cover image You Think You Hear

You Think You Hear

Matt O'Keefe. Thomas Dunne Books, $23.95 (295pp) ISBN 978-0-312-26903-6

This engaging if callow debut novel by a North Carolina pop music buff chronicles the adventures of 20-something Lou Farren, a Newark, Del., rock musician wannabe who signs on as roadie (""I prefer... Tour Manager"") for the Day Action Band. Made up of three of Lou's cronies from student days at the U. of Delaware guitarist/composer Tim; bass guitarist Joey; and drummer Cree, Tim's former girlfriend TDAB is a smalltime rock band. Its latest album, You Think You Hear, is about to be released, and the band has finally landed a big-time gig, as the opening act for a hot British group called the Radials. Though Lou was charismatic Tim's first mentor, he was cast aside when Tim formed the group. Now, in lust with Cree, Lou swallows his pride and allows himself to be treated as a subspecies in the superficial rock music hierarchy. Sex kitten Cree, meanwhile, fawns over Radials singer Brant Adman, who is billed as a reincarnation of Beatles icon Paul McCartney. Over nearly three weeks of one-nighters in cities across the U.S., Cree finds fantasy fulfillment on the Radials' bus with Brant while Tim and Joey bask in reflected glory. With a subtly satisfying twist at the end, the novel succeeds creditably as entertainment, though an overload of road-trip details may give nongroupies travel fatigue. (Apr.)