What do you think?
Rate this book
Here Goes Nothing: A Novel
Named a Fall 2020 Best Indie Read by the Globe and Mail From Eamon McGrath, award-winning musician and author of the widely acclaimed Berlin-Warszawa Express , comes a smart and gritty novel that explores the lives of touring musicians Here Goes Nothing , Eamon McGrath’s brave second offering and follow-up to 2017’s widely acclaimed Berlin-Warszawa Express , once again explores the world of touring musicians ― but this time McGrath expands his scope and perspective from the inner dialogue of a traveling songwriter into the wider range of a multi-member touring band. Told in two interwoven narratives that blur the lines between past and present, Here Goes Nothing explores the complex relationships that are both created and destroyed by the perpetual-motion engine that is the touring van. From confessional tales of saving friends and oneself from drowning in polluted lakes in Michigan to legendary liver-wrecking nights of excess and debauchery in Lisbon, McGrath comments on the corrupt and selfish music industry and the toll it takes on musicians as they blindly chase success. Here Goes Nothing is a gutsy story of how life on the road can bring a band together ― or tear them wildly apart.
112 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2020
10 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
February 17, 2023
Don’t worry guys, I read this so you don’t have to.
I got what I deserved, as I just wanted to listen to a short audiobook that was available on Libby, and this was 3 hours so I decided to just got for it.
Regrets. Many retreats.
It’s about sex, drugs, rock and roll, and that’s honestly all you need to know. If you like those things, then go for it. If you don’t care about the internal politics of small time bands touring around the world and making dubious life choices along the way, than this one isn’t for you.
Also the audio had sounds accompanying it? Like a radio theater gone wrong.
My one positive is that the author likes to draw out descriptions of certain details in interesting and unique ways. There were some really poignant descriptions and observations that I liked, but mostly it was small saving grace for the rest of it.
Very sorry to the author of he reads this. I sound like a Karen, but this is my truth 🤪
I got what I deserved, as I just wanted to listen to a short audiobook that was available on Libby, and this was 3 hours so I decided to just got for it.
Regrets. Many retreats.
It’s about sex, drugs, rock and roll, and that’s honestly all you need to know. If you like those things, then go for it. If you don’t care about the internal politics of small time bands touring around the world and making dubious life choices along the way, than this one isn’t for you.
Also the audio had sounds accompanying it? Like a radio theater gone wrong.
My one positive is that the author likes to draw out descriptions of certain details in interesting and unique ways. There were some really poignant descriptions and observations that I liked, but mostly it was small saving grace for the rest of it.
Very sorry to the author of he reads this. I sound like a Karen, but this is my truth 🤪
May 7, 2023
oh man we were so drunk we were wasted oh my god we were fucked up and we played in our band oh man was i wasted
May 5, 2021
What does a dream turn into when you achieve it? A job. A job playing music with real people, who you have to work with every day, and drive from city to city in a crowded van. A group of people who my love you or backstab you or both while stealing your t-shirts. McGrath's book does a great job showing the day to day grind of touring, and what's more does it in a lyrical, non-linear story. I loved his descriptions of musical van life, and the ways images of water and drowning kept showing up. This is the story of a romantic that should know better, a person who wants to believe in empathy and kindness even when he's seeing someone get screwed over, someone who loves the high of playing live music and chases that feeling of the perfect song and the perfect audience, but is worn down from all the other crap he has to do to get there. Loved this.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2023
It’s so frustrating to see technical skill wasted on insufferable characters and plot. Quality prose and insight into the music industry, but it did not translate into a worthwhile novel
February 15, 2023
"Don't make life decisions when you're drunk and insane."
This book is a quick read. It is a confession of tales among band members traveling in a touring van, and around the world. Here the words echoing from Eamon McGrath about how they coped with drugs, stealing gas to feed their drinking problems, and the unbelievable yet not surprising irresponsible behavior among band members when they were together and among fans.
"You are responsible for your own time."
"There's no point trying to struggle. You can't fight the ocean. The ocean will always win."
This book is a quick read. It is a confession of tales among band members traveling in a touring van, and around the world. Here the words echoing from Eamon McGrath about how they coped with drugs, stealing gas to feed their drinking problems, and the unbelievable yet not surprising irresponsible behavior among band members when they were together and among fans.
