Panic Years

by Daniel DiFranco

"I'd be twenty-nine at the end of the year," the narrator of Panic Years announces, "and playing bass was the only thing I was good at." Fueled by positive online reviews and a minimum of introspection, Paul and his bickering bandmates--beautiful Laney, hard-drinking Jeff, despairing drummer Gooch--soldier unquestioningly through a gruelling and open-ended quest to play gig after gig in the seamy nightclubs and questionable dive bars of indie-rock America. As the band stoically makes its calamitous way cross-country from Texas to New York, its journey is struck repeatedly by theft, drug use, foot infections, gastrointestinal distress, crooked promoters, and the hatred of rival bands. In his earnestly deadpan account of the claustrophobic daily grind of life on the road, newcomer Daniel DiFranco has created a brutally realistic record --not only of the underground music scene, but of everyday existence in its purest form.

344 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2018

Reviews

[Daniel DiFranco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best first book I have ever written.

[Britny Perilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rock and roll isn't always glamorous, but DiFranco charts a trip through the ups and downs of the band Qualia that is authentic, raw, and has its own kind of brutal charm.

I never could get into the "road trip" kind of novel before, but if they are willing to bring what DiFranco has brought to the table as far as humor, irreverence, great characters, awesome stage presence, and believable situations, then sign me up.

[Marc Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossible to put this one down. The story is so engrossing, you'll find yourself relating to all the bandmates, in one way or another, and anxiously turning the page to see what the next night of the tour brings. Being a former local musician with visions of "making it" someday, this book hits home and definitely brings back memories of life on the road. From musicians to music fans, I highly recommend grabbing this book!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

So if you have ever had the crazy idea of picking up a thrift store guitar and a couple of Hal Leonard music lesson books and dreaming of touring the country in a wild drug induced sex filled burrito stuffed rock and roll related occupation, I would say don't bother it's already been done so save yourself the heartache and toe fungus and the years of practice and just read this book about what it would have been like...

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books you can’t put down and think about days later. Never had any musical desires or even that much passion for and still loved every second.

[Michelle Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I go weak in the knees for books about music and musicians, so Panic Years by Daniel Difranco seemed like a fantastic fit and perfect choice for me on paper. Still, I wasn't expecting to be so charmed by this book. It's easily among the best I've read this year. Knowing this is DiFranco's debut novel makes makes me all the more impatient to see what else he has up his sleeve in the coming years. He's earned himself a lifelong fan.

There is such an ease inherent to the way DiFranco writes; I don't recall actively turning the physical pages of the book because reading his work was such a fluid and engrossing experience. Most notable is DiFranco's mastery of dialogue. I won't hesitate to say that Panic Years contains some of the best dialogue I've come across. Full stop. It's snappy, witty, at times hilarious. I cannot recall the last time I laughed so hard while reading a book. But there's also a heaping spoonful of subtlety in his work: in things left unspoken, lurking in the white space of the page. There's so much practiced restraint in this book, and DiFranco absolutely nails it.

Across the board, Panic Years houses characters that are endearing and frustrating and painfully real. DiFranco made a wise choice in selecting the band's new bassist Paul to be the POV character, placing him (and us) in an outsider-looking-in position. As he warms up to the rest of the band, so does the reader, and the experience of learning more about Laney and Jeff (!!!) and Gooch and the fraying band known as Qualia happens organically. Note that if you're approaching the book expecting wildly different characters by the final pages, this might not be the book for you. But if you're interested in subtle and nuanced characterizations, Panic Years has it in spades.

I loved the hell out of this book. It's funny and intimate and sobering. It portrays tour life to be as exhausting and mundane and uncertain as I know it is, yet it somehow makes me want to drop everything and join a band to feel even a scrap of what the characters feel. Panic Years was exactly what I was hoping it would be, and so much more. Thanks for bringing me along for the ride, Daniel!

[Alisa Mairone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so easy to read and so hard to put down. As someone who has personally never had dreams of being in a band, I thought it might be difficult to identify with the book- but I was wrong. You'll find yourself relating to each character for different reasons and you'll find yourself speeding through the book since the chapters come in manageable chunks, and because the prose is clean and unpretentious. One thing that I enjoyed that I've never come across before (or perhaps haven't noticed before) is that the characters are developed and realistic, but the author does not give you a lot of physical description. I think this was planned, as it gives readers the opportunity to picture the characters as they want to see them and likely as people that they know.

Highly recommend.
Rock on, Dan DiFranco!

[Thomas J. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Panic Years after attending the, "pre-release" book party with my girlfriend. I was a bit skeptical of a first book by an unknown author, but quickly got engrossed in the story. The author's writing style is witty and blunt but I found after the first few chapters that I wanted to know more. I finished the book quickly but found myself thinking about the characters for days after I had finished. The book is about more than the touring band. It is about doing what you love and the personal relationships that develop from sharing an experience with other people (and turtles).
Well done, Mr. DiFranco, keep it up.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was initially intrigued by his writing style. I'm not a fan of terse writing, but I set my bias aside because I felt it may have been used with a purpose here, to reflect the manic, ADD youthfulness of the novel's characters. The writer also drops some diamond metaphors throughout; he's got talent. I finally realized halfway through that this wasn't enough to sustain me the rest of the way. There was no plot to speak of and I didn't feel invested in the characters or the direction they were headed. When the direction they were headed literally backtracked with their tour, I realized I could no longer cover the same ground and threw in the towel.

