You know the standard joke: if you can remember the 60's, you weren't really there. Well, that's not necessarily the case. Many of us Boomers were kids during the psychedelic era, and the most substance abuse we might have done was sneaking a cigarette or two out of our parents' packs and smoking it in an overgrown field. At least that was the case with me.
Indeed, some of the sweetest remembrances of the decade come from us kids, as can be evidenced by the wonderful popularity of I Remember JFK.
Today, we feature a review of a novel by a kid of the 60's, one Jim Potter. The name of the book is East Bench: a Novel. If you're familiar with Salt Lake City (I wasn't), the name should be very familiar. If not, read on. It soon will.
The book is called a novel, but it reads like a true-to-life remembrance by the author. The tale is that of a Catholic kid growing up in Mormon territory in a lower middle-class family. The Beatles have just appeared on Sullivan, and garage bands are springing up all over town. These impromptu groups frequently featured preteens playing with homemade instruments. It was a great time to be alive.
Indeed, I can recall such a group performing the Monkee's "Stepping Stone" in my grade school cafeteria one sweet afternoon, a delightful break in the tedious routine of classroom boredom.
Potter is the drummer for NB3. His instrument of (forced) choice is something called a "percussion tree." Other parts of his drum set include a coffee can with rocks in it and a big box. Yet, with such primitive implements, he manages to make a name for himself as a talented musician.
The band picks up a gig here and there, and manages to rent some instruments from Moses, local misanthrope. Indeed, the book reminded me of how a kid could be seriously screwed in the business world by unscrupulous shopkeepers in a day when parents let them learn life's lessons the hard way.
In the meantime, Jim's life has some serious ups and downs. The ups include meeting (and kissing) a beautiful Mormon girl, getting his picture in the paper as the talented kid who plays drums with a box, and having his band be a major hit at local dances. The downs include dealing with Moses, nearly getting killed in accidents, and watching less-talented dweebs outshine him.
The book is great for the ADD-afflicted, as each chapter is a page or two long, and is itself broken up into sub-chapters.
But it's a furious read, and a great story. You may notice a typo or two early in the game, soon you'll be blasting past them. Perhaps they were left in to simulate a twelve-year-old's account.
This Boomer's recommendation is that you get yourself a copy and enjoy a sweet trip back in time when life was simpler, slower, and kids formed garage bands instead of playing World of Warcraft.
Comments (3)
What I find most interesting is the differences as well as similarities of those who grew up in the USA. Certainly living in NYC must have been different from Portland ME. I see things about Ron's life in midwest a little different than mine. this book sounds interesting, too. He sounds few years older than me.
Most fascinating was hearing from Russia on PBS, of how they were all getting into the Beatles as well. But for them, this was VERY black market stuff. And it may have had more to do with the fall of the CCCP and the youth being favorably disposed to Western Culture.
So many viewpoints and voices truly help to give us a broader perspective to grow on. And we are never to old to grow, are we? Well, are we? Amazing how much music is woven into our lives. Yes, the music industry has made far more money off our love of music that maybe be justified. Copyright laws were intended, supposedly, to allow a good writer to make a living writing music. But what good writers and performers can make millions and for sure, the industry makes billions, I am not persuaded in the least that they are entitled to the absurdly high profits they have gotten over the years, often to the slighting of the writers and musicians themselves. To quote Bread : "This is not what the Govern-meant."
But all the same, I think we got more for our money from the music industry that we have on many things. So, its bittersweet but I'll take it. and If you really love that 60s-80s sweet stuff of magic to the ears, be sure to visit YouTube often, looking up nearly any song, groups, or even just lyrics if yo don't remember or know who did it or what it was called. Incredible comments in many places.
But don't forsake coming here, either ;-)
Posted by Scott Irv | January 30, 2010 7:00 PM
Posted on January 30, 2010 19:00
I will have to check it out!
Posted by Rivers End | January 31, 2010 4:40 PM
Posted on January 31, 2010 16:40
Ron, thanks for this and any future book tips of or about "our" era.
Posted by NCeddie | February 1, 2010 5:49 AM
Posted on February 1, 2010 05:49