"So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star"

[fiefoe]

Jacob Slichter's self-deprecating humor is evident from the first page, in which he quantifies his fame as "Closing Time" divided by "drummer". He also tells a good story. ('Halfway through the first verse, Dan developed a prolific nosebleed. ... Because we and our music... reeked of civility, the sight of dripping blood only enhanced the rock experience of the executives seated around the conference table.')

Best of all though is his endearing honesty. He calls the band's manager 'refreshingly neurotic' (and his conversational style is described as 'an endlessly series of nested statements'). A better example is the account of their first photo shoot. It's a hoot to be privy to his internal musings during his attempt to project a sensitive, mysterious, misunderstood tough guy image. Add to that the delightfully mundane injunctive from their photographer after the lunch break - "Okay guys, brush your teeth".

__ With the A&R folks it was always sushi, even in Nashville.
__ Every band needs a sex symbol, and every sex symbol needs a weird-looking guy to stand next to.

Cf: Emma Bull's "War for the Oaks" for Minneapolis's 'vital music scene'.