Rob Miller
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millerscave.bsky.social
Rob Miller
@millerscave.bsky.social
360 followers 480 following 990 posts
https://www.robmillerwriting.com/
Author. Cofounder Bloodshot Records. DJ at Miller’s Cave.
Exploring the murky recesses of roots music:
Streaming at radioharborcountry.org
Sat: 4 to 5 PM & Sun: 9 to 10pm (Eastern)
Chicago via Detroit
Posts Replies Media Videos
millerscave.bsky.social
Took me a few days, but I found my "Mickey" ball---Lolich and Stanley---from a time when every team, it seemed, had someone named "Mickey" on it. We had two.
RIP #mickeylolich
#baseball #mickeystanley #detroittigers #detroithistory
A baseball with the signatures of Mickey Lolich and Mickey Stanley A baseball with the 1970s roaring Detroit Tigers logo, and "Detroit Tigers" above it
February 11, 2026 at 3:35 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Finished this over the weekend. Heartbreaking. Made me sad, angry, but most of all made me miss him. As a person and an artist.
@jonbern.bsky.social did a remarkable job putting this story together.
#justintownesearle #booksky📚 #altcountry #nashville
Book cover of "What Do You Do When You're Lonesome: The Authorized Biography of Justin Townes Earle" by Jonathan Bernstein. Black and white picture of JTE in the center, wearing an old hat and holding a guitar.
February 10, 2026 at 4:32 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
People asking me a lot these (book link in bio) what made Chicago such a haven for #altcountry in the 90s.
Cuz shit like THIS happened all the time. On MONDAYS! Check out that stacked lineup. Good grief.

#chicagoflyers #chicagomusichistory #buckowens #schubas @stevedawsonmusic.bsky.social
Poster for the Second Annual Buck Owens Birthday party tribute at Schubas Tavern in Chicago on Monday, August 12th, 1996. Along with a list of performers
February 9, 2026 at 10:54 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Look was spotted in the wild at the @ferndalelibrary.bsky.social public library! Makes sense, as 1 one of THE great indie record stores that got me on my path---SAM'S JAMS---was in that city. SUPPORT PUBLIC LIBRARIES!
@illinoispress.bsky.social #robmillerwriting #booksky📚
#detroitmusichistory
A copy of my book "The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low" on display on a library shelf.
February 8, 2026 at 10:07 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
#oakpark IL, Heads up!
One week from today! @marthabayne.bsky.social and I take the gloves off and talk about "The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low" on @illinoispress.bsky.social
Come for the witty banter, stay for the unrelenting questioning.
#booksky📚 #robmillerwriting #americana #musicbooks
February 8, 2026 at 6:18 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Want to thank everyone who came out to City Lit Books in Chicago's Logan Square for @marthabayne.bsky.social grilling me about "The Hours Are Long But the Pay Is Low" on @illinoispress.bsky.social . I left some signed copies behind if you missed it. Support Indie Bookstores!
#booksky📚 #musicbooks
Two literary knuckleheads sitting on stools in front of bookshelves talking. Well, one of us is talking, the other is listening.
February 7, 2026 at 7:40 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Tune in tmrw 4pmEastern for MILLER'S CAVE! Streaming at www.radioharborcountry.org
You'll hear @jdmcpherson.bsky.social @kdlang.bsky.social #howlinwolf #flatlanders, and all sorts of weird and wonderful tunes. The cure for the common radio
#communityradio #rockabillyradio #americanaradio
Cartoon drawing of a cave with broken musical instruments and notes spilling out of it. "Miller's Cave: Spelunking into the murky crevices of roots music"
February 6, 2026 at 8:23 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Holy cow! Just found this flyer in a box of crapola. #iggypop show in Japan in 94. In Tokyo visiting a friend (and interviewing the 5,6,7.8's for a fanzine!!!). Wild, wild show.
A minor earthquake struck during show---we didn't notice. Building collapsed across the street.
#punkflyers #5678s
Black and white flyer, with fold marks, of an Iggy Pop show in Japan in 1994. Dark pic of the Igster in the center.
February 4, 2026 at 8:13 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Been a quiet few years in SW MI in terms of snowfall.
Not this year.
Finally got to set up the sled ramp I built at the top of the hill.

Broken ribs at the bottom.
Tumbler of peaty scotch by the firepit at the top.

