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Reposted by John R. Davis

Steve Kiviat @dcsuburbanite.bsky.social · 2d

The long gone 7th & e nw DC space is part of a diy venues exhibit @ MLK library in Washington DC

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 7d

Huge thanks to Georgetown University Press for making my book a reality. It all started at the @dchistorycenter.bsky.social conference in 2017 and now, following a very long path, is available today.

georgetownup.bsky.social @georgetownup.bsky.social · 7d

Now Available

In Keep Your Ear to the Ground, University of Maryland archivist and former Q and Not U drummer John Davis documents the history of fanzines as they evolved alongside Washington, DC’s punk music scene.

press.georgetown.edu/Book/Keep-Yo...
@jrdarchivist.bsky.social

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 7d

Out now via @georgetownup.bsky.social -- "Keep Your Ear to the Ground:" A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington, DC" documents one of the most important parts of a punk scene's ecosystem -- the fanzine creators. Should be available anywhere you find new books!

press.georgetown.edu/Book/Keep-Yo...

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Reposted by John R. Davis

Tamara Keith @tamarakeithnpr.bsky.social · 8d

Very excited to get my friend John Davis’s new book in the mail. As someone who was also introduced to punk rock through mix tapes in the 90s, this is a fun read.

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 8d

I'll be back on WOWD/Takoma Radio tomorrow night (Wed Oct 1) for another episode of This Year's Model. We'll focus on 2012, with music from @beachhouseband.bsky.social , Jessica Pratt, Redd Kross, Royal Headache, the Soft Pack, Tanlines, Cloud Nothings, Jaill, Terry Malts, & more. Any requests?

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 16d

36 years ago today - Fugazi, Shudder to Think, and Jawbox concert flier, Pierce Hall, Washington, D.C., September 22, 1989. From the Sharon Cheslow Punk Flyers collection at the University of Maryland. #DCpunk #Fugazi #ShudderToThink #Jawbox @dischord.com #PositiveForceDC

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 17d

28 years ago today - The Most Secret Method, The Dusters, The Better Automatic concert flier, Resin House, Rockville, Maryland, September 21, 1997. From the John Davis collection on punk at UMD. #DCpunk #MostSecretMethod #TheBetterAutomatic #HouseShows #PunkFlyers #DischordRecords #PunkRock

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 18d

The new episode of my radio show on WOWD, This Year's Model, is up now! This one focuses on 1968, so we'll hear Shocking Blue, the Byrds, Sharon Tandy, the Beatles, Basil Daley, Sam & Dave, Cherry People, Hendrix, Simon & Garfunkel, Norma Jean, Delfonics, & more.

www.mixcloud.com/thisyearsmod...

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 19d

I don't think I've *ever* done an interview about the Elusive, a band I was in from 1997-98. With the impending reissue of our lone EP, Sometimes Sounds Collapse (courtesy of @expertworkrecords.bandcamp.com), I finally got a chance to do that with the Getting It Out podcast. My thanks to them.

The Elusive (John Davis)

Podcast Episode · Getting It Out · 09/19/2025 · 1h 12m

podcasts.apple.com

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Reposted by John R. Davis

Washington City Paper @wcp.bsky.social · 20d

Zines have always been central to D.C.’s punk and indie music scene, connecting fans and fueling movements. Now, they’re back.

Contributor Taylor Ruckle looks at the resurgence of zines—the “paper boom,” as one zine maker calls it.

Making a Zine: Keeping D.C. Music and Its Meaning in Print

In the hardcore punk scene and beyond, local zine makers build community and support movements through self-publication.

washingtoncitypaper.com

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 20d

Adam, Roland, and Jason of the Impossible Five (Stevie hadn't arrived at the show yet!) outside the University of Maryland's South Campus Dining Hall, before a show at WMUC on April 12, 1997. Photo by John Davis from the John Davis collection on punk at UMD. #DCpunk #ImpossibleFive

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 20d

I'll be speaking at the UMD School of Music next Friday, September 26 at 4pm in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at UMD. Free and open to all, this talk covers the D.C. punk fanzine scene's work during the culturally turbulent period in the early 90s when alternative rock went mainstream.

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 22d

Brooklyn! I'll be in conversation with @emilyflake.bsky.social on Friday November 14 at Books Are Magic's 225 Smith Street location. Starting at 7pm, we'll be talking about my new book (out Oct. 1), "Keep Your Ear to the Ground: A History of DC Punk Fanzines."

www.booksaremagic.net/events/36436...

