Chris Isaak: Keeping it very real

Chris Isaak may be a twice Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling artist and former star of his own television show, but he’s still a really down-to-earth guy who hasn’t forgotten his working-class upbringing.

On the phone, this son of a potato chip factory worker and forklift driver comes across refreshingly untouched by his fame. In an interview last week, he was self-effacing, funny and charming—basically the kind of pop star who brings on feelings of a schoolgirl crush, at least for this writer.

The singer-songwriter, who is known for his fusion of rockabilly storytelling with a touch of old-fashioned crooning, has also had to play against the “curse” of being easy on the eyes. He first shot to fame after the steamy video for his first hit, “Wicked Game,” came out in 1991.

The video, directed by Herb Ritts, showed the pompadored musician rolling around on the beach with a topless Helena Christensen. Shortly thereafter, his band, Silvertone, got to trade in their touring van for a bus and Mr. Isaak’s hair got its own fan club.

Mr. Isaak and his bandmates have been keeping busy on tour for their ninth album, “The Best of Chris Isaak,” which includes such hits as “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing,” “Wicked Game” and “Somebody’s Crying.” Local fans will have a chance to check out Mr. Isaak’s best when the band takes the stage at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center this Sunday, August 31, at 8:30 p.m.

The subject of the singer’s famous locks actually came up unbidden when he was asked how long he had been on tour, playing nearly daily dates up and down the East Coast. “About two haircuts’ worth,” he said with a laugh. “Maybe two and a half; that’s really how I keep track.”

Mr. Isaak genially deflected questions about his appeal to the ladies and references to him as a renaissance man who sings, plays guitar, acts and draws. “If you look at a real man from the Renaissance, you’d just see some guy on the street juggling, singing and shining shoes,” he said. “I bet he was just doing what he needed to do to make the money.”

Asked if he is really as affable as his public persona and self-styled TV show character would suggest, Mr. Isaak replied, “Ask my bandmates and my manager”—his friends for the last 20 years—“they know what I’m really like.”

“I work toward being aloof and arrogant, but it’s not working out,” he said. “They’d just hit me with a sock full of wet dung if I got too full of myself.”

Clare Bisceglia, the executive director of the PAC said that she is personally looking forward to Mr. Isaak’s visit. “I’m a huge fan ... I love his music, I loved his television show, his sense of humor, his songwriting and his personality,” she said. “Plus, he’s so handsome and so wildly talented and whimsical; he’s got it all in one package.”

Mr. Isaak said he is looking forward to performing in Westhampton Beach. “I can’t wait to get out there and play; I’ll even get out there and wander around the cheap seats to make sure everyone’s having a good time,” he said. When told that the theater has only 425 seats, he positively rejoiced. “That’s even better,” he said. “I’m definitely looking forward to coming and hanging out with the audience.”

Mr. Isaak said that he and his bandmates are fortunate in that they all really like what they’re doing. “You can see some bands with really talented members but they aren’t doing what they want to do ... one guy could be really into jazz fusion or something, but he’s just playing for the paycheck,” he said. “But our band’s a great band: they’re great musicians who actually like playing the music they’re playing.”

The singer said that he and his friends still get excited about some of the things they get to do as performers. “We just say to each other, ‘who lives like this?’” he said. “We just walk around pinching ourselves.”

The self-deprecating crooner spoke of his band’s visits to the White House and playing the Super Bowl. “We’ve gotten to do some pretty cool and crazy things, but also sometimes wonder if somebody made a mistake, like, ‘don’t they know they could’ve gotten the Rolling Stones?’” he wondered aloud.

When asked about the grueling tour schedule­—Mr. Isaak said that he’s home in San Francisco only about two weeks a year—he joked that he’s not privy to the decision making. “They do keep me working a lot ... it’s mostly court-ordered,” he said.

As for the upcoming PAC show, Mr. Isaak said he and his band will do their best to entertain. “I don’t care if they’ve got neuralgia or dyspepsia or broken up with their boyfriend or girlfriend,” he said. “I guarantee that we will make them forget it all for two hours and they will have a great time ... If not, tell them to stay after the show and we’ll just hang out and have some fun.”

Chris Isaak and Silvertone will perform at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Sunday, August 31, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $125, $150 and $200. For more information, call 288-1500, visit www.whbpac.org or stop by the box office at 76 Main Street in Westhampton Beach.