#harborcountry #sledding #sledzeppelin #puremichigan
A small wooden sled ramp. Lots of snow. "Sled Zeppelin" sign painted in yellow on its side.
February 3, 2026 at 4:18 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Writing book: REALLY hard. Publishing it: terrifying. Promoting it: tiresome. Folks telling me stories of THEIR connection to music? Awesome. @illinoispress.bsky.social sent me fan mail they got for me. Let artists know their work reached you. It means a lot. Indie community at it best. #booksky📚
Text from my book "The Hours Are Long But the Pay Is Low" Appendix F "A Box Full of Letters" that highlights the importance of community that exists when people sit down and write fan mail.
February 2, 2026 at 10:20 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Join me for Miller's Cave tmrw at 4pm Eastern
Streaming at www.radioharborcountry.org
Some things I've got queued up: #nikkilane #wilsonpickett #buddyguy #johnnycash #emmylouharris and more.
The cure for the common radio!
#indieradio #rootsradio #harborcountry #rockabillyradio #americanaradio
Cartoon drawing of a cave with broken instruments scattered about "Miller's Cave" text, with the sub-heading: "Spelunking into the murky crevices of roots music."
January 30, 2026 at 9:14 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Small bizzes are making very personal decisions on how to protect our rights and our communities today. Thinking of bizzes in #lincolnsquare that went under during Covid and how quickly they can disappear. If a beloved local shop closes for today, support them extra hard tomorrow, and days beyond
The German-y open air front of the Huettenbar, a bar in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago that closed during Covid Front of a diner, red awning with "Ham on the Bone" painted on it. Open 24 hours "Jeri's Grill sign hanging over doorway. Closed during Covid Window of Rosded restaurant. Green neon signs of name and "open" Closed during Covid
January 30, 2026 at 3:52 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
And we'll toss in admiration for Gromit's amazing ability to sniff out his fave wintertime delicacy, freshly frozen deer poop, thru 2 feet of snow.
January 29, 2026 at 4:57 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
An epic show I got to work.
Closing night of a storied club in #annarbor and this gang of legends got together for one last hurrah. #pattismith #lennykaye members of #MC5 & #stooges
I did a good job & afterwards they gave me this signed poster.
#booksky📚 #flyers #robmillerwriting #musichistory
Autographed show poster from the closing night of Ann Arbor's Nectarine Ballroom. Ghastly late 80's squiggly design and fonts, signed by Patti Smith, Fred "Sonic" Smith, Scott "Rock Action" Asheton, Lenny Kaye, and others Red All access pass from the Happy Trails show, the closing night of Ann Arbor's Nectarine Ballroom, April 6th, 1991. Plus a pertinent excerpt from my book "The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low"
January 28, 2026 at 11:25 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
First time I considered the possibility of permanent hearing loss. Next morning, I could see the homeroom teacher's lips moving, but all I could hear was static. After that, I never went to a show w/o ear plugs. Text from my new book (link in bio)
#motorhead #booksky📚 #detroitflyers #punkflyers
January 26, 2026 at 4:46 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Gromit on his never-ending quest for his favorite treat: fresh frozen deer poop.
January 26, 2026 at 3:04 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Checking in with a college friend who is now a minister (you read that right, not ALL my friends are rocket-sledding to hell) at a true social justice church in Minneapolis. I asked how I could help. Please help if you, as I am, are feeling helpless and outraged.
www.saint-nicks.org
#minneapolis
It’s just palpable tension. There’s a vigil over on Nicolette Ave where the second killing happened yesterday and we’re going over there this morning. The response at the site has been a reverent silence. People are hiding in their homes. The key is not so much ample food shelves, it’s food shelves that will deliver. People are too afraid to leave their homes, even for food. They normally serve 50 families per week, but the number of families requesting deliveries are now over 500. Here is a trusted program. Your donation will go directly to human beings.
January 25, 2026 at 5:32 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
It's cold. The news is shitty. For a distraction while you are defrosting your fingers or unsticking your tongue from a pole, here's a UK podcast I was on recently. He describes my middle school years as "a cul de sac of loneliness." Ouch, but true.

www.c86show.org/e/rob-miller...
January 23, 2026 at 5:25 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
1st book read of the year (hey, I've been busy with my own book, ok?) (Link in bio). I will never look at the tufts of rabbit fur I find on walks along the Chicago River the same way again. We are never far from wilderness. Big thumbs up!
@christopherbrown.bsky.social #booksky #urbannature
Book cover of "A Natural History of Empty Lots" by Christopher Brown
January 20, 2026 at 8:36 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Another genuine pleasure of putting my book out there (link in bio) on @illinoispress.bsky.social has been people telling me how they have to put the book down and go listen to the music I'm talking about, either to revisit old faves, or discover something new. Love, love, love it!
#booksky
January 17, 2026 at 7:24 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Tune into Miller's Cave Sat at 4pm eastern. www.radioharborcountry.org
You'll hear #bottlerockets, Lefty Frizzell, #irmathomas, #davealvin #magicsam and more!
The cure for the common radio!
Replayed Sun night 9pm
#robmillerwriting #harborcountry #rootsradio #indieradio #altcountryradio
A LP record rack showing albums by Duane Eddy, the Cramps, Flat Duo Jets and others, along with a banner for Radio Harbor Country, its call letters and fruequencies.
January 16, 2026 at 9:35 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
In the madness of the holidays, I forgot to pass along that my @illinoispress.bsky.social book "The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low" was named one of the BEST MUSIC BOOKS OF 2025 by @rollingstone.com
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Check it out! Me, #ozzy, and some bum named McCartney
January 15, 2026 at 10:19 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Attn: Oak Parkers! Oak Parkians? The book release tour for "The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low" hits yer town 2/15 at 4pm. My sparring partner will be @marthabayne.bsky.social so you know it will be good.

@illinoispress.bsky.social #booksky📚 #robmillerwriting #chicagomusichistory #oakpark
January 14, 2026 at 8:49 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Holy cow! "The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low" is a January staff pick at the @americanwritersmuseum.org !!!
These people know their writing. It's not like when I was the staff pick at the American Sour Pickle Museum. I thank them mightily.

@illinoispress.bsky.social #booksky📚 #chicagomusic
Many book covers, including "The Hours Are Long But The Pay Is Low", and a banner reading "American Writers Museum: January Staff Picks"
January 13, 2026 at 8:27 PM
millerscave.bsky.social
Do you have an artist, an LP, that, no matter what, elevates your mood? I believe every music fan does--and, dang, we need that record more than ever.

For me, it's #Irmathomas , the Soul Queen of New Orleans.

#vinylcommunity #booksky📚💙 #robmillerwriting #musicbooks @illinoispress.bsky.social
Brightly colored LP cover of "New Orleans Ladies" featuring a saucy photo of Irma Thomas in a white sequined dress, and her autograph reading "To Rob, love Irma Thomas
January 13, 2026 at 4:10 PM