Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance
Penguin Press HC, The - Penguin Press HC, The
Release date: 2008-03-13
Hardcover
Author: Dean Wareham
Biography & Autobiography, Biography / Autobiography, Biography/Autobiography, Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs, Composers & Musicians - Rock, Personal Memoirs, Composers & Musicians - General, 1963-, Biography, Galaxie 500 (Musical group), Rock musicians, United States, Wareham, Dean,
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Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance
Date undefinedI was first taken to a Luna concert by a very close friend. We ended up going to a lot of their shows together; I met and fell in love with someone at a Luna concert. Both friend and lover were personally connected to Luna. My good friend now has a family but Luna is a connection to our early 20's. These were my early-ish New York years and Wareham's book sadly puts that into perspective. I remember when I first heard that Dean and Britta were together; I attach songs and events to my own life events. I think I am going to have to keep this book for life, just to remember that it all existed indeed.
Yes, I am biased.
Even if you didn't know Luna this is a very informative book that aptly discerns the development of music made by well-educated kids (such as Harvard grad Wareham) who were not quite able to reach out to the mainstream and live the cliche Rock'n'Roll life.
This is great news for those of us who have ever entertained the idea of living the music dream. Very quickly, Dean casually informs us of the crappy vans and disorienting routine of playing, of crashing record labels, fighting bandmates.
All in a lightly mocking, pretty-boy-prince style that could very well translate into why a band such as Luna was never able to become more mainstream to have perhaps cared for longevity. Dean pans us along seductively by giving our poison along with our meals. I can see myself in Dean's stand-offish persona, one that mocks REM, Chilli Peppers, etc...while longing for the absurd stability they've earned by crafting their brands so carefully.
It's great to see him tell us all about the Galaxie 500 control freaks; about love and the petty morality we all come to expect in the monotonous banter of existance. Music is a funny beast, taking us far afield, icing our paths along for fludity, and as he takes the cakes and bumps along the ride, he shares it along with us.
Dean is somehow endearingly likeable; his detestable easygoing charm pushes him along; his somewhat priviledged upbringing and natural good looks make it all seem a bit deflating. The have-it-all cover up is just worn-out skin for a proding, pleasure-loving urbanite.
Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance
Date undefinedI love a good Rock & Roll autobiography and this one is everything you hope for: Wareham is smart enough to quote Trotsky but funny enough to crack dirty jokes about tour life, he's old enough to have perspective about the industry but young enough to not be nostalgic. I was quoting lines out of it to friends the whole time I was reading it, such as "Perhaps we were postmodern. Perhaps we were just old fashioned."
Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance
Date undefinedAfter being a huge fan of both Galaxie 500 and Luna, I was giddy with delight when I learned that Dean Wareham wrote an autobiography.
It's not often when you can say you loved, not one, but two bands with the same singer/songwriter guitarist.
This is a great read if you're a fan of either band.
But even if you're not, the style and musings of Wareham are insightful and dryly comical.
Fans of both bands can arguably say that either/both should have been much more popular then they were and in a perfect world, their songs should be playing on radio stations all over the world.
Not to say they should be making a lot more money.
The not so glamorous world of an indie, and even major label,band is captured in a warts and all telling.
And the in-fighting among bandmates is understandable if you're living with them in smelly vans and hotel rooms 24 hours a day.
As a postscript - if you're a big Luna fan, I would recommend their travelogue DVD "Tell Me Do You Miss Me" that captures the final tour.
Great stuff.