"You are responsible for your own time."
"There's no point trying to struggle. You can't fight the ocean. The ocean will always win."
June 19, 2023
DNF at 25%.
The audiobook… the background music is SO distracting I could not focus on a word the guy was saying. So I can’t really tell you about the content bc I never actually got to that part.
The audiobook… the background music is SO distracting I could not focus on a word the guy was saying. So I can’t really tell you about the content bc I never actually got to that part.
June 20, 2023
Don’t make life decisions when you’re drunk and insane.
May 22, 2024
Didn’t realize how horrible the ratings were on this book…. I kind of liked it? It was a specific vibe but kind of fun
November 5, 2023
Two stars, elevated from one purely by the fact I made it to the end.
February 10, 2023
An easy-to-read story about relationships built and broken on the road. Shows a pretty self-aware side of touring musicians that listeners rarely think of/are rarely exposed to. I would describe the writing as smooth, I didn't really see time fly but at the end I wasn't really certain if there was "a point" to what I just read.
June 28, 2023
very much enjoyed this short & sweet banger! anyone who says that writing about drugs drinking and shagging is lowbrow is a nerd sorry!
February 20, 2024
Po prostu nie mój temat
December 1, 2024
I get why people don’t like this book and truth be told I’d rather have consumed it as a mini doc series or even a short film but I think the detail was stellar and the audiobook had an amazing score.
April 19, 2020
Synopsis: Told in interwoven narratives that blur the lines between past and present, Here Goes Nothing explores the complex relationships that are both created and destroyed by the perpetual-motion engine that is the touring van. From confessional tales of saving friends and oneself from drowning in polluted lakes in Michigan to legendary liver-wrecking nights of excess and debauchery in Lisbon, McGrath comments on the corrupt and selfish music industry and the toll it takes on musicians as they blindly chase success. Here Goes Nothing is a gutsy story of how life on the road can bring a band together — or tear them wildly apart.
(Courtesy of ECW Press)
First things first: I love the cover. I’m one of those readers who judges a book by its cover and this one sure sucked me in. Additionally, this book is obviously written for potentially a very niche audience. I come from a background of music and my closest friends are touring musicians. I am extremely familiar with the touring life and the toll it can take on oneself.
I really loved how descriptive McGrath was. The story was so descriptive that I could mentally put myself in the scene described. Only a good book can do that. I read this book during the COVID-19 lockdown and for some moments while reading this book I was able to close my eyes and envision myself at the beach or lake, smelling the salty air and feeling the sand between my toes. It was beautiful to escape in my mind temporarily even if i was sitting bra-less in my lounge room, not having showered for three days.
Unfortunately the beautiful escape from reality is where the positive review ends. The book in a nutshell is in the first line of the synopsis. Blurred lines indeed! I had absolutely no idea what was going on. I thought it may have just been temporary and kept the faith that the book would eventually turn normal. Much to my dismay it did not and I became so frustrated to just get the book finished that it really did get me worked up. Another positive- the book is short, so you don’t have to suffer for too long.
Aside from the complexity and “What the fuck is going on?” of the interwoven storylines, the most frustrating part of this book is that the character doesn’t have a name. And there was plenty of opportunity for it to come up! What kind of Mum only says “Welcome Home!” instead of “Eamon!” or “Eamon!, You’re Home!”. C’mon. Just call him Eamon, I don’t care. THEN, on top of that we go from talking to a band mate in the car in Germany to a random bar in Prague MID-CONVERSATION with a Czech man! A perfect example of the interwoven shenanigans previously mentioned.
This book had so much potential for me. I know the narrative and the background going into this unique situation and would have LOVED to read it had it been written properly. Honestly, I wouldn’t be mad if it was re-written with a chronological narrative, a name for the main character (!!!), maybe touch a little more about the relationship with the girlfriend and his family, and give the character an identity that readers can empathize with. Because I know for sure that not a single one of the many many people I know in the music industry read books, so should this book be targeting a more broad audience it has failed miserably. But, like I said, it had a lot of potential. (Side Note: Eamon McGrath’s music is good)
My sincerest thanks to ECW Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
(Courtesy of ECW Press)
First things first: I love the cover. I’m one of those readers who judges a book by its cover and this one sure sucked me in. Additionally, this book is obviously written for potentially a very niche audience. I come from a background of music and my closest friends are touring musicians. I am extremely familiar with the touring life and the toll it can take on oneself.
