Andy Andrist

When I think of Andy Andrist I am reminded of a Bob Dylan quote "Never give anyone a hard time because you don't know what they have been through or what burden they may be carrying."   I met Andy at one of Doug Stanhope's desert parties and admittedly Andy was whacked out of his skull on psychedelic mushrooms at the time.    We recount this story in this conversation because I was greatly annoyed by Andy at the time. Now looking back it is very comical as to why he was annoying me but that is the thing with drugs, while you are on them you have no idea of the amount of people that you are irritating.    Since then I have gotten to know Andy much better and the incredible life journey he has been on and what it took for him to heal from the heinous experiences of his childhood.    Andy is one of the best friends of Doug Stanhope and it was Doug who was instrumental in helping Andy confront the man who had committed the heinous acts against him that rob him of his childhood innocence. I have come to know Andy very well in the years since we first met and he is the kind of comedian that I love to be around because his is not always "on" and when he does say something funny, it from out of nowhere and is always sharply a direct hit.    Last year in Las Vegas, he and I were on Doug Stanhope's podcast when someone mentioned that hippies don't go to Las Vegas. Andy said "That is because you can't gamble with vibes." That line still cracks me up.    This episode was recorded last summer when I had a week off between shows in San Francisco and Portland.  Ashna and I took a leisurely drive up the California coast into Oregon to enjoy the great Northwest. We stopped off in Eugene. Oregon where Andy lives and he stopped by our hotel to say hello and record this conversation. Eugene, Oregon is a lovable enclave of intellectual learning and is one of the most livable places in America. As for the guest of this episode, you will rarely find a person with more strength of mind, strength of character and who can cut your heart out with a precisely placed funny line and that is why it is my pleasure to present to you now the one and only Andy Andrist!   Intro song: Cutting Room (Hot Pants) – Oceanliners   Stand-up clip: Andy Andrist's HBO 'Down and Dirty' set, May '08 End song: Bright Eyes – Lua   Recorded in Eugene, Oregon. July 2014.