Review of Circumstantial
Evidence
Finished
Frank Secich's memoir last night. This book provided a fun romp
through history of power pop rock in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern
Ohio, starts in the 1960's and continues until this year. I had
interviewed Frank about his successful band, Blue Ash, beginnings and
the definition of Youngstown, Ohio distinctive sound, for our local
paper, The Way It Was, so I anticipated hearing more stories of the
glory days of bands with talent and guts and a great big belief in
themselves.
Reading
this book was like sitting down and hearing Frank tell story after
story. I am reminded of how different the sixties were from today.
The dress codes, the hair, the rebellion for fun's sake and the
belief “if I have a guitar life is good.” In our home area of
Sharon, Pennsylvania, the goal of staying out of the steel mills
drove many dreams. I am just a few years younger, so much of that
period, I remember from observing my older siblings, but being a kid,
I didn't have those battles. Hearing the local flavor brought
memories for me. In fact, many were the same from when I waited for
my brother to tell me when he came home from cruising, like the Green
Man and the Haunted House.
As any
good story teller, Frank tugged at my heart at times, too. His
chapter on meeting his wife of over forty years would bring out the
romantic in anyone. And the love he has for his son, evidenced by
laying up his guitar and the road to raise his pride and joy, keeps
with family values and the importance of a strong father. Jake grew
into a responsible young man. This may not be the usual rock and roll
story.
Frank met
many celebrities through his years of performing. I didn't feel
though he was name dropping. He encountered and enjoyed the company,
just the same as anyone he would have met. Frank loves great times
and enjoys jokes. His one band mate, Stiv Bator, did a lot of kooky
things. My favorite involved Dick Van Dyke, who recently he
celebrated his ninieth birthday. Stiv met him and told him how as
watching his TV show as a kid gave him a father figure he lacked in
his personal life, so much he was led to his career. Dick asked him
what that was. Stiv replied, “A lead singer in a punk band.”
Dick
walked away.
My
overall impression of Frank's book shows me he had a fun time
remembering these times. I detected no bitterness even in recalling
the unfairness of major recording companies. He noticed talent that
never made it big and felt sad but not for himself. The short
chapters created an easy quick read. His life of performing is not
over as Dead Beat Poets is his newest band with his own songs, as he
always wrote his own songs, unusual when he started Blue Ash. Lyrics
of songs are also included in the book. I anticipate
 |
| Book signing and concert December 12 at Get Hip Records, Pittsburgh, PA You can buy it at http://www.gethip.com/store/items.php?searchType=Artist&q=secich%2C+frank |
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