Mark Caro
@markcaro.bsky.social
Caropop podcast host, Medill Local News Initiative editor, The Foie Gras Wars author, former Chicago Tribune long-timer, dedicated vinyl listener
Bob Merlis ran Warner Bros. label publicity for many years, and on the new Caropop, he tells tales about the Carpenters, Little Richard, Dion DiMucci, ZZ Top, Debbie Gibson, Talking Heads, Devo, the B-52’s, the BoDeans, Madonna, R.E.M. and many more. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
November 13, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Bob Merlis ran Warner Bros. label publicity for many years, and on the new Caropop, he tells tales about the Carpenters, Little Richard, Dion DiMucci, ZZ Top, Debbie Gibson, Talking Heads, Devo, the B-52’s, the BoDeans, Madonna, R.E.M. and many more. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
Not that I've been nursing this grudge for 25+ years or anything, but does anyone not agree that @aimeemann.bsky.social's "Save Me" should have won the best song Oscar over Phil Collins' "Tarzan" tune?
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Not that I've been nursing this grudge for 25+ years or anything, but does anyone not agree that @aimeemann.bsky.social's "Save Me" should have won the best song Oscar over Phil Collins' "Tarzan" tune?
Your Friday Cage Match: MGMT vs. Tame Impala. Discuss.
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Your Friday Cage Match: MGMT vs. Tame Impala. Discuss.
I'm so sad to see that wonderful Squeeze/Jools Holland drummer Gilson Lavis has died. He propelled so much great music in such a distinct, powerful way (and was a talented artist to boot). He also was a kind, thoughtful Caropop guest in 2022. RIP. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I'm so sad to see that wonderful Squeeze/Jools Holland drummer Gilson Lavis has died. He propelled so much great music in such a distinct, powerful way (and was a talented artist to boot). He also was a kind, thoughtful Caropop guest in 2022. RIP. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
On the new Caropop, Paul Kelly reflects on his life as a musician in Australia, his evolution as a songwriter, his song sequel, his years of being “a recreational heroin user” and what he has learned. Is songwriting his way to make sense out of being human? www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
November 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
On the new Caropop, Paul Kelly reflects on his life as a musician in Australia, his evolution as a songwriter, his song sequel, his years of being “a recreational heroin user” and what he has learned. Is songwriting his way to make sense out of being human? www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest!
Hint #1: He's Australian.
Hint #1: He's Australian.
November 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest!
Hint #1: He's Australian.
Hint #1: He's Australian.
When I spoke with Mike Mills for Caropop in February, he mentioned a new band he had formed with Darius Rucker (Hootie & the Blowfilsh) and Steve Gorman (Black Crowes). Howl Owl Howl performs its second-ever show tonight at
@metrochicago.com.
Can't wait! www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8IX...
@metrochicago.com.
Can't wait! www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8IX...
November 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
When I spoke with Mike Mills for Caropop in February, he mentioned a new band he had formed with Darius Rucker (Hootie & the Blowfilsh) and Steve Gorman (Black Crowes). Howl Owl Howl performs its second-ever show tonight at
@metrochicago.com.
Can't wait! www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8IX...
@metrochicago.com.
Can't wait! www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8IX...
Your Friday Cage Match: Peanut M&M's vs. Peanut Butter M&M's. Discuss.
October 31, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Your Friday Cage Match: Peanut M&M's vs. Peanut Butter M&M's. Discuss.
To mark Caropop Ep. 200, we've got Paul Myers @pulmyears.bsky.social, who recently posted the 200th episode of his Record Store Day Podcast and has written a funny, heartbreaking new book about John Candy. This is a fun chat about Candy, creativity and doing it all. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
October 30, 2025 at 12:27 PM
To mark Caropop Ep. 200, we've got Paul Myers @pulmyears.bsky.social, who recently posted the 200th episode of his Record Store Day Podcast and has written a funny, heartbreaking new book about John Candy. This is a fun chat about Candy, creativity and doing it all. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
Where will you be tonight at 7? I'll be at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square seeing @stefanfatsis.bsky.social and Jonathan Eig talk about Fatsis's new book "Unabridged: The Thrill of and Threat to the Modern Dictionary." Come listen, buy a book and say hi. www.bookcellarinc.com/stefan-fatsi...
Stefan Fatsis in conversation with Jonathan Eig, "Unabridged" | The Book Cellar
www.bookcellarinc.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Where will you be tonight at 7? I'll be at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square seeing @stefanfatsis.bsky.social and Jonathan Eig talk about Fatsis's new book "Unabridged: The Thrill of and Threat to the Modern Dictionary." Come listen, buy a book and say hi. www.bookcellarinc.com/stefan-fatsi...
Your Friday Cage Match: “Werewolves of London” vs. “Lawyers, Guns and Money.” Discuss.
October 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Your Friday Cage Match: “Werewolves of London” vs. “Lawyers, Guns and Money.” Discuss.
The great Peter Holsapple @halfpear.bsky.social is at @evanstonspace.bsky.social tonight, touring with Steve Forbert. Some tix still available. Will I see you there? Here's his latest Caropop conversation: www.caropop.com/caropopcast/... And here's the tix link: www.ticketweb.com/event/steve-...
