The Music Book Podcast

094 John Davis on DC Music Fanzines

On this episode, Marc talks with John Davis, author of "Keep Your Ear to the Ground: A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington, DC," published in October of 2025. It's a thorough history of punk fanzines in DC from the 70s to the present day, focused on the stories of the people behind these publications and the way they both covered and influenced one of the most vital music scenes in the world. Davis gives time to small-run, more obscure zines that might otherwise have been lost to history, and shows how punk and indie in DC developed, changed, and continues to matter.As John writes, "Without the photographers, concert promoters, volunteers, audio engineers, showgoers, record stores, and other key elements, there is no punk scene. This book examines another of those integral, yet under-explored, parts of DC punk – fanzines and the fans who made them."Keep Your Ear to the Ground grew out of the work Davis has done as curator of Special Collections in Performing Arts at the University of Maryland's Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, where he's been since 2013, and where he established the D.C. punk and indie fanzine collection, an archive of DC zines that continues to grow and is open to the public. Read more here:https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/diy-dc-punk-and-indie-fanzine-collection-at-university-of-maryland-college-park-archives-deep-diveWe hope you enjoy Marc's conversation with John Davis!

093 Craig Robertson on Chris Knox

On this episode, Marc talks with Craig Robertson, author of "Chris Knox: Not Given Lightly," published in October of 2025 in New Zealand and available for pre-order now in the US. It's an incredibly thorough biography of the musician, artist, critic, and character who had so much influence on New Zealand indie music from the 70s until now, through his bands the Enemy, Toy Love, and Tall Dwarfs, as well as his huge role in the country's legendary indie label Flying Nun.As Craig writes, "Knox deserves a biography because of the immense impact he’s had in New Zealand and overseas, largely through his music. But he’s also a critic, a cartoonist, a writer, an artist. And he’s an enormously colourful personality — opinionated, provocative, endlessly creative."We hope you enjoy Marc's conversation with Craig Robertson!

092 Barry Walters on the History of LGBTQ Music

On this episode, Marc talks Barry Walters, author of "Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000," published in May of 2026. It's a fascinating version of music history focused on LGBTQ musicians and audiences, with chapters centered on specific artistsm from the Velvet Underground through David Bowie up to Judas Priest, Diana Ross, Prince, Depeche Mode, and so many more. Walters delves into each with the eye of a seasoned rock critic and the skill of a journalist, telling their stories and measuring their impact on LBGTQ culture and society as a whole. As he writes, "Straight critics have been telling us how to hear our music for ages, so I’m simply offering a queer alternative—based on forty years of professional research and two prior decades of fandom, with insights gleaned not only from when these records were new and we experienced them in the moment but also from retrospection and insider information."We hope you enjoy Marc's conversation with Barry Walters!

091 Steve Lowenthal on John Fahey

On this episode, Marc talks Steve Lowenthal, author of "Dance of Death: The Life of John Fahey, American Guitarist," published in June of 2014. It's an enthralling biography of the legendary guitarist, writer, painter, and music historian, whose solo instrumental guitar work drew on so many sources and added so much that an entire genre became associated with him. "Dance of Death" is lean and efficient, but Lowenthal manages to fit such a wealth of information in its 220 pages that you might be astounded by how much you've learned once you've finished reading.As Steve writes, "John Fahey remains an ineffable presence, a touchstone. Seemingly, his career was in preparation for his legacy, with his copious notes and fictions providing its building blocks. His albums are the soundtrack to his story, and Blind Joe Death his alter ego. As a scholar, he saw the scope of modern music, and carved his place therein by weaving fragments of cultures and genre together in his own strange collage."We hope you enjoy Marc's conversation with Steve Lowenthal!

090 Ben Cardew on Stereolab

On this episode, Marc talks with Ben Cardew, author of "Space Age Batchelor Pad Music: The Story of Stereolab in 20 Songs," published in April of 2026. It's a mix of biography and criticism that gets at both how Stereolab made their music and why it's had such an effect on so many people. The 20 song framework helps Cardew structure the narrative well, but he is also not beholden to it, as he covers many other songs, albums, stories, and ideas that surround this fascinating group.As Ben writes, "I've been listening to Stereolab since around 1992...and I still don't fully understand them...This is the story of Stereolab in twenty songs, each of which illustrates a certain facet of the band's abundant personality. It's not a comprehensive list, and it's not meant to be; it's a guide, a weak torch with dodgy batteries to light up your trip into the yawning Stereolab cave."We hope you enjoy Marc's conversation with Ben Cardew!