***In the nineties, Sammy checked all the indie‐rock boxes. The duo—East Village singer/guitarist Jesse Hartman and L.A. lead guitarist Luke Wood— released a lo‐fi debut on Smells Like records, the label run by Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley. They moved up to major‐label Geffen for their second LP, Tales of Great Neck Glory. And then it was over. Sammy left behind two LPs, an EP, and a legion of fans wondering what happened. Hartman went on to a well‐received solo career; Wood became a heavy hitter behind the scenes. Thirty years later, the pair are looking back on lives well lived and their wildest dreams realized. F. Scott Fitzgerald—whose best‐known novel incidentally takes place in Great Neck—once wrote, “There are no second acts in American lives.” The story of Sammy proves him wrong. 5x8 224 page paperback book. Includes 22 B&W photos. "The story of so many bands who didn’t quite break through, but came close enough to taste it. Jeff Gomez’s history of Sammy is well-researched, admirable, and clearly an act of love.”—Howard Fishman, author of To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse
BK $19.50
03/24/2026
***Without the Apples in Stereo, there would be no Elephant 6. Without Robert Schneider, there would be no Neutral Milk Hotel. In author Josh Bloom’s first- person account, you get to decide whether these claims are truth or myth.The first biography dedicated to a core Elephant 6 artist, The Apples in Stereo is based on extensive interviews with Robert Schneider and also includes exclusive contributions by all the key band members from the group’s formative years.This entertaining, often dramatic story frames an essential catalog of pop-rock perfection that will be part of every playlist you make from now on. Join this sometimes-psychedelic, subtly therapeutic, always- artistically-ambitious journey, and be sure to keep your headphones on! 188 page paperback."This book is completely different from the way I thought of things, but it appears to be accurate!"—Robert Schneider
BK $19.50
11/21/2025
***Laughing Hyenas is the saga of one of the most uncompromising quartets in post-punk’s artistically dubious history. It’s a legacy of hell-bent self-destruction in the name of making an unholy racket, a sound both original and traditional, fueled by a love of punk rock, blues and the endless highway. The Hyenas shared stages with indie rock royalty and crisscrossed the nation to deliver the gospel of the New Sounds.The band's road to big things was blocked by heroin habits, along with the incumbent personality problems that go along with addiction. Based on new interviews and fresh source material, Laughing Hyenas intimately chronicles the history of one of the last outlaw rock ‘n’ roll bands of our era. 164 page 5"x8" paperback book. Includes 22 black and white photos“Laughing Hyenas’ John Brannon and Larissa Strickland were Michigan’s own version of Sid and Nancy. Their ferocious mix of punk and the blues made them a true original. I don’t know if it was fate, bad luck, or the band’s self-destructive habits—possibly a combination of all three—but, as Steve Miller shows, Laughing Hyenas were never destined for stardom. But their legacy speaks for itself—and deserves to be listened to today.”—Butch Vig, producer
BK $14.00
07/29/2025
***Huge stylistic changes are usually reserved for pop stars. Few bands have successfully waded into uncharted musical territory, yet AFI managed to take deep genre swings without alienating their fan base. Musical history is littered with the vestiges of bands brought down by their own success, yet AFI has avoided this fate for over thirty years.From MTV to MySpace, this book explores AFI's groundbreaking role in shaping online fan culture and their journey as musical chameleons. From their humble punk roots to their experimental electronic era, AFI's ability to reinvent themselves while maintaining their artistic integrity is a testament to their enduring influence. 138 page 5"x8" paperback
BK $14.00
07/25/2025
***De La Soul has been an indestructible creative force over the past thirty years. From the nonconformist humor of their Day-Glo debut, 3 Feet High and Rising, to their eventual role as hip-hop elders, the trio is a model of fearless evolution and perseverance. They’ve toured the globe, worked across genres, and helped to establish the Afrocentric collective known as Native Tongues. De La Soul conveys the scope and depth of their legacy, going behind the scenes to look at how they formed, trace the evolution of their sound over three decades, and discuss why the band still matters today. 178 page 5"x8" paperback
BK $15.50
07/25/2025
***Fountains of Wayne, the first full-length biography of the beloved band, goes beyond their huge hit “Stacy’s Mom” to explore the group’s entire history and the lasting legacy of their music. With their brilliantly written songs, combining smart pop melodies with keenly observed lyrical portraits of ordinary life, Fountains of Wayne have acquired devoted fans all around the world. Fountains of Wayne chronicles the highs and lows of the group's career, demonstrating why the band continues to be admired, listened to, and celebrated. 170 page 5"x8" paperback
BK $15.50
07/25/2025
***Days before flying to New York City to ink a major-label deal that might have propelled his band Brainiac to stardom, front man Tim Taylor was killed in a car crash. But that’s only the beginning of the story. Rooted in the musical community and history of their native Rust Belt home, Dayton, Ohio, Brainiac left its punk and New Wave brand of indie rock on musicians ranging from Beck to the Mars Volta. Now, more than twenty-five years after the release of its swan song EP, Brainiac—called “the great lost band of the 90s” by Variety—has reunited, finding newfound fame, a celebrity-laced documentary, live shows, and a sense of closure. 174 page 5"x8" paperback
BK $15.50
07/25/2025