I really loved how descriptive McGrath was. The story was so descriptive that I could mentally put myself in the scene described. Only a good book can do that. I read this book during the COVID-19 lockdown and for some moments while reading this book I was able to close my eyes and envision myself at the beach or lake, smelling the salty air and feeling the sand between my toes. It was beautiful to escape in my mind temporarily even if i was sitting bra-less in my lounge room, not having showered for three days.
Unfortunately the beautiful escape from reality is where the positive review ends. The book in a nutshell is in the first line of the synopsis. Blurred lines indeed! I had absolutely no idea what was going on. I thought it may have just been temporary and kept the faith that the book would eventually turn normal. Much to my dismay it did not and I became so frustrated to just get the book finished that it really did get me worked up. Another positive- the book is short, so you don’t have to suffer for too long.
Aside from the complexity and “What the fuck is going on?” of the interwoven storylines, the most frustrating part of this book is that the character doesn’t have a name. And there was plenty of opportunity for it to come up! What kind of Mum only says “Welcome Home!” instead of “Eamon!” or “Eamon!, You’re Home!”. C’mon. Just call him Eamon, I don’t care. THEN, on top of that we go from talking to a band mate in the car in Germany to a random bar in Prague MID-CONVERSATION with a Czech man! A perfect example of the interwoven shenanigans previously mentioned.
This book had so much potential for me. I know the narrative and the background going into this unique situation and would have LOVED to read it had it been written properly. Honestly, I wouldn’t be mad if it was re-written with a chronological narrative, a name for the main character (!!!), maybe touch a little more about the relationship with the girlfriend and his family, and give the character an identity that readers can empathize with. Because I know for sure that not a single one of the many many people I know in the music industry read books, so should this book be targeting a more broad audience it has failed miserably. But, like I said, it had a lot of potential. (Side Note: Eamon McGrath’s music is good)
My sincerest thanks to ECW Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
February 20, 2023
I listen to A LOT of audiobooks, but this one was unique and I enjoyed the little nuances. It's almost like a soundtrack, there's music and rain and just atmospheric noise sometimes which really adds to the narration.
If you're a music fan who attends live shows, you might dig this. It's the rough and tumble side of touring as a musician. He describes things the majority of music fans give no thought to when they go to a show. The music scene has a dark side and occasionally just a grungy, legit dirty side. Poor guys not being able to wash their clothes is such a thing to this day. I know a group of guys who are becoming quite the name now who are still living in small apartments and traveling to shows in a van. It's not glamourous. It can be rough and only those truly devoted to the music will survive.
Fun and fast novella. Will recommend to live show music fans.
If you're a music fan who attends live shows, you might dig this. It's the rough and tumble side of touring as a musician. He describes things the majority of music fans give no thought to when they go to a show. The music scene has a dark side and occasionally just a grungy, legit dirty side. Poor guys not being able to wash their clothes is such a thing to this day. I know a group of guys who are becoming quite the name now who are still living in small apartments and traveling to shows in a van. It's not glamourous. It can be rough and only those truly devoted to the music will survive.
Fun and fast novella. Will recommend to live show music fans.
May 1, 2023
Eh. Here's the thing. This is the ideal book of you just want calming noise in your ear holes. The plot is nothing. The characters don't really matter. But the reader sounds like Jake Brennan of Disgraceland and the music in the background is nice. If you need 2.5 hours of calm ambient noice this is a solid choice.
March 27, 2023
And there went nothing
March 28, 2024
My Interest
Major League Baseball starts up in town today so I get to work from home. Since I’m a Cubs fan and not a Reds fan, that’s just fine with me! But, with the holiday looming, I’d knew I wouldn’t be doing as much driving as usual, so wanted a really short audio book just for Wednesday’s commute. This was in the “Always Available” section of the Ohio Digital Library and was only 3 hours and it met my last year’s goal (continuing in 2024) of reading more male authors.
The Story
“Don’t make life decisions when drunk and insane.”
