Most everyone at one point or another has been tempted to pick up and learn a musical instrument, be it the violin in third grade or the guitar in high school.

Just ask the person sitting next to you. Chances are they played an instrument in the junior high band, or has at least stood before a mirror playing the air guitar, hoping to uncover the raw talent of, say, the legendary Jimi Hendrix.

Besides the exceptional, talented and gifted, most kids who picked up an instrument in junior high probably stopped practicing it by the time they reached high school, as their musical niche took a back seat to the "more important" cares of life.

Joe DeVivo, a New Castle native, knows all too well about the hardships of amateur musicians and has published a book about the topic.

"Bands!: Growing Up in the '50s as an Untalented Musician in an Italian-American Town" tells a story that most people can relate to, as it weaves through reminiscences of western Pennsylvania as an Italian-American and as a mediocre musician. Memories of Friday night football games, adventures in Pittsburgh, thoughts of Iron City beer, sausage sandwiches and language differences make up the 52 mostly-short chapters of the humorous, coming-of-age story.

DeVivo, who spent the bulk of his years dabbling in music and testing out bigger and better instruments, speaks wittingly of the musically inclined people in and around New Castle.

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