Update, 9/24/19

Couldn't really think of a pic that was appropriate for this post, so here's one I like of Yawn Mower from our last show.

Hi

It's probably been pretty obvious that I haven't been posting here as much as in the past. Maybe it hasn't. I don't know. There's lots of competition for people's online attention, so I'm not even really sure how much the frequency or infrequency of posts here registers with anyone. It registers with me, though.

For the last 7 years of covering music in Asbury, New York, Philly, and around the country, I tried to make it a point to do at least one post every day, whether that was just sharing out a new video or a new song or some pictures from the previous night. Various factors and events have come together making motivation for that sort of thing harder to come by for the last several months. New albums from favorites and dear friends have come out. I've attended some shows and events. But it's been rare lately that I've felt that spark of inspiration to write anything here like I have in the past.

I've been spending time with the family rather than stressing about what my children are going to eat for dinner or who's going to pick them up from swim because I have plans to make it to a Wednesday night show at 7pm. I've been going out with CoolMom without worrying how long it's taking to get dessert because my friends go on at 9. I've been following the beautiful drama that is the 162-game Major League Baseball season in a way that I haven't in years. I've been out riding my bike or walking instead of trying to write about albums or videos. Over the last couple of years, those types of things have become more important to me; and maybe that's resulted in some reduced access or maybe it's pushed the site further back in some people's minds. That's ok.

You should totally listen to the new records from Titus Andronicus, A Giant Dog, Lowlight, School Drugs, Bethlehem Steel, Ex Hex, and more. Maybe I'll tell you in greater detail why that is at some point. Maybe I won't. I don't know.

You should continue to pick out shows from our weekly listings -- as long as I keep those up -- and go out and support local bands. It would be cool if you followed @cooldadmusic or @rosisartphoto on Instagram, since what we're up to tends to appear there a lot more frequently than here these days.

For my part, I'm gonna keep heading out and taking pictures when I can. Rosi, too. I'll write about stuff here when I'm moved to do it. Rosi and Henry and anyone else who contributes will have a place here for their work for the foreseeable future. Our friends at You Don't Know Jersey, The Pop Break, Speak Into My Good Eye, Jersey Beat, and many of those other sites listed down the right-hand side of this page are still doing their thing, so you can check them out for regular coverage. I'll continue to help promote shows or to premiere new music when people ask me to do it. I'm gonna do at least 1 more year down in Austin for SXSW.

There are still moments that give meaning to what I've done here over the years. There was the time when Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus told me, "Don't give up, CoolDad." There was the time I felt a tap on my shoulder at a show and turned around to receive a hug from Sabrina Ellis of A Giant Dog / Sweet Spirit / Heart Bones. There was the genuine warmth I felt from Screaming Females during the interview Rosi shot for us. There have been countless interactions with people telling me they found a band or went to a show because of something I posted. There are all the lifelong friends I've made along the way here. They know who they are, and you probably do, too.

I'm off to London for a long weekend with CoolMom on Thursday. We'll be seeing Bob Mould solo electric on Sunday, so that will be cool.

So, that's where I'm at. Not sure if that really tells you anything you didn't already know. Thanks for sticking with us, and thanks for reading.