The Demands Book One

by Drew Geraci

Rock n' Roll is dead...and they're next! In an era of prepackaged, formula-driven music, Laney Kilburn believes she can give the hard rock sounds of yesteryear a new coat of paint. Over time, she assembles a band called The Demands. They build a following, one bar at a time, many owned by the head of the local Russian Mob, Arthur Petrov. Petrov reinvents himself as a high-profile philanthropist but the old ways are harder to shake off than he realizes. Explore the underside of the indie music business. Dark humor and darker deeds tell the tale of a band on the road to success, striving for both survival and recognition. The Demands forge through the obstacles of in-fighting, audience indifference, lineup changes, drugs, family problems, back-stabbing and political intrigue. All the while, promoting themselves as the second coming of Rock n' Roll.

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2015

Reviews

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable and quick read. The thing that really struck me is how much the novel is like the band it's named after. The Demands are a brash, scrappy group dedicated to the loud rock n' roll era of the past. Even when they are a little rough around the edges, their passion and enthusiasm wins you over. The same could be said for the novel itself. The organized crime sub plot raises the stakes for the band, but doesn't feel quite as organic as the main story of the band coming together and forming a somewhat cohesive unit. Author Drew Geraci clearly has an encyclopedic knowledge and love of guitar groups. This is a novel for music lovers by a music lover. I'm looking forward to seeing where the group goes in Book Two.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Demands is a darn good read. . Anyone that is a music lover should appreciate this tale of a burgeoning and struggling rock band that want success but even more want to make great music. It all feels authentic. The characters are engaging, particularly Laney. She is the kind of girl a guy can fall for pretty easy if they go for independent, feisty, rocker chicks. And I do. It lost me a bit in the back and forth between present and past but it captures your interest and is a great first go at writing a full length novel which is no easy task That said I recommend you buy this book if you like good storytelling, good characters, and rock and roll. You won’t be disappointed I think. It isn’t perfect. But that will come in time. It is as good as it needs to be to begin the story of The Demands.

[Susan Lundberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the author's first novel, and the volume is slim. It reads quickly. None of these are detractors to this book.

It's a story about big dreams of Rock and Roll; it's about the tough reality of life - not every girl wants to be a Disney Princess, and not every guy is Prince Charming. Not every band plays together for a few months only to be discovered on a TV show and become massively famous overnight.

That's definitely how it is with The Demands. Laney has the drive in her gut and a bunch of songs. Ian has the experience and developed talent. Mitch has the business and promotion skills. Add in a lead singer, lead guitar and a drummer and you've got a band. The more I read, the more invested in these characters I became. "The Demands" gave you a real feeling of how a band is put together and what it was to be a working band, and how you don't always make it big right away.

This was a fantastic first self-published novel. It had none of the "I could really use an editor" issues that a self-published first novel might have. Geraci has the support staff he needs to make this work, and knows how to create a good story. Also glad that he has further plans to keep going with these characters (Book 2 due in June 2016), because I'm just not done with them yet.

[Sean Hoffmann]

A very nice first novel filled interesting characters battling with themselves and each other all in a great locale. The author introduces us believable characters brimming with passion, grit, and the guile to get things done!

I enjoyed this creative combination of genres, it's more than a music novel and is more than a crime novel.

I can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the world of literature, the genre of pulp fiction is often one that is characterized by its unpretentious sense of escapism. From the thrilling jungle and space adventures written by Edgar Rice Burroughs to the sleazy and hardboiled private eye fiction by Mickey Spillane and to even the more recent spate of spy thrillers by Brad Thor, this category of literature is often known for providing its readers with stories that can include everything from no-holds barred action, titillating sleaze, and high adventure. But when it comes to “The Demands: Book One”, author Drew Geraci brings to the pulp fiction table an entirely fresh and original novel that turns the genre on its head. Think the 1991 film “The Commitments” but picture it occasionally crossing paths with a Guy Ritchie gangster film and having a very American blue-collar point of view all the while.
The novel involves a young girl by the name of Laney Kilburn, a struggling guitarist and rock music fan who is trying to make it in a world where good old rock n’ roll is often considered antiquated. The story follows her as she moves to Pitttsburgh and joins a rock n’ roll band consisting of Mitch Slater, the manager; Greg Burdette, the male lead singer; Paul Varlotta, the leader guitar player; Ian Hurst, Mitch’s bass guitar playing cousin; and Steve Wilkinson, the drummer. Throughout the story, the band goes through all the hardships and trials that every music group faces on their road to success. However, their troubles soon amount to nothing when Laney and the boys soon find themselves in the mix with a Russian mafia outfit.

As one can perceive from reading the novel, Drew Geraci’s debut novel is anything but run-of-the-mill pulp. Utilizing a Tarantinoesque knowledge of Rock n’ Roll and a sharp sense of humor, Mr. Geraci provides the reader with a very charming tale that is mired in its own slightly exaggerated reality. Moreover, he does a fantastic job creating and writing characters that are likable and seem all too real. He excellently articulates life’s challenges and difficulties in a way that anyone who has worked for a living can definitely relate to. But I must note that one of the novel’s other big successes is the way it deals with tonal shifts. At the latter end of the novel changes from being humorous and warm to becoming a gritty, pulpy crime fantasy but does so in a very finessed way that never feels out-of-place or forced.

All in all, “The Demands: Book One ” is an excellent debut from a first-time writer. Anyone who has a love for rock music from the past thirty years and enjoys a story full of warmth and humor should give this novel a read ,for it never ceases to entertain and does so in such an original and well-honed fashion.

Now on to Book Two!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick interesting read.

Briefly the story involves a startup bar band that achieves success.

Mix in Mafia bikers and of course the issue of drug addiction in the rock world.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

What starts out as a simple story of the coming together of a rock and roll band becomes something deeper as the book progresses. There are questions raised about how far do you go to see your dreams survive. Should you just take the safe route and get the day job? Is that going to satisfy you or is it just going to make you miserable?
There are some great character beats in this book and they all speak with their own voice. There is a nice subplot that deals with some of the loss of old neighborhoods in this modern era that takes a fun and surprising turn. Anyone that has spent time in PA will also appreciate some of the touches the author has put into the book. Yinz will know what I'm talking about when you see the references.
I only wish I could hear the music the band was making as I was reading the story.