If you haven't, you should read @jeffgoodell.bsky.social's excellent book The Heat Will Kill You First. I don't know why I've been thinking about it a lot the past couple days ... www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

I devoted the better part of a whole chapter of my JTE biography on his close, complex friendship with David Berman; how moving to see these two books stacked side by side at @greenlightbklyn.bsky.social

I would've lost my mind to have seen this www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm9z...

hey this looks great!

I wrote a big thing about Justin Townes Earle — subject of a tragic and absorbing recent biography by @jonbern.bsky.social — as well as Jakob Dylan, currently on tour playing his most famous album, and the underrated billing of "journeyman." stevenhyden.substack.com/p/parable-of...

Listen to this record www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

"Why would we stick around, the job is done," one Knicks fan told me as we returned our rental cars.

The Mercury is looking for a Music Section Editor to join our staff. Are you a smart, thoughtful writer filled with passion, hustle, and the desire to share your love for—and critiques of—the Portland music scene? Yes? Check out our job listing! No? Tell your friends to check out our job listing!

yes to all of this

Any music-loving dads in your life who need a Father's Day Gift? Would he enjoy the story of a fiercely fraught, profoundly close father-son relationship? If so, I have the book for you!

"I have been watching every Finals game of this series in my own home, sober as OG Anunoby in a franchise-altering moment, too anxious to enter society."

Anthony Valles wanted to bring his 50-year-old dad back to Madison Square Garden for the Knicks’ first NBA Finals in 27 years. They made it this week. www.thecityreporter.nyc/2026/06/10/k...

on the same day i shook john starks' hand, no less.

I’ve been really moved by how KAT’s public expression of grief has moved people during the Finals really poignant story today on that theme:

Wrote about an indie band growing up, making their best work 20+years in, and trying to figure out how to exist in 2026. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

ICYMI I talked to the "Fish Hunt Golf Drink" songwriters about whether or not their song is AI www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Everyone accused the new Luke Bryan song of being AI-written (it's not). I called up the songwriters, who, it turns out, hate the idea of AI being anywhere in a writing room. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

pretty stunning album!

Had a lovely chat with Kurt Vile about family, home, safety, and guitar gods: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

this is not true, and this guy doesn't speak for me! nymag.com/intelligence...

NEW EPISODE! @emhilly.bsky.social interviews old-time music legend & “deviled egg queen” Alice Gerrard live at The Celebration of Women in Old-Time Music in Knoxville about her new @uncpress.bsky.social memoir Custom Made Woman: A Life in Traditional Music. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

This story combined all my interests: cover song parodies, the Knicks, Haddaway's "What is Love" www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

You can read my full written testimony here: pianofighter.substack.com/p/my-full-co...

Come on. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/b...

They shared a book’s worth of stories; this was a labor of love to capture the essence of that. Special thanks to Heather Whinna and Electrical Audio staff who generously spent countless hours speaking with me www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Read Althea Legaspi and Kory Grow on Steve Albini www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

We are watching the worst assault on multiracial democracy since the Pettus bridge. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/u...

such a treat to get to speak with @marissarmoss.bsky.social about my book on-stage at Grimey's earlier this year and very grateful that convo is now published in the almighty Don't Rock the Inbox!

"I don’t know anything about my own culture outside of what imperialism has left us with." What a pleasure to speak with Dua Saleh, an artist you should definitely be paying attention to in 2026! www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

On May 4th I celebrate Star Wars by again sharing my idea for the next Star Wars show on Disney+. giddyupamerica.com/2026/05/04/s...

the writerly impulse to type the words "love, loss and TK"

reviewed the new album from jason aldean, who seems trapped in a hamster wheel of having to prove how much dirt and mud still cake his boots www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

unsurprisingly very cool ballot of Greatest Living American Songwriters from Meshell Ndegeocello www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Free band name: Butt Dial

Very excited to reveal the cover for my next book, Serling: A Journey Into The Twilight Zone with TV’s First Visionary. The book will be published by Grand Central on October 13 of this year, and pre-orders are open now: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/alan-...

This @emhilly.bsky.social piece on the historical relationship between wine and country music is absolutely delightful and eye opening. oxfordamerican.org/magazine/iss...

Read Jon Blistein on Ticketmaster/Livenation: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

I had a wonderful time tonight at @oldtownschool.bsky.social celebrating the art of Justin Townes Earle. Many thanks to @jonbern.bsky.social, @millerscave.bsky.social, and Sammy Brue for sharing stories, memories, and songs of this incredible and meteoric artist.

Tonight y'all!

Join us THIS THURSDAY for a special evening celebrating the life and legacy of #justintownesearle. Get your tix here: www.oldtownschool.org/classes/deta...

In other news, happy Ruination Day to all who celebrate www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

🚨Waxahatchee x MJ Lenderman x "Choosin' Texas" 🚨 www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

"I think they said it somehow had a lower carbon footprint than your average show you put on," he says. "And so I've chosen to believe that, but I'm not sure I do. I mean, I believe there's a smokestack on this thing." stereogum.com/2493841/we-a...

Hey Milwaukee! @jonbern.bsky.social & I are in town THIS WED(4/15) Boswell Books. As a bonus, I'll be LIVE on the air 2pm Central @ @wmse917fm.bsky.social RSVP for the event here: www.eventbrite.com/e/rob-miller... Where should we get sausages for lunch? #booksky📚 #indiebookstore #musicbooks

Journalists know that losing the Wayback Machine would be a nightmare: www.wired.com/story/the-in...

This Thursday! Chicago!

As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages. www.wired.com/story/the-in...