In this funny and engrossing sendup of cheesy rock 'n' roll memoir, Spitz (How Soon Is Never?
) presents alcohol-soaked drummer Sandy James, formerly of '90s could-have-beens the Jane Ashers, who chronicles the Ohio band's rise to fame and abrupt collapse through the story of front man Harry Vance. As aimless 20-somethings in the early Clinton era, the Jane Ashers make three years' worth of unsung garage band magic before they have one big hit—and Harry quits to be a dad. Thirteen years later, Sandy is living on a worker's comp settlement and putting his free time toward reuniting the band. Harry reluctantly agrees to rejoin in the hopes it will impress his petulant teenage son. The son's girlfriend hypes them on her improbably well-trafficked music blog, and before you can say "label rep" these over-the-hill rockers are selling out a stadium tour, and Harry is transforming from reasonably happy family man to self-destructive coke fiend. Spitz, a senior writer at Spin
, knows his business and pitches his wealth of rock knowledge and insider wisdom perfectly, keeping the mix of the cliché, the fantastic and the tragic bright and exact. (Mar.)
