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As I mentioned before, May marks ten years of E2TG/Ear to the Ground. For at least the first three Tuesdays in May, Ear to the Ground radio on WXNA will be featuring some of our favorite artists through the years. The show next Tuesday, May 4 will be dedicated to some of our favorites from the first year of the blog. Distilling 10 years into three or even four hour long radio shows is a challenge, and I already know I am going to inadvertently leave somebody out that I really intended to include.
You may wonder if during the 10 years I have ever considered stopping, well, the answer is yes - more than once. I guess you could say the trick to writing a music blog for ten years is stubbornness. But really, it is consistently. I have taken a couple of what I consider significant hiatuses from E2TG over the years - always due to an upheaval in my personal life that made it necessary. For me, other than times when it is impossible I strive to post every weekday. I know a lot of music blogs have come and gone in the years since I began - and by in large what I see when I look back at some of those is that they were updated only infrequently and then less frequently and then not at all.
One thing I know, is that I cannot fathom what my life would be like today if I had never started E2TG or if I had stopped after a couple of months. I have met so many wonderful people and had so many opportunities I would otherwise never have had.
Much as changed for me, for the world, and for the people I have covered over the years. Children are older, marriages are either longer-term or over, bands have broken up, people have moved away from music to other pursuits. E2TG was never, in my mind, about predicting or featuring bands or artists who I thought were going to be huge. It was about championing people making interesting music - especially people who weren't getting as much attention from other sites. In the beginning, when I was picking which artists to feature - I obsessed over whether a certain band was "too big" for me to feature- which in retrospect is funny to me.
What I have learned is that success and failure should be self-defined. I would never pronounce a band as a success or failure, and more importantly, it is not something I particularly care about. To be more precise, I want every artist/band I know to find whatever level of success they want - realizing that many won't - but then I want them to find happiness and joy in whatever happens.
In the beginning I had to go out and actively find music to feature. Now, I get more music sent to me than I can possibly sift through and I am fortunate to have many incredible publicists who regularly send me great music. But, I always try to have my ear to the ground. I especially, listen when someone I respect posts about another band or artist. So, at least for me, yes - shouting out your friends has value.
Feature Friday Playlist recap Part 5 (The Finale) (Songs 27-31):
27. "Ride or Die" by Cricketbows
Previously, we featured "Raised on Rock And Roll" which is the title track from the new album by this Dayton, Ohio band. I love the journey of this song which starts off nice and pretty and then kicks in with some awesome glam rock sounds.
28. "Mirrorball" by The Catenary Wires
Next up, we have a wonderful tribute to 80s discos from this indie pop band from the UK who released their first album in 2015. The extended single also includes a cover of the Human League's hit "Fascination".
29. "You'll Never Change" by Summer Sleeves
Next up, we have the lead track from In the Throes of Woes. Summer Sleeves is the project of Seattle based songwriter and multi-disciplinary artist Jeremy Charbonneau. Great lo-fi music that covers multi genres and sounds.
30. "Corrupted Young Mind" by Gary Collocott
Next up, we travel to the Gold Coast of Australia for the latest single from this singer-songwriter who taps into the energy and freedom fighting vibes of rock and roll.
31. "Window Dressing" by Least
And, as always, we end the week on a high note with a track from Folding My Hand, Accepting Defeat - the debut EP from Florida singer-songwriter Taylin Wills who records as Least. Most of the song deal with issues Taylin faces as an opening trans person.
Check-in around midnight as we kick off a brand new Featured Friday Playlist.
