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The Obelisk is Five Years Old Today

I don’t think when this site was launched five years ago today I had any idea of what was going to happen with it. The Obelisk started basically because I was newly out of work and didn’t know what to do with myself in the wake of that. I wanted to write. Since the start, I’ve never really known what’s next, and that has continued to be the case over the last half-decade. As milestones have come up, things like adding the forum, adding the radio stream, etc., it’s really only been after the fact that I’ve been able to sort of step back and realize that any sort of shift has taken place. This is one of those times.

You know what’s coming, and though I say it with some regularity, I never quite feel like it’s enough. The internet is built on anonymity. If I’m lucky enough that your eyes are seeing this somewhere around the world, whether it’s Jersey or New Zealand, there’s a decent chance we’ll never meet. If we do, that’s awesome — please  say hi and I’m sorry in advance for being an awkward weirdo — but I know how it is to read a site like this one and have the author be an abstract, shapeless beyond the text presented, not really a consideration. I’m not saying everyone who looks at this page needs to know who I am or anything like that, just that I hope that if you’ve ever read this site before or if this is your first time here, you know that there’s a human being on the other end who is incredibly grateful to you for doing so.

The Obelisk has become a huge part of my life and a huge part of my every day, and five years on, it’s not only an outlet for writing, but a big piece of how I think about my own identity. I never anticipated that, but I’m not sorry it’s happened. I’m proud of this site, what it has managed to accomplish in its time, and I’m thrilled to be able to continue to develop it. I’m amazed at the passionate community that’s developed on the forum, and I think for the five bucks a month I spend to host it, the radio stream is worth the cash for my enjoyment alone, never mind anyone else’s. Thank you. Thank you so much. For checking in every now and again, for reading however often you might, for posting on the forum, listening to the radio, correcting my spelling on somebody’s name or offering suggestions for bands to check out, or to check out your band. For clicking Like or retweeting. All of it. Huge thanks to The Patient Mrs. for her years of rolled-eye indulgence, and to Slevin for his near-constant help in every technical aspect of running the site, from installing WordPress to designing the forum to finding the host for the radio to helping me size the header properly. There are days where The Obelisk is the reason I roll out of bed — over the last five years, more than a few — and I know that would not be the case without the kind of support I have received on every level. Once again, thank you.

I look forward to continuing to say thanks for as long as this lasts, however long it might be, wherever it might go from here, and wherever we might be headed. I’ll probably never be able to convey just how much your support and your involvement is appreciated, but please, please know that it is.

All the best,
JJ Koczan

The Obelisk Forum

The Obelisk Radio

The Obelisk

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25 Responses to “The Obelisk is Five Years Old Today”

  1. Ron says:

    Happy Birthday!!!!

  2. Lamprey says:

    Well done, brother. Long live The Obelisk!

  3. SabbathJeff says:

    5th anniversary, 5 Points On the Ram
    This isn’t your test you don’t have to cram
    The music’s only just begun to take you
    Through the wonders of living tunes
    Congratulations, that dude One hugs
    I love getting news, from you ya lug
    I browse when compelled, read often at night
    And mostly brother, doomed thanks, damn right

  4. Lyk says:

    Happy Birthday Obelisk!

    All The Best! :)

  5. darryl says:

    Congrats, JJ! This site rules, it’s the go-to place to find out about new bands and news about classic bands. Thanks for all of your support too, it’s immeasurable. Cheers.

  6. Mike H says:

    5 years!?!?! Where the hell has the time gone?

    Congratulations on the five years and all that you have done.

    The Obelisk has become a part of my daily life.

    It is also a go-to resource. Whenever I discover a band that I like or here an album that’s been out a while, I’ll see what kind of presence if any they have had on The Obelisk and inevitably, you are 2-3 steps ahead. You had them on the radar, reviewed their debut and caught them live when the passed through the area. Full circle. Full features each time and something I may have passed over or scanned originally. I go back a read it and think to myself, damn, he is right…he was right a year ago. It is rare, if ever these days I get there before you. There were a few in the early days, but since then…I cannot compete.

  7. Mike H says:

    Daily: MOnday through Friday…I take the weekends off too. ;-)

  8. Weedian says:

    Many happy returns to the page, and to it’s creator ^^

  9. Corey says:

    HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY!!!!! \m/\m/

  10. goAt says:

    Happy Birthday to The Obelisk…and Jeff Hanneman too!

  11. Skillit says:

    Proud to be a part of it everytime I open the site!

  12. Coby says:

    JJ, Thank you for everything you do on The Obelisk. Seriously bro, It’s the pinnacle of my music information. Cheers! And Happy Birthday Obelisk!!!!!

  13. Mike Z says:

    THANK YOU! All the time and effort you put into this site are greatly appreciated. Can’t even begin to recall all the great bands/tunes you’ve uncovered for me over the past couple years I’ve been coming here. Continued success with all things Obelisk!

  14. Recluse says:

    Congrats on your half decade anniversary and thank you so much bro for all of your hard work!

  15. Johnny Vomit says:

    Cheers JJ! see ya’ at Roadburn!

  16. Spencer says:

    JJ,

    Cheers on the half decade! Thank you so much for everything that you do. The Obelisk stands alone in the world of heavy music. Your dedication shines through in every meticulous post. Although you are probably far too humble to admit it, your time, efforts and insights are opening eyes and ears all across the world. That is something that deserves a hearty (albeit virtual) pat on the back. And if you do ever make it out to Portland I would be honored to buy you a beer. Congrats again!

    Here’s to 55 more years…

  17. don s says:

    Thanks for everything, I’ve heard so many great bands, and seen so many great shows, all due to finding this site some years ago, all hail the Obelisk, happy birthday, I hope for many more.

  18. Jace the Ace says:

    Portland OR here… I’ve been reading your great-much-more-than-a-blog for 3 or 4 years now. It’s become something I read on almost a daily basis. The depth and breadth of the stories are great, couldn’t ask for more. I’ve found so many new bands I can’t count. Here’s to many more hopefully. Thank you.

  19. Shining Trapezoid says:

    Congratulations and thanks!

  20. MM says:

    Great site. Great bands. Great work.

    Here’s to five more, and many five mores after that.

  21. Harvey Mee says:

    Thank YOU JJ, you do an amazing job here, I owe you the discovery of lots of graet bands. Thanks again.

  22. Mick Matthews says:

    Well done JJ, keep it coming. Here’s looking to another 5 years.

  23. Bill Goodman says:

    Happy Birthday to you! Your site has been an inspiration to me and the work I did at The Soda Shop. I probably wouldn’t have gotten involved with it if it wasn’t for the Obelisk. Here’s to more years!

  24. Salut Mate!

    good CosmiC Dead coverage recently!

  25. Duane from Canada says:

    Thanks for expanding my musical horizons and mind at the same time!

    Obelisk Radio is on at my desk all day,Mon. to Fri. \m/

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