What do you think?
Rate this book
Mostly the Van
A collection of stories written by indie rock musician, Jason Narducy, involving some of the peculiar, awkward, and sometimes inspiring moments in his music life. For instance, Jason completely forgot lyrics for a live Blue Note Records recording at Green Mill, during COVID lockdown he played “House of the Rising Sun” with a man on his 70th birthday in his driveway - the first time the man had played music with another person in 48 years, he delivered “non-discriminatory” pizza to a homophonic pizza restaurant in Indiana, he got lost in a Hamburg music venue building with Bob Mould (they later found out it was a Nazi bunker), and many more odd tales, mostly from the band van.
- GenresMemoir
102 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 2, 2026
That was exactly what this book should be: engaging, insightful, entertaining stories of life on the road. With lots of pictures.
My only complaint is that on some pages, the font needs to be a higher contrast. (In fact, I was just discussing reading glasses with my friend that I’m sending a copy of this to.)
My only complaint is that on some pages, the font needs to be a higher contrast. (In fact, I was just discussing reading glasses with my friend that I’m sending a copy of this to.)
February 20, 2026
4.25- a great collection of anecdotes, some poignant, some hilarious, many of them both of these things, about the life and times of an indie rock lifer. Loved it. Jason is smart, funny, and empathetic. Can’t wait for volume 2!
February 16, 2026
Mostly the Van is a collection of seventeen mostly funny anecdotes told by excellent Evanston IL musician Jason Narducy. Jason's stories are accompanied by related photos, and its all packed in a hundred pages or so. It is a quick read and worth a couple hours of time even if one isn't a music fan.
I first found out about Jason in 2005 when he, along with drummer Jon Wurster, joined my favorite musician Bob Mould and formed a power trio known as the Bob Mould Band. Jason played bass and he and Jon were the perfect compliment to Bob who was returning to his punk and power pop roots at this stage in his career. Jason has played on his last six albums and has toured the world with Bob.
Jason has his own band named Split Single which also tours and I've never missed a Twin Cities show, and during the pandemic he started playing private lawn and living room shows at peoples' houses I never missed an appearance when he came to the Twin Cities. I think I've been to six or so lawn / living room shows now. And I never missed a Bob Mould band appearance in the Twin Cities and even traveled to Chicago a few times. I was all in. I have all of Jason's albums and EPs. Jason is a great story teller and always does a lot of yarn spinning in between songs, he really personalizes his performances in that way.
In his book he talks about family, touring, the lawn shows, his first band Verboten, and many other music-related escapades. My favorites:
- when in fourth grade(!) he and three classmates started a punk band, Verboten, and actually played gigs at the Cubby Bear in Chicago, even opening for Naked Raygun. The singer, Tracy, was cousins with Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and Dave spent time with them and watched them perform when visiting Chicago as a kid. He credits them for inspiring him to become a musician and featured them in his autobiography and his HBO special Sonic Highways!
- when playing Letterman with Bob Mould band in 2015, Letterman's crew let the band turn the amps up higher than normal allowable TV levels and audience members reported that clumps of dust were falling from the rafters during their blistering set. Jason played a bass solo during that performance which became the envy of many bass players. It is a great watch on YouTube.
- a touching story of how he managed to introduce his shy daughter to one of her favorite bands in Chicago. I've heard him tell this story at lawn / living room shows and it's just fantastic.
My favorite Jason Narducy story is not in the book but I will tell it anyway.
After one of his living room shows in Minneapolis a couple years ago my wife Lisa somehow got to talk to him without me around and asked him if he would consider coming up to the Twin Cities to play at my surprise 60th birthday party. They exchanged numbers and figured it all out. Jason was on tour with Michael Shannon playing REM albums, and recording, but they worked out a day and location for the party unbeknownst to me.
Last July I arrived at a local community center near my oldest son's house thinking we were picking him up to go axe throwing and low and behold there were my siblings, friends, neighbors, and family all standing there. And there was a big sign displayed announcing Live Music by Jason Narducy. I just about died. He performed for 90 minutes and told stories and stuck around to have tacos and drinks, and socialize. I was blown away. It was an amazing day. I still can't believe it.
