Four years – the space between Olympic Games, the duration of the average college career, or the amount of time some bands take to record and release a new album. If you, dear reader, told me four years ago that I would still be writing this blog in 2015, I would’ve labeled you a nutter. No way could I come up with four year’s worth of material. I’m not that inspired, and maybe that’s true, we could argue that point over a drink sometime.
But Northeast Underground is alive and kicking in the New Year, and looking back there have been moments of great joy. There have been moments of disappointment too, indeed not every freelancer can fit every topic they want to write about into their schedule, and not every freelancer is able to land every interview they try for or cover every story that grabs their attention.
Focus over a four year span can become diluted. Just ask your typical college student. Yet, sheer perseverance, perhaps, deserves respect. For every stubborn reader who read along and shared words of encouragement on a blog post or two (or a dozen, but who’s counting?), and for every interview subject who stuck with this writer’s process in order to one day see their name in a story online (like, on the World Wide Web, man, gnarly and far out), there are not enough thank yous.
Obligatory acknowledgement too of the continued support offered by the Valley Advocate for hosting Northeast Underground on the paper’s website. What started as a fun side project was given a significant boost in profile by joining forces with such a venerable alt-weekly. The carte blanche approach employed by the paper’s staff has allowed a freedom to this blog that I hope translates when seemingly random subjects or asides are tackled and/ or included in certain posts.
In this remaining space, I posit a thought or two (or three) for the future. First, change is inevitable. You’re reading this post now on a completely redesigned website, which is worlds apart from the one this blog started contributing to four years ago. Go with the flow. Second, each new day begets another day on its heels. You, dear reader, like the material shared here, are different somehow every day. Accept the difference. And lastly, I don’t know. Meditate, workout more, or start a new hobby for Chrissake. This blog won’t help you lose those extra 10 pounds you put on over the last year, but reading what’s written here sure beats going on a diet.
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