“I’d wind up the same as Davey–pushing 50 with barely an Earthly possession other than a lunatic amount of pride.”
As a small Canadian band tours, hoping to make it and get a recording contract, one of the band members reflects on all that goes on in the tour. Which is to say a lot of drinking, some drugs (mostly weed) and getting over on gas stations and customs officers. They’re mostly really young guys so these things are hilarious to them. Lots of loading and unloading equipment, too.
There was a car crash and two guys nearly drowned but saved themselves. Those are the exciting parts–sorry for the spoiler.
Later they tour Europe and I became a little confused–same band? Wasn’t that Ian’s band? Hmmmm. Didn’t care enough to back up the story and listen again. It all sounded like what my brother did with local bands back in the 70s or the sort of stuff my son’s rapper-wanna-be-friends did a decade ago.
Finally, as it must, it all blows up. Or did they start to grow up? I’m not sure which. The quote above makes me think it was “grow up,” but it could go either way.
My Thoughts
Like I said above, this sounded like normal young band on the road stuff. Nothing profound. At least we didn’t have to hear about their sex lives beyond one story which, thankfully, did not give any prurient details.
We learned next-to-nothing about the guys as people. There was no plot–just driving and remembering or telling what happened on tours. I’d like to have heard about the band’s leader-song writer’s work coming up with songs. I’d like to have heard how the crowd (when they drew one) responded and what the lyrics were that got the response.
Supposedly this was named a “Fall 2020 Best Indie Read by [Canadian newspaper] the Globe and Mail”–must have been a slow year for indies is all I can say. This book is hailed as “gritty.” Call me jaded, but Trainspotting was “gritty” this was just bored guys in a van smoking weed and drinking.
I listened to the audio which was made worse by having very odd electronic music in the background. This was not meant to be music by the band in the story–it was just background music, badly done.
Ultimately it reminded me of something from a high school author’s conference. A really decent start at a first draft by a kid of 14 or 15.
Still, for a 3 hour audio, it could have been worse.
If you want a band book, read Daisy Jones & The Six–-or, better yet, listen to it on audio.
My Verdict
2.25
The music really irritated.
Major League Baseball starts up in town today so I get to work from home. Since I’m a Cubs fan and not a Reds fan, that’s just fine with me! But, with the holiday looming, I’d knew I wouldn’t be doing as much driving as usual, so wanted a really short audio book just for Wednesday’s commute. This was in the “Always Available” section of the Ohio Digital Library and was only 3 hours and it met my last year’s goal (continuing in 2024) of reading more male authors.
The Story
“Don’t make life decisions when drunk and insane.”
“I’d wind up the same as Davey–pushing 50 with barely an Earthly possession other than a lunatic amount of pride.”
As a small Canadian band tours, hoping to make it and get a recording contract, one of the band members reflects on all that goes on in the tour. Which is to say a lot of drinking, some drugs (mostly weed) and getting over on gas stations and customs officers. They’re mostly really young guys so these things are hilarious to them. Lots of loading and unloading equipment, too.
There was a car crash and two guys nearly drowned but saved themselves. Those are the exciting parts–sorry for the spoiler.
Later they tour Europe and I became a little confused–same band? Wasn’t that Ian’s band? Hmmmm. Didn’t care enough to back up the story and listen again. It all sounded like what my brother did with local bands back in the 70s or the sort of stuff my son’s rapper-wanna-be-friends did a decade ago.
Finally, as it must, it all blows up. Or did they start to grow up? I’m not sure which. The quote above makes me think it was “grow up,” but it could go either way.
My Thoughts
Like I said above, this sounded like normal young band on the road stuff. Nothing profound. At least we didn’t have to hear about their sex lives beyond one story which, thankfully, did not give any prurient details.
We learned next-to-nothing about the guys as people. There was no plot–just driving and remembering or telling what happened on tours. I’d like to have heard about the band’s leader-song writer’s work coming up with songs. I’d like to have heard how the crowd (when they drew one) responded and what the lyrics were that got the response.
Supposedly this was named a “Fall 2020 Best Indie Read by [Canadian newspaper] the Globe and Mail”–must have been a slow year for indies is all I can say. This book is hailed as “gritty.” Call me jaded, but Trainspotting was “gritty” this was just bored guys in a van smoking weed and drinking.
