The debut novel from Peter Conners, bestselling author of Grateful Dead histories   

When Virgil Frey gets an unexpected phone call from his childhood best buddy, guitarist Richard Payne Knight, urging him to join his band Laverna as a roadie running the merch table on a small club tour through New York state, he decides to go for it. Virgil’s current situation attending a graduate school creative writing program is falling flat, and he’s hoping this new adventure will spark some kind of creative inspiration. 

While on tour, Virgil discovers Laverna’s growing popularity involves a cult-like following that just might be an actual cult, mysterious hook-ups and odd disappearances, and band members developing questionable habits. Can old friendships survive tour chaos? Will the band get signed? Does Virgil find the inspiring experiences he seeks? Merch Table Blues is an often humorous rock band tour mystery exploring vital ideas about loyalty and friendship that will keep readers on edge till the last encore is played.

"It's almost like Huck Finn went right by the raft and got on the bus instead." — Brian Weinstein, Attendance Bias podcast

Praise for Peter Conners:

"Insightful and entertaining..." — Kirkus Reviews

"...Readable and honest... charming." — PopMatters

"Admirable..." — AV Club

"...A lot of fun... with a poet's lyricism and insider's experience." — High Times

"Peter Conners' writing is stylishly entertaining." — All About Jazz

"Conners' prose is clear and engaging." — The Daily Beat

"...An enterprising music writer...." — Austin Chronicle