Bachelor Boy Interview: John Bundrick

Some days, my job is really stressful.

And other days, my job is OMG SO FREAKING AWESOME.

On those days, I get to hang out with my (super cute, amazingly talented) friends, ask a bunch of nosy questions and play America’s Next Top Model in their front yards.

(John made me be Tyra.)

(View the rest of the set here.)

Clearly, this month’s Bachelor Boy has extraordinary reserves of patience, not only with my ineptitude with a camera, but also with the bizarre role-playing games I concoct for us. And America’s Next Top Model the new Bachelor Boy is…

John Bundrick!

(Ladies, you can thank me later.)

1. You lived in New York City for a while. What’s the craziest thing you ever saw?

Well, being there for 9/11 was obviously the craziest thing I saw from one standpoint. It was frightening and very sad. The vigils and posting areas for the missing relatives were heartbreaking, but it was incredible to see the city and people from all walks of life and background truly come together for a while. I will never forget the smoke and the smell of that smoke. I was in The Fantasticks at the time, which was maybe a quarter-mile from Ground Zero, and the smoke would come into the theatre through the air vents – I’ll never forget the smell. On a more positive side, I got to see the Dalai Lama in person as he came out of Richard Gere’s townhouse. All of sudden, people came running from out of nowhere and bowed at this feet. It was fascinating to see this devotion to a leader, but what was more fascinating was the Dalai Lama’s reaction: he bowed and kissed their hands in a demonstration of complete humility before them. It was breathtaking, awe-inspiring. He looked like such an innately happy, humble person.

2. What do you do when you’re not playing music and making all the girls in Muddy Waters swoon?

I am currently going back to school to get my master’s in counseling, and that has been a big adjustment – relearning how to be a student. I am an avid reader – mostly literature and books on different religious and spiritual traditions. I usually try to read at least an hour or so every night before going to bed. I don’t really like to exercise other than yoga, which, unfortunately, I have not been able to do in a while. I need to get back on that – it really helps me stay sane. I love food and, when inspired, like to cook. That’s another thing I need to get back to doing on a regular basis. I don’t know what it is about chopping vegetables, but when I put some jazz or classical music on and start chopping, I get really relaxed. Plus, food is such a sensual experience.

3. In addition to your musical talents, you’re also an actor. What’s your favorite role to date?

I was able to play Hamlet in college, and it doesn’t get any better than that. My second-favorite was Mozart from the play Amadeus. I was extremely fortunate to have been able to tackle such incredible roles. I did Mortimer for a year in The Fantasticks in New York, and that was cool to have a long run and be able to see a characterization evolve. But nothing will top Hamlet, and I guess that’s why I no longer feel any desire to act.

4. Tell us the truth about stage kisses: are they awesome or awful?

They really are just part of the show. I haven’t had to do many of them, but it does help if you’re somewhat attracted to the other person. In all honesty, though, you can’t get too “into” them or you will lose your focus.

5. What’s the ideal first date?

I think you have to choose a place where both people can be relaxed and not have to force the situation. It shouldn’t be too long or go too late – if it really clicks then you will want to get together again. I don’t like the “let’s have coffee” route because it doesn’t seem genuine. (I mean, please. You know you’re being watched by somebody at Starbucks.) I can go have coffee with anybody, but if I want to find out romantic possibilities, I want to go somewhere both of us feel comfortable to be ourselves. I hope there would be laughter and banter. I would hope that the person was strong enough to say what’s on her mind and call me on out on anything she thought was BS.

If it isn’t working out, just be polite and move on. Don’t have some “exit plan” set up with a sister or friend. On my first time to reenter the dating scene about four or five months ago, the date wasn’t going well, and she pulled, “Oh no! My sister just texted me, and her baby’s very sick!” I saw right through that! I was happy, though, as I wanted the evening to end just as much as she did. Just be genuine.

6. Besides good looks, what’s something that makes you notice a girl from across the room?

Her eyes, for sure. I can usually tell a lot about her spirit by honing in on her eyes – whether she is guarded or whether she has that spirit about her that exudes her joy and her love of life and people. If I don’t see that, I move on pretty quickly. If she is guarded or judgmental towards others, I immediately know that she is not secure and not happy. My favorite thing about a woman, though, is intelligence – I LOVE INTELLIGENT WOMEN – particularly if they have the gift of rapid-fire, back-and-forth banter. One of my favorite movies of all time is His Girl Friday, and I want a girl who can who give it back like Rosalind Russell’s character. To this day, I have only met one girl who could really do that. So ladies, the challenge is set before you!

7. Where do you like to hang out in Shreveport?

The Naked Bean Café, Bear’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, Noble Savage Tavern – pretty much anywhere there’s good food and music. I don’t drink anymore, so I don’t hang in bars just to hang out. But obviously, being a musician and music-lover, I go to the places where I can hear good music. I certainly don’t look to the bars for meeting women – been there, done that, and the results were never very good.

8. What’s something that makes you crazy? Like, “HULK MAD! HULK SMASH!” angry?

I don’t really get angry much anymore. I used to have a bad temper, and it proved a very dangerous thing for me, so I had to do a lot of work on that and find better ways to cope with life. I recently went through a painful experience where someone hurt me deeply and really tried to push me back into that anger. I found that I could resist that temptation to fight back and retaliate by taking the road of compassion and forgiveness. It allowed me to walk away from the situation in peace and not fall prey to the games. I learned a lot from the ordeal in spite of the inherent pain involved.

9. The zombie apocalypse is upon us! You have a place to hide, but you can only bring three nonessential items. What are they?

1. Guitar
2. Pen/notebook (I know, I know – technically, that’s two, but you can’t have one without the other!)
3. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

10. I understand you recently took a lengthy break from the dating scene. What did you learn about women and relationships in the interim?

Nothin’. It’s just chicks, man.

[Laughs uproariously]

Please note: John is currently in the hospital recovering from the concussion he sustained when Kelly banged him over the head with his own guitar.

11. You’re the lead singer of Everyday Hemingway, a guitarist and a songwriter. Write us a little song about Bachelor Girl.

Well, I’ll write the song, but you can’t hear it right now. You have to rally together a Bachelor Girl Night for our next show at Harley’s Pub on Friday, November 20th, and that way, all of them can experience the debut of the Bachelor Girl theme song. [Ed. Note: SQUEEEEEEEE] With proper preparation, I could print out the words and all of us could sing the “Ode to Bachelor Girl” in a giant, “Give Peace a Chance” sing-a-along. I don’t think we could all be in bed together or anything like that, but it could be one hell of a party at Harley’s. You could even be my Yoko Ono for the night and bash away at the tambourine! [Ed. Note: I am an effing concert-grade tambourine player.]

——–

So that’s the big news! We’re hosting our first-ever Bachelor Girl event THIS Friday night from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. at Harley’s Pub in Bossier City! We have gifts for all our readers, and we get to hear (and sing along to) the song John wrote especially for us, “Just a Bachelor Girl”!

If you live in the Shreveport area, join me, Jessica the Web Mistress and Russell Crews of Bearsuits Are Funny for an evening of good friends, great music, tasty drinks and hot guys – namely, Mr. November himself, John Bundrick!

Friday, November 20, 2009
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Harley’s Pub
903 Barksdale Boulevard
Bossier City, LA 71111

Your completely amped
Kel