iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest! Hint #1: He often plays a Rickenbacker.

Couldn't "STRAUSS" get its logo a little larger on those baseball helmets? Someone at the back of the upper deck might not be able to read it.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

"The Good Place" should be much higher.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: Peter Gabriel-fronted Genesis vs. Phil Collins-fronted Genesis. Discuss.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Bill Wyman @hitsville.bsky.social, who turns song rankings into provocative deep-dive essays in his "Rock & Roll Lists," bats around the Beatles’ worst song, Pink Floyd, the Eagles, the Clash, Nirvana, Poptimism and Chicago’s early ‘90s glory days on the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest! Hint #1: He used to live and write in Chicago.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: In a Silent Way vs. Bitches Brew. Discuss.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

From 10,000 Maniacs to solo heights to Mother Goose and "Cabinet of Wonder," @nataliemerchant.bsky.social reflects on her musical adventures and tells why making music for children is bringing her the most joy. On the new Caropop... www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest! Hint #1: She's had hits with a band and as a solo artist.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: “Don’t Bring Me Down” (The Animals) vs. “Don’t Bring Me Down” (ELO). Discuss.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I don’t understand why the women’s 1 seed is playing the 3 seed, and the 2 seed is playing the 4 seed at the U.S. Open. Shouldn’t it be 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3?

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

On the new Caropop, @susanorlean.bsky.social reflects on a brilliant career of crafting compelling narratives from idiosyncratic topics (The Orchid Thief, The Library Book) before turning the lens on herself with Joyride. Being portrayed by Meryl Streep also comes up. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

After a few weeks' break, it's once again time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest! Hint #1: She's an author and has been a movie character.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Last-second victories feel thrilling, but when it’s a no-second victory…

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: "Pulling Mussels (from the Shell)" vs. "Tempted." Discuss.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: "Love To Love You Baby" vs. "I Feel Love." Discuss.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Today is the 100th anniversary of Rudolph Valentino's death, and he was a big deal in Chicago. He also challenged a @chicagotribune.com editorial writer to a duel before circumstances prevented him from following through. It's all in my Vintage Tribune story. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/23/v...

chicagotribune.com

Silent film star Rudolph Valentino died holding a grudge against a Chicago Tribune editorial writer

Some consider Valentino to be the world’s first international sex symbol. Those four syllables, Va-len-ti-no, were enough to set hearts aflutter.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: "Bus Stop" vs. "The Air That I Breathe." Discuss.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Sat down to finish writing a story, and Microsoft has me locked out of my Word account. The note on its customer support page indicates this may be a system-wide problem with Microsoft and Mac OS. I hate that some company remotely can keep me from working on my own material on my own computer.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: Flip-flops vs. Slides. Discuss.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: Charlie Chaplin vs. Buster Keaton. Discuss.

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Reposted by Mark Caro

Caropop @caropopcast.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Broadway star Laura Benanti talks comedy, songwriting, recovering from being a people-pleaser, graduating from ingenue status, imitating Melania, working the stage or screen, and crafting her one-woman show, Nobody Cares, on the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

Laura Benanti. (Credit: Heather Gershonowitz)

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guest! Hint #1: She's a soprano.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

A friend of mine who owns an out-of-town coffee shop texted me a clip of water coming through his leaky ceiling. Because I always try to be helpful, I responded: "You could change the name to Drip Coffee." He wrote back that he'd meant to send the clip to another Mark.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Damnit. Jeff Connolly RIP. I saw some unforgettable, sometimes-verging-on-unhinged Lyres shows after college in Chicago and then, more often, during my Boston stint. Turn it up and getting moving! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw93...

youtube.com

Lyres - Not Looking Back

YouTube video by Munster Records

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: "Hold On, I'm Comin'" vs. "Soul Man." Discuss.

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Reposted by Mark Caro

Caropop @caropopcast.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Did P-Funk guitarist Michael Hampton know whether he was playing on a Parliament or Funkadelic session during those bands' concurrent classic runs? Was it as much of a party as it sounded like? Why "King Kong"? Hampton tells all on the new Caropop. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

Michael Hampton (Credit: Philip Samuel Smith)

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

It’s time to Guess Tomorrow’s Caropop Guest! Hint #1: He’s been performing for decades, but he’s also a Kidd.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I'm so sad to learn that Glen Hansard has died. One of my favorite movie memories is seeing "Once" at Sundance followed by Hansard and Markéta Irglová performing the songs on stage. And one of my favorite workdays was watching Hansard arrange and record a John Martyn song in an Evanston studio.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: Station to Station vs. Low. Discuss.

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Reposted by Mark Caro

Beth Winer / Dominique Trixx @bethwiner.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Fantastic Interview with Caropop’s Mark Caro! @markcaro.bsky.social The studio, the songs, the true story. It’s a must-listen! 🎶🎶🎶 Thank you Mark for letting Nash and Eddie expound!

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Performing Bachelor No. 2 at the the Riv, @aimeemann.bsky.social is just the coolest and sounds like she recorded these songs yesterday. She also occupies my favorite genre: people who are naturally funny and can break your heart.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

How did Urge Overkill get from the bright, shiny Saturation to the dark, slithery Exit the Dragon? Nash Kato and Eddie "King" Roeser tell Caropop about the tough circumstances and unhealthy habits that spurred the last Urge album featuring the original 3. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

Nash Kato and Eddie "King" Roeser. (Credit: Jerod Herzog)

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

It's time to Guess Tomorrow's Caropop Guests! Hint #1: They're their band's two singer-songwriter-guitarists.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Why was Dudamel conducting the Muppets playing "Seven Nation Army"? Sounds like a bizarre Clue scenario.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

For some reason I always expect the first line of "Hungry Heart" to be "Got a slice of cheese was Monterey Jack..."

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: Cherry Tomatoes vs. Tomatoes. Discuss.

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Reposted by Mark Caro

Caropop @caropopcast.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Jason Ringenberg marks the 40th anniversary of Jason and the Scorchers' Still Standing by telling Caropop what got him and his fiery band up to that pivot-point album and the profound effect that the experience had on them. Bonus: There are baby chicks. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

Jason Ringenberg. (Credit: Marty Howell)

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

It’s time to Guess Tomorrow’s Caropop Guest! Hint #1: His band recorded one of the best Dylan covers ever.

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: Lorenz Hart vs. Oscar Hammerstein II. Discuss.

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Reposted by Mark Caro

Caropop @caropopcast.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

On the new Caropop, Glenn Morrow reflects on his careers as a recently retired indie label owner (@barnonerecords.bsky.social, where he started by signing @tmbg.bsky.social), journalist (New York Rocker) and musician (Glenn Morrow's Cry for Help; the Individuals). www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Your Friday Cage Match: The Stranger vs. 52nd Street. Discuss.

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Reposted by Mark Caro

Caropop @caropopcast.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

In Pt. 2 of Liberty DeVitto on Caropop, Billy Joel's longtime drummer revisits drumming in the '80s, the creation of “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” his irate fax that wound up on the River of Dreams control room wall and his split from and reconciliation with Joel. www.caropop.com/caropopcast/...

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Reposted by Mark Caro

Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

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Mark Caro @markcaro.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

When did everyone start saying "Let him/her cook"?

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