Review: Almost Almost Famous by Josh Crutchmer

 

Genre: Music Essay

Description:

“(Almost) Almost Famous is a collection of stories, essays and memories showcasing Red Dirt, Americana, roots rock and independent country music through the eyes and notes of journalist Josh Crutchmer. The author says: These are tales from my days in the wings, behind the scenes, and in the crowd. We’ll dodge an Oklahoma summer storm with Wyatt Flores and stumble upon the news of last year’s Cross Canadian Ragweed reunion in the most random way possible. I’ll tell you about how an act of professionalism with Turnpike Troubadours changed everything for me. We’ll assess the bandwagon of Kaitlin Butts and smoke weed with Margo Price. Vandoliers and Jenni Rose will tug at your heartstrings, and we’ll walk through a new record with Ryan Bingham. We’ll go catfish noodling with Koe Wetzel and into the studio with Whiskey Myers. We’ll ride Charley Crockett’s bus after the Houston Rodeo, and we’ll learn how to navigate independent music from American Aquarium. (We may have a word for those who don’t exactly enjoy our work, too). There will be exceptions: The book turns serious by including the final interview given by the late Todd Snider. It also features a catch-up with the iconic Robert Earl Keen at age 70.”

Author:

Josh Crutchmer is the print planning editor for The New York Times as well as writing for them along with Rolling Stone and write for several other newspapers in the past. He has a long history in music journalism, mostly focused on the Red Dirt music scene of his native Oklahoma. This is his fifth book, all of them focused on roots music, most on various aspects of the red dirt music scene.

For more, check out his website.

Appraisal:

Near the end of this book the author says “Whatever you call this, it was not a memoir.” Okay. Amazon lists it in a couple genres involving music history and music essays. Hmm. Well, if a memoir and a musical history had a baby … you’d get something like this. I’ve read all of Josh Crutchmer’s books, but this is my favorite one, at least so far. All of them talk about music acts from the music scenes Josh focuses on, and while a music journalist, Josh is also a fan. That comes through and as a fan of the kind of music he focuses on, both the stories of the artists and the experience from a fan’s point of view made the read that much better. That I was on my way halfway across the country to see a concert with multiple acts that get mentioned in this book as I was reading the last part of it just amped things up that much more. While that addition is unique to me, I guarantee that readers who are fans of the music from the Red Dirt and Texas music scenes will love the new insights this book will give them.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Some adult language.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Star

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words