The Toth Zone chronicles musician James Toth’s all-consuming obsession with music while growing up in pre-9/11 New York City, and all the trouble it caused him along the way. It's a little like A Christmas Story, but with headbangers, hoodlums, and hip-hop. "...something like David Sedaris by way of Iggy Pop." - Elizabeth Nelson, Lawyers, Guns & Money blog
Episodes
Jun 22, 2021
Jun 22, 2021
1hr 2 min
We conclude Season 2 with some Q&A about a wide range of topics, and the answers to our final poll question of the season.
Thanks for sticking around!
Jun 8, 2021
Jun 8, 2021
34 min
On this episode: Odd jobs, Guitar Center misery, and some new album recommendations!
May 25, 2021
May 25, 2021
42 min
On today's episode I revisit my 2017 article for NPR, Too Much Music: A Failed Experiment in Dedicated Listening, and reveal how two careless clicks of a mouse forced me to conduct a similar experiment this month.
Also: the results of our recent poll question!
May 11, 2021
May 11, 2021
37 min
Hear about how a "directionally challenged" man somehow navigated Europe alone for 18 days. Also: some new album recommendations!
Apr 27, 2021
Apr 27, 2021
26 min
Releasing records in the age of DIY, how my dad unknowingly and involuntarily funded my first LP, and a million dollar lawsuit. Also: the results of our most recent poll question!
Apr 13, 2021
Apr 13, 2021
23 min
On today's action-packed episode of THE TOTH ZONE:
MARVEL!!
at the mysterious Van That Only Drove at Night!
SQUIRM!!
at the revolting practice of “table scoring!”
GASP!!
at the tale of a touring band operating under the influence of the zodiac!
...and much more!
Enjoy!
(PS: I apologize if I sounded condescending when I defined the word “biweekly” at the end of the episode. The truth is I can never remember if biweekly means occurring once every two weeks or occurring twice a week. I looked it up and it seems both are correct, which is very confusing. Hence the explanation.)
Apr 6, 2021
Apr 6, 2021
27 min
On this episode: worst gigs ever played (part 1?), an overdue response to a negative Amazon review, and the results of our third poll question!
Mar 23, 2021
Mar 23, 2021
30 min
On this episode, I speak to my friend and former bandmate Heidi Diehl about her debut novel Life Lines, which deals in part with DIY touring during the first decade of the new millennium.
Mar 16, 2021
Mar 16, 2021
32 min
Shattering live music myths, high living at the magnet Mansion, and the results of our second poll.
And be sure to stick around till the end of the episoide for a new poll question!
Mar 9, 2021
Mar 9, 2021
20 min
This episode: the ghost of Jimi Hendrix, cranky alt rock killjoys, and the dark energy of Carrot Top.