Book review: Never Mind the Botox by Mitch Stansbury

Subtitled taking indie rock back from the kids, this is a cracking read consisting a series of short gig reviews and running through it his various family and friends joining him at the various concerts. They go chronologically between 2007 and 2011 as the author rediscovers his love of live music through his teenage children.

The book is very funny including a verbal demolition of Avril Lavenge and he loves his music that’s for sure. Great little pen reviews of the venues too. These include the big, Wembley Stadium with its awful sound and the small, a local cricket club where he watched Rick Astley lead a covers band doing rock classics.

Stansbury also has plenty of adventures getting to and from gigs, with a theme running through the book that he invariably misses the support acts. The touts pop up throughout the course of the book too.

It is a good mix of artists, from the massive like Green Day and the Killers through to more intimate gigs featuring bands like Jackdaw4. He also goes to the Peel in Kingston and discovers what is behind the left hand door. You don’t know? Then you will either have to read the book or go see a band at the venue.

You don’t have to like the bands to enjoy this light hearted and highly enjoyable read. You just have to love music, although jazz fans beware as he is no a fan (and who can blame him!).

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)