No Dogs in Space Returns to Satisfy Your Passion for Music History
In August, I shared my enthusiasm for the music history podcast No Dogs in Space, lamenting the absence of new episodes for over two years. Little did I know that hosts Carolina Hidalgo and Marcus Parks were preparing to unveil the show’s comeback with season four, titled Punk 2.0. The first episode dropped this week, kicking off a series focused on the New York Dolls, a band that holds a special place in my heart as a Staten Island native, home to frontman David Johansen.
For this new season, Hidalgo and Parks decided to return to their roots. They felt that punk rock was where their passion and expertise truly shined. Parks mentioned their desire to explore various genres, even considering Beethoven at one point, but ultimately realized that their strength lies in telling punk stories. They noted that the most compelling narratives often come from the punk scene. After spending considerable time translating German for their experimental rock series, they concluded that many band stories boil down to “art school kids messing around.”
The lengthy wait for the new season was due to several factors, including some false starts. Initially, they aimed to dive into the DC punk scene. Hidalgo revealed that they spent over six months working on it, planning to kick off with Bad Brains. However, upon further investigation, they discovered the band’s troubling history, which made it challenging to focus on them.
They then attempted to create a broader series on the DC scene, but Hidalgo cautioned against that approach. Parks explained that the project kept expanding, incorporating various acts that, while influential, weren’t strictly part of the DC punk scene. They even considered dedicating a series to Georgetown University’s WGTB radio. Ultimately, they realized that trying to weave all these stories together was unfeasible, leading them to admit defeat after eight months of effort. However, this endeavor did yield a two-part series on Link Wray, set to premiere later this year.
As with any season of No Dogs in Space, part of the charm lies in the unexpected side quests and tangents that Parks and Hidalgo explore. During the New York Dolls series, Hidalgo became fascinated with Mott the Hoople. Known for their David Bowie-penned hit “All the Young Dudes,” their story is equally captivating. Hidalgo recounted how lead singer Ian Hunter was just a regular guy until a friend invited him to join a struggling band, leading to his unexpected rise.
Parks, on the other hand, found himself intrigued by drag queen Jackie Curtis. He noted that the punk aesthetic often attributed to Richard Hell may have actually originated with Curtis. He shared a wild story about how Curtis once crept out onto a windowsill to sneak into a deceased neighbor’s apartment to grab her clothes before the coroner arrived.
These kinds of digressions are what make No Dogs in Space so engaging. Parks remarked, “We live our lives in a state of obsession. Obsession really is our superpower.” Both hosts recently discovered they are on the autism spectrum, which they see as part of their unique approach to storytelling.
If you’re looking for a starting point, the new series on the New York Dolls is a fantastic choice. The Dolls were pivotal in shaping the NYC scene as a protopunk and glam act. I also highly recommend checking out their series on the Replacements, Dead Kennedys, or Joy Division. You can catch the new season of No Dogs in Space on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts. For the first time, the show will also be available on YouTube as full video episodes.