October 22, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The great Peter Holsapple @halfpear.bsky.social is at @evanstonspace.bsky.social tonight, touring with Steve Forbert. Some tix still available. Will I see you there? Here's his latest Caropop conversation: www.caropop.com/caropopcast/... And here's the tix link: www.ticketweb.com/event/steve-...
We keep adding new episodes to the Caropop YouTube channel, including the latest ones (Tom Morello, Peter Guralnick...) and "classics" including Steve Albini, Bettye LaVette, Sam Phillips and the three non-Partridge guys in XTC. Please check it out and subscribe. www.youtube.com/results?sear...
October 21, 2025 at 9:27 PM
We keep adding new episodes to the Caropop YouTube channel, including the latest ones (Tom Morello, Peter Guralnick...) and "classics" including Steve Albini, Bettye LaVette, Sam Phillips and the three non-Partridge guys in XTC. Please check it out and subscribe. www.youtube.com/results?sear...
Your Friday Cage Match: Rage Against the Machine vs. Audioslave. Discuss.
October 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Your Friday Cage Match: Rage Against the Machine vs. Audioslave. Discuss.
On the new Caropop @tommorelloofficial.bsky.social reflects on writing political music, including for the new Goodman Theatre show Revolution(s), and weighs its impact. He also talks Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Springsteen, that last Sabbath show & the Cubs. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
October 16, 2025 at 12:35 PM
On the new Caropop @tommorelloofficial.bsky.social reflects on writing political music, including for the new Goodman Theatre show Revolution(s), and weighs its impact. He also talks Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Springsteen, that last Sabbath show & the Cubs. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest:
Hint #1: He was in two bands with identical personnel except for the lead singer.
Hint #1: He was in two bands with identical personnel except for the lead singer.
October 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest:
Hint #1: He was in two bands with identical personnel except for the lead singer.
Hint #1: He was in two bands with identical personnel except for the lead singer.
Your Friday Cage Match: Hacks vs. The Studio. Discuss.
October 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Your Friday Cage Match: Hacks vs. The Studio. Discuss.
Wait, Colonel Tom Parker wasn't like the all-controlling, constipated-looking guy played by Tom Hanks in "Elvis"? Author Peter Guralnick offers a much more complex portrait and bats around various theories about Colonel and Elvis in the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
October 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Wait, Colonel Tom Parker wasn't like the all-controlling, constipated-looking guy played by Tom Hanks in "Elvis"? Author Peter Guralnick offers a much more complex portrait and bats around various theories about Colonel and Elvis in the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest!
Hint #1: He writes books.
Hint #1: He writes books.
October 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest!
Hint #1: He writes books.
Hint #1: He writes books.
Your Friday Cage Match: Korean Fried Chicken vs. Nashville Fried Chicken. Discuss.
October 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Your Friday Cage Match: Korean Fried Chicken vs. Nashville Fried Chicken. Discuss.
Reposted by Mark Caro
Blurbed as "one of the most Chicago novels I've ever read" by someone from here, Orner's take on provincialism in writing is, for my money, spot-on.
Hear all about it, and subscribe for free to @caropopcast.bsky.social!
Hear all about it, and subscribe for free to @caropopcast.bsky.social!
As he does in The Gossip Columnist's Daughter, his acclaimed new novel blurring fiction and fact around the 1963 death of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Kup's daughter, author Peter Orner makes every word count in this lively Caropop conversation. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
October 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Blurbed as "one of the most Chicago novels I've ever read" by someone from here, Orner's take on provincialism in writing is, for my money, spot-on.
Hear all about it, and subscribe for free to @caropopcast.bsky.social!
Hear all about it, and subscribe for free to @caropopcast.bsky.social!
As he does in The Gossip Columnist's Daughter, his acclaimed new novel blurring fiction and fact around the 1963 death of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Kup's daughter, author Peter Orner makes every word count in this lively Caropop conversation. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
October 3, 2025 at 12:22 PM
As he does in The Gossip Columnist's Daughter, his acclaimed new novel blurring fiction and fact around the 1963 death of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Kup's daughter, author Peter Orner makes every word count in this lively Caropop conversation. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
Your Friday Cage Match: Ordinary People vs. Quiz Show. Discuss.
September 26, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Your Friday Cage Match: Ordinary People vs. Quiz Show. Discuss.
On the new Caropop, @emmaswiftsings.bsky.social digs into her new album, life in Nashville with husband @robynhitchcock.bsky.social, whether their sensibilities rub off on each other and “how art can get us through quite brutal experiences by making them beautiful.” www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
September 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
On the new Caropop, @emmaswiftsings.bsky.social digs into her new album, life in Nashville with husband @robynhitchcock.bsky.social, whether their sensibilities rub off on each other and “how art can get us through quite brutal experiences by making them beautiful.” www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest!
Hint #1: She has recorded her own songs and others'.
Hint #1: She has recorded her own songs and others'.
September 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest!
Hint #1: She has recorded her own songs and others'.
Hint #1: She has recorded her own songs and others'.