I listened to the audio which was made worse by having very odd electronic music in the background. This was not meant to be music by the band in the story–it was just background music, badly done.
Ultimately it reminded me of something from a high school author’s conference. A really decent start at a first draft by a kid of 14 or 15.
Still, for a 3 hour audio, it could have been worse.
If you want a band book, read Daisy Jones & The Six–-or, better yet, listen to it on audio.
My Verdict
2.25
The music really irritated.
September 8, 2024
I had a really hard time following the majority of these disconnected, city-based stories. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more as a read, and not as a listen, but was intrigued by the background soundtrack provided by the author and opted for the audio format.
After listening, I don’t think it added enough to the story to choose this format over another. In fact, the opening scenes sound more like poor audio quality than listening to a story in a downpour.
I found a lot of the description to be cliche and/or weak as metaphor, and hearing the author read those aloud — while putting significant emphasis on those phrases — didn’t do much for me.
Overall, it’s still fun to hear stories of the rock ‘n’ roll road, especially when it’s a listen as quick as this was. I just wouldn’t go into it expecting a lot of storytelling beyond “I had a hangover.”
After listening, I don’t think it added enough to the story to choose this format over another. In fact, the opening scenes sound more like poor audio quality than listening to a story in a downpour.
I found a lot of the description to be cliche and/or weak as metaphor, and hearing the author read those aloud — while putting significant emphasis on those phrases — didn’t do much for me.
Overall, it’s still fun to hear stories of the rock ‘n’ roll road, especially when it’s a listen as quick as this was. I just wouldn’t go into it expecting a lot of storytelling beyond “I had a hangover.”
September 30, 2023
After having read a few books this year that were about musicians, most notably This Bird Has Flown, I was intrigued to come across a book about musicians by a musician that also had a soundtrack that was composed by the author. It was a gritty tale of life on the road with a touring band. A life certainly not for the faint of heart. The prose was poetic at times and I did enjoy the soundtrack, especially the music for the Madrid chapter. Two stars for the book and an additional star for the soundtrack.
May 30, 2024
This might be nice to listen to at the beach or on a short road trip.
The writing style itself is enjoyable. There's a few beautifully written scenes with a lot of emotion behind them. But for what?
There's no actual plot that I could find. Very minimal, if any, character development.
Overall, it's short and pleasant to listen to, so I'm not gonna say don't read/listen to it. But it wasn't anything special.
The writing style itself is enjoyable. There's a few beautifully written scenes with a lot of emotion behind them. But for what?
There's no actual plot that I could find. Very minimal, if any, character development.
Overall, it's short and pleasant to listen to, so I'm not gonna say don't read/listen to it. But it wasn't anything special.
February 16, 2023
A fun little story about a band on tour chock full of all the usual drugs, sex, and partying. My favorite part of this was how well done the audiobook was. The sound effects were amazing with full on music and even rain at the appropriate times in the background the entire time.
March 14, 2023
Short listen of a musician wanting to share some stories. Nothing groundbreaking or moving.
Rated two stars because I enjoyed the background music (more than the book).
Rated two stars because I enjoyed the background music (more than the book).
August 15, 2023
If you are neurodivergent this is a hard pass. Way too much unnecessary background noise in the audiobook.
Story also isn’t very compelling
Story also isn’t very compelling
June 20, 2024
+1 star bc of the Sarnia chapter.
August 3, 2024
the biggest mistake i made is reading this book not knowing what it was about. the authors writing is beautiful however the theme of the book doesn’t interest me.
February 10, 2023
Short but interesting listen! I enjoyed the soundtrack that was the backdrop of this story.
December 16, 2023
A book about how men smell.
September 28, 2020
Novellas are truly a lost art. But McGrath's second novel (ehm...novella) begins to carve his name in the scrolls of time. The blurred storylines are jarring for the first few chapters, but eventually the back-and-forth really adds to the development of meaning and progression of the story. It's an effective storytelling method that follows the tradition of beat poets waxing poetic about the tussle and toil of life on the road. Dialog adds urgency, although the story is less about specific characters and moreso about specific personalities. Dig? All in all, a fine novella and one worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews