Wish You Were Here

<p>A snarky fact-filled look at the people and places that made the indie/punk scene what it is today</p><p>The American underground music scene is exploding everywhere--not just in New York City and L.A. (although we've got those cities covered too!): </p><p>In Washington D.C. . . . Ian MacKaye and Fugazi inspired the straightedge culture which had kids everywhere drawing black X's on their hands in magic marker. </p><p>In Omaha Nebraska . . . A young Conor Oberst aka Bright Eyes started writing and performing gut-wrenching love songs at the tender age of thirteen.</p><p>On Long Island New York . . . Taking Back Sunday and Brand New battled for emo supremacy and the fragile hearts of a million teenage girls.</p><p>From the coauthor of the cult-worthy <em>Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture</em> comes <em>Wish You Were Here</em>--a combination travel guide and tortured history covering everything from what constitutes proper rock critic etiquette in Minneapolis to why pop-punk bands in Chicago have so much suburban angst to how freegans in the Bay Area can feed themselves on a budget that would make frugal Rachael Ray's face blush.</p>