Although you have the means of production, as well as the ability to sell your music in any country in the world at your fingertips, this is offset with rising costs, a loss of venues to play in and the atomisation of traditional media outlets used to promote your work. Meanwhile, the general public are even less receptive than ever to music that sits outside the realm of 4/4 beats.
Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter over Uniform and Bad Breeding.
But those underground acts persevere. And for good reason: after all what is life without alternatives to the mainstream? Especially the noisier, abrasive and atonal acts moving beyond the accepted limits of rock n roll. The ones whose records and gigs are sonic equivalents of a boot in the face and leave you invigorated.
Such as the late, lamented Arab on Radar.
Formed in 1994, this band from Providence, Rhode Island (John Waters’ second home) played noise rock that was more in line with the early No Wave bands than Big Black. Through constant touring, they crossed over to the hardcore scene and built up a cult following alongside similar acts like Lightning Bolt, Wolf Eyes and The Locust. But just as this milieu started to find recognition in mainstream press, AoR broke up.
This book, written by guitarist Jeff Schneider, offers up his perspective on his time in the band.
For those looking tales of Caligula style excess, you will be disappointed (unless you count band members queueing up to use the toilet to have a wank). What you get is a unique, grinding and humourous tome told by a grizzled veteran of underground music who wants to discuss the songwriting process as much as playing live and give shoutouts to those who influenced him. This is quite refreshing as too many bios of a similar ilk often avoid discussing the songwriting, maybe in the belief that readers will find such details boring.
It also depicts the relentless grind of touring, playing shows in front of people who don’t know who you are, nor do they care about giving you a fair hearing. Add in poverty, no guaranteed place to crash after a gig and being couped up together in a small van for long periods of time, is it any wonder that tensions surface all too easily.
Regardless, Schneider’s enthusiasm shines through and his brutally honest take on the scenes that fostered his band, the acts they toured with and the music reads like a cross between an avant-garde lecture and a mate bending your ear in the pub.
Not a read for everyone, but those who do will gain a newfound appreciation for Arab on Radar.
Jeff Schneider, 2018, Psychiatric Tissues: A Memoir. Pig Roast Publishing. ISBN 978-0999407318
⏩ Christopher Owens was a reviewer for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland. He is currently the TPQ Friday columnist.
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