John R. Davis: Keep Your Ear to the Ground w/ Emily Flake | Books Are Magic

Your Favorite Indie Bookstore!

www.booksaremagic.net

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 26d

"Stranger Things" offers several threads that I think could be untangled over a semester, both in the creative aspects of the show and in how it's marketed (and what that says about tastes, demographics, and expectations of viewers today). Nostalgia, marketing, repackaged Boomer paranoia, etc.

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 26d

Next week's episode of This Year's Model focuses on music from 1968! Assembling the show now but let me know suggestions for songs you'd like to hear. Can't guarantee they'll be played but I definitely want to hear from people. Whittling a list of 200 songs I'd like to play down to 35 currently!

John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 27d

I'll be in conversation with Ambrose Nzams (of Demystification zine) at @peoplesbooktakoma.com on Saturday, December 6 from 5-6pm about my new book, "Keep Your Ear to the Ground: A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington, DC." Event is free, but People's would love it if you'd RSVP at the link below!

John R. Davis for Keep Your Ear to the Ground

The first history of the fanzines that emerged from Washington, DC’s highly influential punk community DIY culture has always been at the heart of DC’s thriving punk community. As Washi…

peoplesbooktakoma.com

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 28d

The latest episode of my radio show on WOWD, This Year's Model, is up now. It focuses on 1992, which was particularly fun to do. We've got Sonic Youth, Sugar, L7, Gang Starr, Shudder to Think, L7, the Breeders, NOU, Jade, Paul Westerberg, Eric B & Rakim, Pavement, and way more. #CommunityRadio #WOWD

TYM0010: This Year's Model: 1992 - September 3, 2025

This episode of This Year's Model focuses on the music of 992. Features highlights from Sonic Youth, Sugar, Shudder to Think, L7, the Breeders, Nation of Ulysses, Paul Westerberg, and much more.

www.mixcloud.com

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · 29d

Nice to see WOWD/Takoma Radio (the home of my radio show, This Year's Model) getting a little feature on WETA, our PBS station in town. I appreciate the hard work everyone does behind the scenes at WOWD to keep the station up and running. #WOWD #TakomaRadio #CommunityRadio #TakomaPark

From NPR's Tiny Desk to Takoma Park's WOWD | WETA

YouTube video by WETA PBS

youtu.be

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · Sep 8

I'll be in conversation with @chrisrichards.bsky.social about my new book, "Keep Your Ear to the Ground: A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington, DC," October 11 at @dcpubliclibrary.bsky.social's MLK branch. 3pm in the New Books room. Registration is now open: dclibrary.libnet.info/event/14585068

Author Talk: Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Learn about fanzines that emerged from Washington, DC's punk community from the 1970s to the 21st century.

dclibrary.libnet.info

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · Sep 5

I think this was Burning Airlines' first show. It was just a few months after Jawbox split up. There always seemed to be a great "back to school" show like this at the Black Cat or elsewhere in the scene in early September when I was in high school/college.

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · Sep 5

28 years ago today - Kerosene 454, Bluetip & Burning Airlines concert flier, Black Cat, Washington, D.C. - September 5, 1997. From the John Davis collection on punk at the University of Maryland. #DCpunk #Kerosene454 #BurningAirlines #Bluetip @dischord.com @solidbrassrecords.bsky.social

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · Sep 5

45 years ago today -- Teen Idles and Nurses concert flier - The Chancery, Washington, D.C., September 5 and 6, 1980. From the Sharon Cheslow punk flyers collection at the University of Maryland. #DCpunk @dischord.com #TeenIdles #DischordRecords #1980

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · Aug 29

I'll be in conversation with my old friend and QANU/PB/Elusive bandmate @chrisrichards.bsky.social about my new book on DC punk fanzines, "Keep Your Ear to the Ground," on Saturday, October 11 at 3pm in MLK Library's New Books Area (corner of 9th and G in NW DC). Part of Black Eyes' festival!

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · Aug 28

On November 3, I'll be taking part in the George Washington University Museum's "DC Mondays" series of online talks about DC history. I'll be focusing on the punk fanzine creators that I chronicled in "Keep Your Ear to the Ground," my forthcoming book for @georgetownup.bsky.social. Register now!

D.C. Mondays: A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington | The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum | The George Washington University

D.C. Mondays: A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington

museum.gwu.edu

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John R. Davis @jrdarchivist.bsky.social · Aug 28

Just picked up my copy yesterday at @peoplesbooktakoma.com in Takoma Park. Looking forward to getting into it.

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