Punk Rock Ettiquette

Punk Rock Etiquette: The Ultimate How-to Guide for DIY, punk, indie, and underground bands by Travis Nichols (Roaring Brook Pres) ISBN: 978-1-59643-415-5

Plot Summary

Punk Rock Etiquette is ostensibly a how-to guide.  While there are some useful tips for bands about screen printing, and getting cheap sustenance for the road, the book reads more like an Amy Sedaris hospitality book: Jokes seem more important than information in Punk Rock Etiquette.  Early on Nichols talks about getting a rock band together.  He creates a series of stereotypes and says all of your band members will fall into one of them, then proceeds to list pros and cons.  Of the delinquent, Nichols writes, "Everyone loves a criminal.  Robin Hood and Billy the Kid -- those guys were KICKASS.  But if your band's Delinquent dabbles in anything violent or something that could get YOU in trouble, steer clear.  Pros: Cred, keeps you stocked in guitar picks and snacks.  Cons: Probation officer meetings get in the way of practicing and touring" (2008, p. 9).  And so it goes, every piece of practical advice about booking shows, determining your look, and making "merch" is wrapped in a thick layer or ironic detachment.

Critical Evaluation

Nichols' book advertises it self as the ultimate DIY guide for Punk bands.  But it's really more of a lark than you'd expect: complete with silly illustrations and a fairly lengthy comic strip about life on the road.  If you're expecting a music version of Steal This Book, the Anarchist's Cookbook, or even a solemn, sober account of the practicalities of recording (like liner notes of a Desperate Bicycles single expanded to book length), this isn't the book you're looking for.  It jokes; it's pleased with itself; it's charming; it has instructions for making trail mix and packing your suitcase for the road.  In other words, it is not very punk.  These practicalities are important, but whatever happened to the starving punk artist surviving on the truth and airplane glue?  It's mistitled, almost too cutesy for the audience it'll attract with its austere title, and less practically useful than Girls Rock.

This is probably what the cover image should be.  All the illustrations in the book feature these cute animals.  The book also needs a different title.

Reader’s Annotation

If you want to learn how to get into a gigging band, you like cartoons, and don't mind if half the information is a joke, this is the book for you.

Information about the author

From the author's official biographies are concise (almost to the point of not being informative):

I'm Travis. I'm a Texan in Brooklyn.   I write books. And draw drawings and comics. And paint. And rock and roll.   Please enjoy my internet website. (Nichols, 2013a)

and

I write and illustrate books and comics for kids and post-kids. And I make music sometimes too. This is that music I was talking about earlier. (Nichols, 2013b)

His webpage reveals that he's written and illustrated a number of children's books including The Monster Doodle Book and The Totally Awesome Book of Useless Information.  He's done work for Nickelodeon magazine.  He plays music with a band called the Needies (they have a Ben Folds' sound).

Genre

How To/DIY

Curriculum Ties

There aren't specific curriculum ties.  But it might help inspire some students to pursue playing a musical instrument or starting a band, which could have curricular connections.  Though the book itself is probably not detailed or specific enough to work well in a course on its own merits.

Booktalking Ideas

1. Honestly, I wouldn't likely book talk this.  It's not that great.  Girls Rock is more informative all around (regardless of your gender).  But Nichols fills the book with fun sketches that are eye catching.

2.  Nichols' humor might be very appealing to some people.  It helps deflate the seriousness that might hover around musicians (wait! are musicians known for being overly serious?!).

Reading Level/Interest Age

7th grade and up.

Challenge Issues

Language; Cartoon Violence.  Some parents or patrons may object to punk music.

I would openly greet any patron who presented a challenge to the work, giving them ample time to detail their complaint.  I would listen attentively.  To respond to these challenges I would have some reviews of the work on hand.   I would be prepared to explain that as a public institution libraries "cannot limit access on the basis of age or other characteristics" (ALA, 1999).  I would have copies of the library's collection policy on hand.  I would be prepared to politely discuss that parents can control what their children are exposed to by coming to the library with them and examining books they check out.  If the Teen Advisory Group had written reviews of the work I'd have them handy.  While it may be of little comfort to certain parents, I would also be prepared to discuss my staunch support of intellectual freedom and abhorrence of censorship.  As a last resort, I would be sure to keep copies or a reconsideration form on hand.

Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?

I thought it would make an interesting counterpoint to Girls Rock.  It didn't.

References

American Library Association. (1999). Strategies and tips for dealing with challenges to library materials. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/copingwithchallenges/strategiestips  

Nichols, T. (2008). Punk rock etiquette: The ultimate how-to guide for DIY, punk, indie, and underground bands. New York: Roaring Book Press.

Nichols, T. (2013a). About. Retrieved http://iamtravisnichols.com/#/intro/

Nichols, T. (2013b). [Sidebar biography]. Retrieved http://travisnichols.bandcamp.com/album/the-needies-warning-contents-secular