Brooklyn's Last Secret
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
A rip-roaring journey through the highs and lows of tour life
Welcome aboard the tour van of Major Threat—Brooklyn’s finest rock band yet to catch a break—as they traverse the US of A on a last-ditch summer festival tour. On drums we’ve got “band dad” Ed, the stoic drummer who keeps bumping into tech bro co-workers that he can’t quite relate to. On bass, there’s Paul, a man of mostly mystery, who drinks hard and yet manages to glide through life, intelligible to no one except energy-drink guzzling Marco, the baby of the band and newest replacement lead singer. And of course there’s the gentle and serene Lilith, a weed lollipop sucking, stuffed-animal backpack wearing guitarist healing from heartbreak.
There’s sex, drugs, and rock n roll, sure, but there’s also tender moments as the motley crew take turns behind the wheel, compiling lists of the hottest hunks and best guitar riffs to pass the miles. From tour fashion to breakdowns—mechanical and emotional—Leslie Stein holds no bars in this incredibly funny and heartfelt love-letter meets parody of life on the road.
Her first full-length fiction, Brooklyn’s Last Secret expertly showcases Stein’s trademark cocktail of charm, wit, and whimsey, leaving readers decidedly affected by their time spent in her world. With her smoothest line and most stunning watercolor washes to date, Brooklyn’s Last Secret reveals a lighter, more humorous tone from the LA Times Book Prize winning cartoonist.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A rising indie band loads the van for a cross-country survey of dingy clubs, outdoor festivals, and at least one half-price wing night in this quirky fictional tour diary by Stein (I Know You Rider). Major Threat (they know...) hope a stint with a younger opening act will jump-start a breakthrough. Their agent has booked a mixed bag of gigs—low-key bars, a couple larger venues, but also a deflating bill with a stand-up comedian. Lighthearted vignettes of the tour grind get a lift from Stein's distinctive colored pencil and watercolor art and expressive, twee caricatures of the band (their puppet-like heads are dashed as little more than eyes, mouth, and a haircut). New singer Marco acclimates to the band between calls to his girlfriend, Ed (drums) cultivates a tour beard (he's taking time off from a tech job), Lillith (guitar) broadens her horizons in the wake of a recent breakup, and the beatifically chill Paul (bass) naps and abides. Real-life rocker Stein's insider perspective shines through in scenes of hurried sound checks, Red Bull–fueled debates, occasional hook-ups, and road trip humor, and in how the narrative lays bare the uncertainties and loneliness of life in a roving makeshift family unit. This endearing hangout comedy has a lived-in feel that's sure to resonate with aspiring musicians and music lovers alike.