The story of the Handlebar Listening Room, a nightclub in Greenville, S.C., is one of continual hassle, financial risk and a revolving door of musicians, promoters and the businesspeople. John Jeter's Rockin a Hard Place illuminates a time when musicians still primarily made money from record sales, before digital technologies changed both the recording and the promotional industries for good. It's a fascinating historical read with a cast ranging from relatively unknown performers to legendary musicians like Joan Baez, Dar Williams and John Hiatt.
Jeter may have written Rockin' a Hard Place too soon, however. It seems he's still in a hard place; in his self-portrayal, he apparently lacks the experience, business acumen or people skills to succeed as a music promoter. Health issues continually get in the way; over and over again, he suggests that if it weren't for the "other guy," things would have gone swimmingly.
If readers can get past the tone of self-pity, though, they'll find a compelling inside look at the music business from a perspective that's typically overlooked: the venue owner and promoter. Jeter admits to all his mistakes and failures, and is unflinching in his assessment of the Handlebar's long-term viability. Jeter uses his book to redeem himself from the self-pitying tone with a fascinating insider's look at the side of the music business that isn't about the performers or the recording industry. --Rob LeFebvre, freelance writer and editor