Cullen : So how did you find your way into the Theatre Department ? Dermot : I did this little two-person play on the side , and one of the key acting teachers at school came up to me that night and said : " Whose acting class are you in next year ?" And that was it ; I got to jump right in ! It took me all the way to the end of my senior year and the senior showcase . I had the first scene from " Fool for Love " by Sam Shepard all worked up . At any rate , William Morris Agent , Barbara Gayle was there , auditioning graduating seniors for representation in Hollywood . And she signed me .
Cullen : Damn ! Now that is a movie !! Or maybe just the dream of every actor ever ! ( laughter ) Seriously , really pretty incredible by itself , but when you add in that within just a few short years you went from doing a scene written by Sam Shepard to playing his son in Bright Angel is kind of epic !! To boot , you ’ ve worked with him a number of times . Incredible . So , they sign you , and then you land your first job ? Dermot : Yes , Sam Shepard is the man ! I truly love working with him . At any rate , I drove cross-country with my brother , Kieran and arrived late August ' 85 . I auditioned like crazy through the Fall - In those waiting rooms were Patrick Dempsey , Jason Gedrick , Billy Baldwin . I ' d see Modine , Spader ... wanting to be them because they were already established . In late December I was cast to start January 3rd , 1 986 on a TV movie , " Sin of Innocence ," lead teen . That ' s what I ' d been scouted for because there was a commerce right then in teen leading men . It was the first time in history where there was a bonanza ; there was a run on us . There hasn ' t been one since , really . It was a crowded field in those days . I did my part , holding up my end of the bargain .
Cullen : I think you have more than held up your end of the bargain , I know you ’ re inspiring a whole new generation of actors . ------------ Okay , it ’ s time , lets talk Cranky George !! I ’ ve seen you guys LIVE at Molly Malones and LA ’ s venerable , The Mint and you guys blew the roof off both joints – such incredible musicianship . I love what ’ s written on the band ’ s Facebook page , describing your music – ( reading ) “ Cranky George ’ s music is tipped from the bucket that dredges the confluence of the Danube , the Shannon , and the Missouri .” That ’ s so spot-on . Your debut album , “ Fat Lot of Good ” which is getting worn out on my car CD player , by the way , is pretty incredible . It ’ s got everything – And the liner notes nail it – ( reading ) “ lullabies , sea shanties , murder ballads & footstompers - stories of desire , love , loss , cruelty , ruination and pity . Made with mischief .” I ’ ll tell you , whenever I listen to your stuff , it makes me either want to get up and do a free-style jig , call an old friend and tell them I miss them or buy a round of drinks for everyone in the bar . ( laughter ). Seriously . That ’ s MUSIC !! So , how did the band come to be ? Dermot : The truth is James Fearnley , the celebrated accordion player of the epic Irish rock band , The Pogues , knew Zander Schloss . Zander , at the time , was playing with Thelonious Monster and The Circle Jerks as their bass player . One day Zander asked James if he knew any string players and he said , " I know the Mulroney brothers ." And he said , " Why don ' t you bring them into the studio ? Because we ’ re recording a new song called " Acid for the Children ." So that ' s where I met Zander , who then formulated The Low and Sweet Orchestra that included myself , my brother Kieran and James . After Low