There’s a certain doggedness required to play the bass: a sonic obligation to carry the weight of others while keeping things together. It’s no surprise, then, that the recent biography from Steve Hanley, The Fall’s bass guitarist from 1979–1998, exudes a robust stability. Written in concert with Olivia Piekarski, Hanley’s book peeks behind the curtain of one of the most volatile bands of the last 50 years, yet manages to do so without descending into a diatribe against the spectacularly cantankerous front man, Mark Edward Smith. Consequently, The Big Midweek provides a captivating portrayal of an iconic band’s rise to fame from the perspective of a steadfast insider. Hanley’s ability to walk the reader through bedlam while sustaining objective distance is commendable, lending the text credibility in a genre that too often collapses into egocentrism, nostalgia, and retribution. One of the more sincere and endearing band biographies available, Hanley’s book is enjoyable to read from start to finish, striving to maintain a solid rhythm throughout — the foremost quality of a great bass player.
