Amped: Notes from a Go-nowhere Punk Band

by Jon Resh

Get In The Van by Rollins is the ultimate punk rock road book. This might, however, be the ultimate punk rock book, period. Jon Resh was a member of Spoke. You've probably never heard of them. He was a never a star. But he records in hilarious, wry, painful, and simple prose, the small victories, minor tragedies and humdrum existence of playing in a band. The pure joy of the bar E, the fumbling attempts with groupies, the hernias and cut fingers, life on the road, and all the mundanities of going deaf, and failing totally to make a living from it. Pure genius. Get In The Van by Rollins is the ultimate punk rock road book. This might, however, be the ultimate punk rock book, period. Jon Resh was a member of Spoke. You've probably never heard of them. He was a never a star. But he records in hilarious, wry, painful, and simple prose, the small victories, minor tragedies and humdrum existence of playing in a band. The pure joy of the bar E, the fumbling attempts with groupies, the hernias and cut fingers, life on the road, and all the mundanities of going deaf, and failing totally to make a living from it. Pure genius.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2001

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim at my favorite local used book store and found it a very enjoyable, quick read. I was pleasantly surprised by the outstanding writing: unlike other reviews, I found it effortless, unpretentious, and hot damn, just highly readable. Of course, not a lot "happens", as it's simply a memoir of one guy's experience of the early 90's punk scene, but it's a really wonderful, often funny series of romanticized vignettes about shitty clubs, awesome punks, asshole punks (um, Hoover, that would be YOU), cool club owners, asshole club owners, various bodily functions, house shows, tours and vehicle problems on said tours, etc etc.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most absolute best writing skills, but that's the whole point!! A fine, fine snapshot of what it was to be an American punk band in the '90s. This has nothing to do with Green Day or Offspring - this is the real, pure experience. It's the life that 99% of people who picked up instruments and tried hard to make a difference saw.