Customer Reviews

Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From anyone who has ever tapped their foot at a single concert to those involved or employed in the music industry, this is a book you will truly enjoy from cover to cover. I purposely slowed down the reading, as I did not want the book to end and could not put it down. You cannot help but become casual friends with Karl's acquaintances, while sharing the joys of his successes and cringing at the failures, both on, off and back stage! The author does a great job in really personalizing what some might consider a glamorous star crossed occupation, and shows what devotion it takes to really make things happen right. Especially when even the smallest problem can ruin a wonderful concert experience. When Karl shares with us the occasional spotlight that does indeed at times shine his way, you'll find yourself pumping your fist in excitement for our hero!

I think the big appeal is the "just like me"
factor. The common guy can relate to the stories of work as well as personal challenges. Initially one thinks, 'oh, man this guy gets women at the drop of a hat...his stories will be wild'. But glamorizing that can make folks feel kind of left out as if they really missed out on something. However, with Karl's true, down to earth adventures, and candid revelations, surely everyone can totally relate and compare similar circumstances to their own. You'll find out that the author is, well, "just like me!"
It takes a special writing flare to have that come across
as well as the author presents his stories.

An added bonus for those who attended concerts during the mid and late '70's, is that, chances are, Karl worked on a tour in which you probably attended one of the individual shows. I documented at least 4 myself. Thanks, Karl, for bringing back memories and providing an entertaining and informative glimpse at into an often misunderstood, yet beloved industry.

I initially bought this book because I am a LONG-TIME Jean-Luc Ponty fan. Well, the book is even better than that. First of all, if you're a fan of Jean-Luc, buy the book. I really wanted to know more about JLP as a person and this really helped. Second: there are a TON of fascinating tidbits about musicians from MANY genres. Third: this book is written in such a fashion that it's like sitting with the author and having him tell stories. Fourth: if you're interested in some of the logistics of how a band gets over the road, or ever contemplated doing something like this, buy the book. Fifth: the book evolves in such a way that the author offers some "school of hard knocks" lessons that hopefully will open some eyes, especially of those who are impressionable (in other words, it's better to learn from other's mistakes, if possible). Sixth: the author is candid about some personal challenges, acknowledges what that led to, and ultimately overcame them and is now better for it. A mini-epic/picaresque, with elements of other types of writing-and all of it VERY readable and enjoyable. Lastly: if you can get it from the author, he will personally inscribe it. What more could one ask for? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I've read this book twice now. Working in the live sound business, and having done a few shows on the road, I found this book very entertaining. Warning: There is some excellent humor contained in these pages! An excellent addition to a website I visit regularly, http://www.roadie.net/

Roadie is an excellent book that combines war stories from the road with with nuggets of information on how the technology of putting on a rock show takes place. Told with both candor and humour, Roadie is a wonderful book for those of us who have always been fascinated by the technology behind a rock concert. Highly recommended as is Karl's website www.roadie.net.

I thoroughly enjoyed Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember). I have been in the business for over twenty years, and Karl took me back behind the soundboard, on the bus and every where else one must go to keep a band on the road.

The book has lots of laughs, and is a must for fans of the music business, especially roadies-in-waiting. Karl reveals what really goes on behind the smoke and mirrors called show business. And reaffirms the fact that you can't do a show without good roadies!

This book is great! I have read it cover to cover loads of times. I am hopeing to work in this field in the future and this book gives a true representation of day to day life as a roadie. This is a MUST have book. I promise you will laugh all the way through. there is no decision to be made BUY IT NOW!!!

Great book for everybody!!!
Many things are really fun and all of them is useful in life on the road. My suggestion is just get this book and enjoy it.

The market for this book extends well beyond Karl's colleagues on and off the road. Roadies and local hands alike will find themselves nodding and laughing throughout; music fans will gobble up Kuenning's anecdotes of life on the other side of the curtain; mothers will cringe when they read about what really happens in their children's working world. It is an interesting and entertaining read; moreover, it's a real treat to hear stories from a crusty old road dog like Karl Kuenning, RFL.

However.

Karl Kuenning, RFL clearly skipped a lot of English classes when he was doing his AV thing in school. The narrative is choppy and cumbersome. He scatters parenthesis and commas around with total disregard for clarity or flow. Paragraphs often last for entire pages. I even found some blatant spelling errors.

Most of us would be wide-eyed and silent if we were listening to these stories over a beer in a bar somewhere, or perched on a road case backstage between soundcheck and the show. As it is, though, their fascination factor is severely diminished by having to wade through the morass of really bad English.

Now, I *know* there are roadies out there who know about apostrophes, semicolons, run-on sentences, and composition. Karl, we all love you dearly, but you should have found one of those roadies to polish this book before publishing it.

Typically, a book review is posted AFTER the book has fully been read. In THIS case, I just started reading this book. While I anticipate some great stories to come, I immediately find the author coming across as arrogant...speaking like a real pro. The irony here is that he says he left the road when he was 23 years old. So he was a roadie for, what? 5 years? 6 years max? I say: Dude, you haven't "lived" until you have been in it for at least a decade. Yet, you come across as though you have had a lengthy and massive career. In regard to BOC, you say "Now before you get all hot and bothered" like as if the reader is supposed to admire you with GREAT and MASSIVE envy! I call it arrogant and cocky! I have been playing in bands and working in the music industry since 1983, yet I treat my listeners (who wish to hear about the road) with humble respect.
Whatever the case, I paid for the book and will read it through, of course. But I had to write this "shut your ego down to human level" essay before reading any further!

I loved the book. It was entertaining, cleverly written, and showed the inside life of a roadie from the 70s. It makes you almost want to be one for a day!! Great story, Karl. I hope you will consider a sequel.