Anyway........FIVE STARS!! Great stories from a great person!
I first found out about Jason in 2005 when he, along with drummer Jon Wurster, joined my favorite musician Bob Mould and formed a power trio known as the Bob Mould Band. Jason played bass and he and Jon were the perfect compliment to Bob who was returning to his punk and power pop roots at this stage in his career. Jason has played on his last six albums and has toured the world with Bob.
Jason has his own band named Split Single which also tours and I've never missed a Twin Cities show, and during the pandemic he started playing private lawn and living room shows at peoples' houses I never missed an appearance when he came to the Twin Cities. I think I've been to six or so lawn / living room shows now. And I never missed a Bob Mould band appearance in the Twin Cities and even traveled to Chicago a few times. I was all in. I have all of Jason's albums and EPs. Jason is a great story teller and always does a lot of yarn spinning in between songs, he really personalizes his performances in that way.
In his book he talks about family, touring, the lawn shows, his first band Verboten, and many other music-related escapades. My favorites:
- when in fourth grade(!) he and three classmates started a punk band, Verboten, and actually played gigs at the Cubby Bear in Chicago, even opening for Naked Raygun. The singer, Tracy, was cousins with Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and Dave spent time with them and watched them perform when visiting Chicago as a kid. He credits them for inspiring him to become a musician and featured them in his autobiography and his HBO special Sonic Highways!
- when playing Letterman with Bob Mould band in 2015, Letterman's crew let the band turn the amps up higher than normal allowable TV levels and audience members reported that clumps of dust were falling from the rafters during their blistering set. Jason played a bass solo during that performance which became the envy of many bass players. It is a great watch on YouTube.
- a touching story of how he managed to introduce his shy daughter to one of her favorite bands in Chicago. I've heard him tell this story at lawn / living room shows and it's just fantastic.
My favorite Jason Narducy story is not in the book but I will tell it anyway.
After one of his living room shows in Minneapolis a couple years ago my wife Lisa somehow got to talk to him without me around and asked him if he would consider coming up to the Twin Cities to play at my surprise 60th birthday party. They exchanged numbers and figured it all out. Jason was on tour with Michael Shannon playing REM albums, and recording, but they worked out a day and location for the party unbeknownst to me.
Last July I arrived at a local community center near my oldest son's house thinking we were picking him up to go axe throwing and low and behold there were my siblings, friends, neighbors, and family all standing there. And there was a big sign displayed announcing Live Music by Jason Narducy. I just about died. He performed for 90 minutes and told stories and stuck around to have tacos and drinks, and socialize. I was blown away. It was an amazing day. I still can't believe it.
Anyway........FIVE STARS!! Great stories from a great person!
March 26, 2026
The only downside of this book is that it's so short. I had to force myself to read it slowly because I wanted it to last longer.
March 19, 2026
If you've ever seen Jason perform, you've probably heard a couple of these stories, but he's got SO MANY good ones you're certain to find something fresh here. Even the stories I've heard told live are fun to read. Jason never disappoints. Buy his book and his music so people know you are smart and cool.
Great, fun graphic design is a bonus!
Great, fun graphic design is a bonus!
March 8, 2026
A charming, humble, and wry collection of tiny stories about the life of a middle-aged rock musician, successful but not famous, serious about his craft but not about himself. Probably the next best thing to hanging out with Narducy himself — which he no doubt would be glad to do with you, should circumstances bring it about.
The photos throughout are great and the design of the book, with text of various fonts laid over and around the various design elements, is attractive and smart. (My 63-year-old bepectacled eyes didn't have trouble reading any of it.) Worth picking up from Jason's site, or from the merch table at one of his shows.
The photos throughout are great and the design of the book, with text of various fonts laid over and around the various design elements, is attractive and smart. (My 63-year-old bepectacled eyes didn't have trouble reading any of it.) Worth picking up from Jason's site, or from the merch table at one of his shows.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews