Writer. "BACKBEATS: A History of Rock and Roll in 15 Drummers" is one of Rolling Stone’s Best Music Books of 2025. Also: "Homeplace," about Patsy Cline's hometown. "A Song for Everyone," about Creedence. johnlingan.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mtoj6nksrc2aThis is the day the lord has made.* *Seeing NRBQ at the Ottobar tonight.22 Aug 2026 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtoj6nksrc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mtms5ckda22nAnd it ain’t close: [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Aug 2026 22:19 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtms5ckda22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mtlujars6k2dHappy New Lambchop Day to the chosen people (Lambchop fans). This record is so good not even Justin Vernon can ruin it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF14l2QZx7E&list=RDXF14l2QZx7E&start_radio=121 Aug 2026 13:28 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlujars6k2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mtlucr6bfs2dNever a bad opportunity to share one of my fav covers of all time. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Aug 2026 13:25 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtlucr6bfs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mtgw72nmec2dIn 2017 I wrote a monthly column for Hazlitt about the first baseball season under Trump, mostly to see how an almost pathologically "apolitical" league responded to the creep of fascism. Very curious what statements get made after this and I don't anticipate being pleasantly surprised. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/18/padres-coach-oswaldo-pirela-detained-ice-el-paso19 Aug 2026 14:15 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgw72nmec2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mtgtm53xzs2dJohn Crowley, author of my favorite book, “Little, Big,” recently died so I’m doing this one back to front for the first time. He was just marvelous, so erudite & creative and never afraid to leave strange occurrences unexplained. Hope there’s an updated version soon with his final decades’ stories.19 Aug 2026 13:29 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgtm53xzs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mteywiqxuk22Dude could play. RIP. [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Aug 2026 19:59 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mteywiqxuk22https://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mtclnwz3vk2uBeen looking for years for Larry Brown’s out of print memoir of his 17-year career as fireman and eventually fire chief of Oxford, Mississippi. Finally found it at Myopic Books in Chicago and surprise it’s fantastic. He fought fires while writing the astounding early fiction.17 Aug 2026 20:56 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtclnwz3vk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mt5oassgcs2rWhy yes, this is the Frank Lloyd Wright commemorative hat from the Madison Mallards, and yes it is the most beautiful piece of sports merch I now have.15 Aug 2026 21:59 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt5oassgcs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mt2oi3teic2iSomeone please mix this with the isolated David Lee Roth "Runnin' With the Devil" vocals. Happy 80th to the bassist among bassists. [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Aug 2026 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2oi3teic2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3msyy24impc2zScorsese’s Cape Fear is incredible. “Here it is, your biggest budget yet and the first of a multi-picture deal.” “Got it. I’ll need every camera, lens, and lighting gel you have. Big stars and in-joke cameos. Oh, and the most disturbing depiction of in-process child abuse that I can manage.”14 Aug 2026 01:11 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyy24impc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3msyb6qoeyc2oThis is one of my favorite albums of the 90s and I finally got the recent Third Man vinyl pressing which is one of the best-sounding records I own. Amazing separation. You can hear every guitar and violin beautifully and the constant three-part harmonies are UP FRONT. Exhilarating music.13 Aug 2026 18:22 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyb6qoeyc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3msxrx7cfek2e"What if William Carlos Williams lost his sense of humor and yelled at you for 1200 pages?" [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Aug 2026 13:49 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msxrx7cfek2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3msxqxpjx6c2eI think I've owned various editions of the USA trilogy for 25+ years, and on a recent trip I finally read 200 pages and came to a liberating realization: I don't need to read the USA trilogy.13 Aug 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msxqxpjx6c2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3msluvh6x7k2rMy favorite living writer is no longer living. Staggeringly wonderful books. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Aug 2026 20:10 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msluvh6x7k2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3msg652uoe22cA beautiful day. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Aug 2026 13:39 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msg652uoe22chttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mset73vbus2bLive from “the UP.”06 Aug 2026 00:51 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mset73vbus2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3ms775bpovk2pMike Elias should be drawn and quartered at Fort McHenry. [contains quote post or other embedded content]03 Aug 2026 19:09 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms775bpovk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3ms4hz2si7c2fRed Right Hand Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry The Ship Song Hiding All Away Stagger Lee Are You The One I’ve Been Waiting For Night of the Lotus Eaters O My Lord Free to Walk Babe I’m On Fire [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Aug 2026 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms4hz2si7c2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mrxtpcmfk22nI’d pay $1000 to shoot this guy out of a cannon. [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Jul 2026 20:56 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrxtpcmfk22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mrx34l6jyc2aTaking my first trip to Detroit soon. Hitsville’s closed for repairs 😫 but I’d love any recs, music related or otherwise.31 Jul 2026 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrx34l6jyc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mrukdswahs2vDescribing Olivia Rodrigo as "like a tour guide walking backwards" is why Chris remains the best. A perfect image for a thought I've had but couldn't fully express. Subscribe. [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Jul 2026 13:30 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrukdswahs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/johnlingan.bsky.social/post/3mrssdaiofk2gBeen thinking of “I’ve Made Up My Mind to Give Myself To You” for days now. One of my fav 21c. Bob songs, which on record sounds romantic but in person near the end of 6-decade-spanning set felt like a clear message to his audience. One of the most generous performers ever. I love him. [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Jul 2026 20:48 +0000at://did:plc:vqnmqsaa3izkhob7bopcxus2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrssdaiofk2g