There’s an interesting article about music blogging and local music over at the Saint Louis Beacon, featuring interviews with Matt Jordan of You Ain’t No Picasso, Annie Zaleski of the Riverfront Times’ A to Z, and yours truly of this little site you’re reading right now. Aside from touching on the general theme of what it is music blogs do and how pathetically nerdy you have to be to devote your free time to blogging, the article starts to hint at bigger questions. Namely, what is a music blog’s responsibility to its local music scene?
The Post-Rockist holds the curious distinction of being the only Detroit and St. Louis-based music blog known to man. This isn’t something we brag about so much as it’s something that forces us to spend a lot of time awkwardly justifying our existence. We hope to avoid pandering to one audience too much at the risk of alienating the other, mostly by trying to remain true to our mission statement of writing passionately about the music we love (in other words, we pander to ourselves). But on the same token, we’re plainly cognizant that being a music fan anywhere is deeply impacted by your local surroundings, and we try to reflect that by talking about great shows that come through town, or releases by bands like Lightning Love of Detroit or the Blind Eyes of St. Louis — bands that we’d probably never hear if we lived anywhere else.
But, does it work? Do you wish we did more with local coverage? Do you find it interesting at all to read about what’s going on in another city, or could you not give two flying shits about what happens in either the 313 or 314 area codes? Do you wish I’d just shut up and start posting more podcasts by Andrew and Liz?
It’s an experiment, for sure, but it’s one that’s allowed me the opportunity to discover and write about Detroit bands like the High Strung or Champions of Breakfast when they come through St. Louis. Maybe someone else finds that useful? If you have any suggestions for how we can better cope with our bi-city-uality (or any thoughts on the site at all), please let us know in the comments.
Incidentally, this week marks the three-year anniversary of the Post-Rockist. Back when we started, we were based in Cincinnati and Washington, D.C. We’ve come a long way, babies, hope you’re enjoying the ride.
Thanks to Joe Crawford of the Beacon for the interview time and nice article.
4 Comments
As a recent transplant to St. Louis, I have found that local blogs have been useful road maps as I try to navigate my way through an often impenetrable music scene (a normal circumstance if one is new to town). Thank you for the impassioned and nuanced coverage!
3 years already? Congratulations! As person outside of either of your cities I find your local coverage interesting and appreicate that it is based on your interest in the music not out of obligation. I realize your roots are in your local haunts but i feel this site is not geographically based or biased. I believe the post rockist comes from–wait fo it
The heart!
I do to
Thanks for the feedback, guys. And you’re right, James, the Post-Rockist really does come from the heart.
Congratulations for being a music blogger for so long. As a Detroit concert blogger myself, I know it’s no easy task.
Even as a writer for Real Detroit Weekly I’m still finding it difficult to devote enough time to the topic. We do absolutely have great bands here in the D and I wish there was more incentive for dedicated bloggers to focus more on the subject.