.
