When I was 15, I was turned into a bruised, young adult by flames that took almost everything I owned — The fire that eradicated most of what I owned when I was 15 years old was emancipation from things. I became a Minimalist with one spark of a flame. But that October day still smells burnt in my memories. It was the day my childhood ended. Walking through the smoldered…

The road through Reno brings up memories of The Nugget and Circus Circus casinos, then creates mirages in the desert… — Jarette drove through Sacramento quickly. He wanted to get away from the congestion, the stress, and the thickness of urban traffic. The smell of heat rose around him as morning put on her afternoon dress. He listened to no music, just the whir of the wind. The window was open…

A very easy way to try meditation out for yourself — When you think of meditation what do you think of? * Is it someone sitting alone on a mountaintop with their eyes closed? * Is it a group of people sitting in a room on pillows saying, “Oooommm”? * Do the people meditating have robes on? * Are they bald…

I was attacked by three white men in Minnesota, then beaten by four black men in San Francisco — When I hit the street my first thought was: they’re going to shoot me in the back of the head. Then, I stood up and four young men began circling me like sharks, punching me in the face. Beating me. I heard one of them yell, “We’re gonna kill you…

How I began touring in Europe, recorded one of the most famous Dutch songs in English, and did a live duet with Dolly Bellefleur — The day I performed a duet on live Dutch TV in Amsterdam with drag queen and Pride ambassador, Dolly Bellefleur, is one of my favorite bizarre and magical musical moments. …

A night at a motel in Vacaville conjures ghosts and memories of young, lost love. — Vacaville appeared in the distance. Jarette looked off to his left and saw the Alamo Inn. A motel just off the highway. There, he once stayed with his girlfriend Chandra. Sucking, screwing, fighting, and crawling through the mire. She had gone down on a woman right in front of him…

Songs eight to 15, why they’re my favorites, how great the new Elvis movie soundtrack is, and a special song 16. — Welcome back to the last seven songs on the list of my 15 favorite covers. I’m writing part two of this story after seeing the new Elvis movie in the theater, which was absolutely spectacular and packed with magnificent versions of Elvis Presley’s songs. I will honestly admit that my…

My first real Independence Day was a musical revolution led by my father and the ghost of a guitar god. — I’m the child of hippies. Counter-culture, flowingly-bearded, long hair parted down the middle, love children from the Midwest. My mother got pregnant with me after my father returned from being a soldier in Vietnam, and I was named after a hitchhiker named Kip Gentry who they had picked up in…

My 15 favorite covers and why they’re my favorites today. — “What’s your favourite cover song?” That’s the question fabulous writer and editor, May More, asked me in her story When I Thought Lee Marvin Owned My Local Store. Hundreds of songs began streaming through my head. I thought about it and knew I could never just list one song. There…