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/...
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/...
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...
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/...
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...
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/...
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/...
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/...
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/...
Camper Van Beethoven wraps up its tour (but, we hope, not its history as a live band) with a killer “Telephone Free”-and-then-some concert at @930club.bsky.social. They are great and give me joy, and I’m so appreciative.
September 21, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Camper Van Beethoven wraps up its tour (but, we hope, not its history as a live band) with a killer “Telephone Free”-and-then-some concert at @930club.bsky.social. They are great and give me joy, and I’m so appreciative.
Whether or not you're going to tonight's Baseball Project/Minus 5 show at Thalia Hall, you'll enjoy the latest Caropop episode with the great Scott McCaughey. What it’s like touring two bands with the same personnel? What happened at that truck stop? www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
September 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Whether or not you're going to tonight's Baseball Project/Minus 5 show at Thalia Hall, you'll enjoy the latest Caropop episode with the great Scott McCaughey. What it’s like touring two bands with the same personnel? What happened at that truck stop? www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
Any day you can talk with or listen to Robbie Fulks is a good day. On the new @caropopcast.bsky.social he discusses moving from Chicago to L.A., joining Steve Martin's band and creating his own best music at age 62. Here www.caropop.com/caropopcast/... or on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R7N...
September 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Any day you can talk with or listen to Robbie Fulks is a good day. On the new @caropopcast.bsky.social he discusses moving from Chicago to L.A., joining Steve Martin's band and creating his own best music at age 62. Here www.caropop.com/caropopcast/... or on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R7N...
With the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio playing two shows at @evanstonspace.bsky.social tonight, check out my Caropop conversation with Delvon about how he creates his cool, feel-good, Hammond B-3-driven instrumental soul jazz. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
September 10, 2025 at 3:24 PM
With the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio playing two shows at @evanstonspace.bsky.social tonight, check out my Caropop conversation with Delvon about how he creates his cool, feel-good, Hammond B-3-driven instrumental soul jazz. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
When Squeeze's Chris Difford submits lyrics to Glenn Tilbrook, does he suggest a musical direction? Did he know “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)” would be a rocker, “Labelled with Love” a country song? Difford explores their dynamic on the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
September 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
When Squeeze's Chris Difford submits lyrics to Glenn Tilbrook, does he suggest a musical direction? Did he know “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)” would be a rocker, “Labelled with Love” a country song? Difford explores their dynamic on the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
Oh, THAT kind of shampoo…
August 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Oh, THAT kind of shampoo…
Why “shall be” and not “is”? Does this law take effect sometime in the future?
August 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Why “shall be” and not “is”? Does this law take effect sometime in the future?
When I was a kid at camp, I wrote my name on the cabin wall but disguised it in a nerdy way because I was afraid I’d get in trouble (even though the wall was filled with names).
August 19, 2025 at 12:34 AM
When I was a kid at camp, I wrote my name on the cabin wall but disguised it in a nerdy way because I was afraid I’d get in trouble (even though the wall was filled with names).
Another beautiful night of great music in Chicagoland as the Decemberists—with the wonderful Nora O’Connor joining the band just this night!—following Kevin Morby and Craig Finn (this week’s Caropop guest!) to the Out of Space stage in Skokie.
July 28, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Another beautiful night of great music in Chicagoland as the Decemberists—with the wonderful Nora O’Connor joining the band just this night!—following Kevin Morby and Craig Finn (this week’s Caropop guest!) to the Out of Space stage in Skokie.
One of these things is like the other. Craig Finn explains the Randy Newman connection of his new album and much more on the latest Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
July 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
One of these things is like the other. Craig Finn explains the Randy Newman connection of his new album and much more on the latest Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
Did Craig Finn of the Hold Steady ever consider being a fiction writer, poet or journalist instead of applying his storytelling chops solely to music? How does his memory factor into creativity? Talking music with Finn is a lot of fun on the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
July 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Did Craig Finn of the Hold Steady ever consider being a fiction writer, poet or journalist instead of applying his storytelling chops solely to music? How does his memory factor into creativity? Talking music with Finn is a lot of fun on the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
Bassist Gina Birch, a founding member of the legendary British post-punk band the Raincoats, is "Making Trouble Again" with a new album. On Caropop, the fierce, funny Birch talk explores the intersection of art and the often-troublesome outside world. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
July 17, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Bassist Gina Birch, a founding member of the legendary British post-punk band the Raincoats, is "Making Trouble Again" with a new album. On Caropop, the fierce, funny Birch talk explores the intersection of art and the often-troublesome outside world. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
Technically the first seven Alice Cooper albums should be filed under "A," and the rest should be filed under "C"--except the new one, which should be "A" again. Here's my lively Caropop conversation with Alice Cooper bassist Dennis Dunaway: www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
July 14, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Technically the first seven Alice Cooper albums should be filed under "A," and the rest should be filed under "C"--except the new one, which should be "A" again. Here's my lively Caropop conversation with Alice Cooper bassist Dennis Dunaway: www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
The Alice Cooper band has reunited to record its first album in 52 years, and on the new Caropop, bassist Dennis Dunaway spills what it was like to work together again. Did old tensions resurface? What’s the deal with the band touring or not touring? www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...
July 10, 2025 at 12:15 PM
The Alice Cooper band has reunited to record its first album in 52 years, and on the new Caropop, bassist Dennis Dunaway spills what it was like to work together again. Did old tensions resurface? What’s the deal with the band touring or not touring? www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...