[Scott Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could have read this in one sitting, it is that good. I decided to attack it in small chunks, and my experience was better for it.

Populated by realistic, relatable characters written in simple language that moves you through the story with ease, this book is a delight. I have never played an instrument, I have never been in a band, and I have never wanted to be, but for the few short hours I spent with Qualia, I lived it.

Read this; you won't regret it. Now, if I could only find a Qualia t-shirt...

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to pick this up on a friend's recommendation. It brought me back to my youth when I was in (very bad) bands. Panic Years was a fun way to vicariously live that rock and roll dream I was never good enough to achieve. This book is funny, excellently paced, and full of so much heart that it's going out to a few friends this Christmas...if not sooner. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quick, yet fully engaging read. I felt like these guys were my friends and that I was in the van with them!

[Charles Marro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given my demographic, and given the types of books I usually read, there is no way I should have liked “Panic Years”. But I did like it. In fact, I LOVED it!! The plot carries the reader on a breathtaking ride as you are desparate to see what will happen next as the not always likeable or admirable, but always believable, characters careen their way on tour as a rock band hoping for good luck but desparate to earn enough money to make it to the next stop. Gritty, funny and at times very tender.

[Rob DiCristino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Panic Years is the blistering, passionate, bleary-eyed story of a touring rock band on the edge of collapse. Daniel DiFranco's debut novel is packed with tales chronicling the highs and lows of life on the road - ripping through a ferocious bass line, drinking too much at the after-show party, and falling for the girl you know you shouldn't. Almost a decade in the making — and inspired by real events — Panic Years is a must-read.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so impressed with this debut novel. The story let me feel like I was along for the ride with a solid band hoping for their big break. I got to enjoy the ups and experience the way low downs with these characters that Left me wanting more. The sorry was so easy to read I found myself waiting all day to get back to it and then zipping through in record speed. I only wish I could actually have attended one of Qualia’s killer shows in real life. Well done Difranco, well done. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Jane Miller Whitehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed this book. Couldn't wait to find out what happened in each chapter as the band moved from one gig to the next. The novel carefully intertwined the band's mundane day to day activities with the complexities of relationships - and the consequences of the band's decisions. I am not a musician but loved the book.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Panic Years was impossible to put down. I was instantly connected with the characters and their journey and only wish there were a hundred more pages. It is hard for fiction to really keep my attention these days and the fact that I picked up and finished Panic Years in the same day (dropping all my other responsibilities) says a lot about the novel. Read this book.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The writing is clear and economical, it's heartfelt, it's funny, and the characters all feel like real, unique people. The subject matter is particularly appealing to me, but even if you haven't been in a band you'll find it hard to put down. Just go buy it already!

[Josh Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Panic Years is for the modern rock star. The highs, the lows, and once in a lifetime moments all compacted in an fast-moving yet intimate novel. DiFranco nails it all, like a bass drum with a squeaky pedal.

[Caleb Michael Sarvis]

Full review coming on a future episode of the Drunken Book Review Podcast.

[aniyah ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

To shamelessly flex, I know the author. He’s the greatest guy that teaches at my school. Frankie, or auntie, (as I call him) does more than an amazing job of portraying the ups and downs of a flourishing band, and his prose just drips. That’s lazy writing, for sure, but it’s hard to explain the emotions Panic Years pulled out of me. This one’s a hard book to put down, and deserves no less than the full five stars. I kid you not I’ll argue.

Simplistic yet intense writing, angst, shock factor, music? What’s not to love? I’ve never been the type to pick up a book revolving around a band, but Panic Years has really done it for me. I always enjoy a good book with characters I can love but also hate a little. Endearing but aggravating, you dig? And also relatable, more than I thought they’d be.

I couldn’t reccomend this book more, and I’m 110% positive that I’ll be raving and fangirling about it for the next following weeks. Thank you for your clever and artistic mind, Frankie. This is the best first book you’ve ever written.

[Morgan King · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was going to write a lengthy review about how bad this was but doesn’t feel worth it. Note to self, sometimes a book is at a thrift store for a reason.

[James Densmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read. Should be required reading for band kids haha. Dialogue was funny and the writing was good. Haven't read a book so fast before. Highly recommend!

[Hank · Rating 2 out of 5]

A predictable narrative with little meaningful tension that is devoid of character depth or nuance. Halfway through, though this rising band is supposedly struggling with money and speed bumps in their tour, they have yet to encounter any obstacles that serve to slow them down and events that could have been interesting grow formulaic and wind up meaning nothing.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invigorating rock tour romp guided by an irresistible narrative voice. DiFranco's energetic debut pulled me along for the ride and is the perfect balance of troubling plot, fully formed characters, and insight into the music world. Highly recommended!

[BarnesMcLothlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A poor quality, hacked up mutation of the writer’s observation of an actual touring band’s struggle presented as fiction. Disgustingly, the writer places himself in the position of a fictional sexual encounter with one of the band members.