Month: December 2006

So This Is Readin? – Tripp Underwood Life on the road with The Unseen (c) 2006 So This Is Readin? the seminal release from Tripp Underwood, bass player for the Boston punk band The Unseen, is light hearted easy flowing read. I was surprised at first, but then I realized that Tripp has in fact been to college. That aside So This Is Readin? chronicles the molasses like rise to the middle of a young suburban punk band. All the trials tribulations and tragedies in tow. The story isn’t incredibly different from ones you’ll hear from any other young punks in a world touring band, with the exception that The Unseen seem to have near limitless motivation. I think this idea is paramount and takes the meaning of the book beyond the mere words in the text. If you are motivated, if you have drive, you can achieve some of what you want. That said, I think the book ends on a little bit of a sour note. It feels to me like the author is trying to justify the current position of the band. He doesn’t come right out and say it, but I suspect that he is trying to defend himself from accusations of selling out. For some final thoughts: from cover to cover the book is 163 pages and a reasonably easy read. I think young punk bands could learn a lot by hearing about the mistakes that bands have made before them. And one more thing, Tripp, a spell check does not a copy editor make.–Jerry Actually