Alone Rewinding: 23 Years of Fatherhood & Music

by Jonah Matranga

377 pages, ebook

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[derek allard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d have given it four stars but the typos and failure to explain who people are when mentioned makes it more difficult to read than it should be. Having said that, this was an excellent read. Jonah is in this book and it was eye opening to see how someone who made it in the music industry lives and thinks. All the doubts and fears that “normal” people like me have are here with Jonah too. It’s been great listening to the music as I read (much of it being heard for the first time). There is an authentic voice here and it was a pleasure being along for the ride.

[James Koppert · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Alone Rewinding by Jonah Matranga. I first met @jonahmatranga in 1997 I think. I had gone with friends to see Deftones play Manchester and we bumped into him. I didn't know Far, but some people you just know they are stage treaders, there is a volume to their character and we began chatting. You can meet strangers and their vibration seems to match yours and I loved his genuine earnest and warm character. He spent hours just hanging out and then went onstage and Far stole the night. They were incredible. I played that promo CD 1000s of times. He gave me his email and we kept in touch in that time. He got me to read Kerouac's On The Road, a book he wrote to explain to someone where he had been in life before he met them. In a sense that is the best reference point here. Jonah states he wrote this for his daughter to really know her dad and is a tale of what went on before and the moments that build the man he has become. Instead of Kerouac's jazz, it is the punk indie that breathes through the pages as Jonah bears his raw honest emotions, feelings and thoughts open for us to read. This is America, it is music, it is human and it is lots of love and heartbreak and worries and wonder. I couldn't put it down and got through it in a week. Jonah states that he wasn't talented enough to make it into the rock and roll hall of fame but that's not the case. He is one of the most wonderful songwriters to pick up a guitar, the issue is his songs are too honest for a world so insecure about the honesty of their feelings, they are too free for a world so trapped, to effeminate for a scene of insecure men, too full of love for the stereotype of masculinity and all these things scare people as they make them look at themselves. This book is like his songs. Jonah is a beautiful man and this is one beautiful book

[Eric McClanahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating look at what it means to be an artist and a man over several decades in a transcendent moment of American history. Jonah's story starts as an angry young man then a sensible rock star and concludes as a sensible parent and fellow human. The stream-of-consciousness style of writing is jarring at times but his confessions ring true and endear him to you throughout the journey.

[Tyler Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Massachusetts roots to international stages, Jonah Matranga's memoir, "Alone Rewinding," blends classic rock reflections with his unique journey. He details love songs and ventures into unexplored territory like his emo band's metalhead-approved Madonna cover. The heart of the book lies in Sacramento's underground scene, where he paints a vivid picture of camaraderie, wild experiences, and legendary venues. He also confronts dark realities, including witnessing domestic violence and exploring his own dark thoughts. While acknowledging graphic content, the book shines a light on the raw honesty and community of underground music, contrasting it with mainstream expectations. Through stories of touring, fatherhood, and navigating personal challenges, Matranga offers a captivating reflection on artistry, fatherhood, and his journey as an underground music icon.

[Gary Blackwell Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, I love Jonah and his many musical aliases and I think the dude is a grade A human being, so of course I was gonna enjoy this. Loved reading about his relationship with his daughter, but was super into all the stuff about his band/bandmates/music scene compadres.

[Kevin]

Really enjoyable, it felt like a long conversation or an old-school zine interview.