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The Obelisk Turns 11 Years Old Today

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So here we are, 11 years later. Maybe Monday would be better for me to mark the 11th anniversary of starting The Obelisk, but the first post was Jan. 31, 2009, so while I’ve got the day I’ll take it. Thanks for reading.

That’s really all I want to say. You can probably go about your business now. I mean, the big deal was last year, right? 10! Such a satisfyingly round number. Nobody ever decided to base an entire number system on 11. It just kind of hangs there on the edge of puberty. You can’t do a damn thing with it. You ever meet an 11-year-old? They’re greasy and they smell. It’s a hard point in life to be a human being. You want to tell them it gets better, but does it?

So yeah, the site’s 11. Cool. I said last year I wanted to change the theme. I didn’t change the theme. At some point I said changes were coming to the forum. They didn’t really. The radio is still streaming and that makes me happy, but things are proceeding otherwise as naturally as they can. I’m writing as much as I can. That’s why I’m here. The music too, obviously — I should hope so — but really for me it’s the writing. That’s what I need most in the day. Any day. Every day at this point. Even though I’m not posting on the weekends, I’m usually writing. Klacky klacky klacky on the keyboard. That’s how it feels rightest. Write write write, go go go. Head down, keep working.

I am constantly honored, humbled and occasionally humiliated by the amount of support this site receives. Thank you.

In the last week I’ve had three professionals with whom I’ve worked for well longer than the 11 years of The Obelisk’s existence compliment the work I do here. Now, a part of public relations is maintaining relationships with contacts, but at this point, I know these people, and the relationship is solid — i.e., they didn’t have to say anything at all and they did anyway. My perspective on the site is so personal on the day-to-day — it’s about how many hours do I have and how can I best use them to write as much as possible — that I really have no idea what people might think of it generally or if it’s a consideration at all. I’m pretty separate from that stuff. But people say nice things sometimes and it’s awkward but appreciated.

So while 11’s just a stop on the way to the next divisible-by-five stop, I’m grateful to have the chance to say thank you again for being a part of this project which I guess has kind of become my life’s work at least to this point. I’m 38, so provided I don’t get hit by a bus there’s time to do more if I want to or can, but on the rare occasions I let myself be, I’m proud generally of what The Obelisk has become. I don’t know. My family wears the hoodies around and stuff. The Pecan has one.

I want to say thanks to them — my family, The Patient Mrs., The Pecan — as well as to Slevin for setting up the site 11 years ago and continuing to understand how much it means to me in a way that I think a very small number of people do. There are also a few people in particular whose drive is a constant inspiration. In that regard, foremost thanks to Walter Hoeijmakers of Roadburn Festival, to Tony Reed, Gabe Fiori, the Sound of Liberation crew, Gero Argonauta, Todd Severin, Scott Hamilton, Vadim Dyadyuk, and far, far too many others. The labels, the PR folks, the bands themselves who support this site. Gimme Radio for hosting The Obelisk Show (new episode today!). Thank you so much.

And the biggest inspiration that gets me up with the alarm every morning is the fact that someone else out there might give half a crap about something I write, ever, anywhere, so thank you for that. You are amazing and I hope The Obelisk has been or continues to be something positive in your day as it (generally, ha) is in mine.

Okay that’s enough. I gotta go write another post.

Onward.

All love,
JJ Koczan

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8 Responses to “The Obelisk Turns 11 Years Old Today”

  1. SabbathJeff says:

    “This one goes to eleven..it’s one louder”
    Happy 11th, JJ! Thanks for steering the riff ship around the sun again, always.

  2. Erich Osos says:

    Congrats and keep up the good work!

  3. Mark says:

    Hi JJ – we’re reading and loving that you do what you do. Cheers

  4. Harvey B Mee says:

    Thanks for the hard work JJ, keeep going!

  5. Rick says:

    You know how many sites I’ve seen come and go?
    11 years is bloody amazing. Be proud.
    And thanks!

  6. Thomas A. says:

    Discovered the Obelisk a couple months after the very first post, and have been sticking around ever since. Sometimes reading daily, sometimes weekly, the Obelisk has been a part of my life for the last 11 years. Thanks for doing such a great job!

  7. jose humberto says:

    Late but im here to say LONG LIVE THE OBELISK my fave site for all things Stoner , Doom , Psych , ETC.

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