Reposted by: John Davis
The long gone 7th & e nw DC space is part of a diy venues exhibit @ MLK library in Washington DC
by John Davis
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.
Reposted by: John Davis
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
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
by John Davis
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...
press.georgetown.edu/Book/Keep-Yo...
Reposted by: John Davis
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.
by John Davis
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?
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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...
www.mixcloud.com/thisyearsmod...
by John Davis
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
Reposted by: John Davis
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.
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
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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.
by John Davis
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...
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
by John Davis
"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.
by John Davis
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!
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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.
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
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!
by John Davis
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
by John Davis
Just picked up my copy yesterday at @peoplesbooktakoma.com in Takoma Park. Looking forward to getting into it.
by John Davis
by John Davis
46 years ago today: The Slinkees concert flier, Brian's Garage, Washington, DC - August 24, 1979. An important date in D.C. hardcore history, as this was the Slinkees' only show. 3/4 of the band went onto form the Teen Idles, the band that founded @dischord.com and led to Minor Threat, Fugazi, etc.
by John Davis
The reissue (first time on vinyl and remixed by J Robbins!) of my pre-Q And Not U band, the Elusive, is about to ship. It's a limited run, so pick one up soon, if you're interested. This was during the short time between Corm and QANU and was the first band I was in with @chrisrichards.bsky.social.
by John Davis
40 years ago today -- Bad Brains, Scream, and Beefeater concert flier, WUST Radio Music Hall, Washington, D.C., August 24, 1985. From both the Paul Bushmiller and the Sharon Cheslow collections at the University of Maryland. #DCpunk #BadBrains @dischord.com #PunkFlyers #PunkFliers #DChardcore
