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

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)