May 2025 - Is Anyone Out There? Yes.

Just like bands. Sometimes, as you write about music,  you wonder if there’s anyone out there. Is anyone reading this? Anyone appreciating this? You do it for yourself and to speak your truth. But validation is always cool.

Galleywinter, by and large, is an operation of passion.  Passion doesn’t pay the bills, but it sure fuels the soul.  I may still hunt, golf and have other interests.  But, music and live music is my lifeblood.  The old saying, “I’d be doing this for free” doesn’t even really apply here.  Cody Starr, myself and the entire Galleywinter gang work to share our love of music and sometimes that extends to our pocketbooks. For the fans, by the fans until the bitter end.

As I was reflecting on the awesomeness that was mid April in Stillwater, I was struck by pride and awe at a job well done.  By folks I know who had a hand in that production.  And the larger music scene.  We had truly done something remarkable.  We had created a historical moment.  The mainstream ignores us.  They have for 50 years. That’s okay.  That’s actually the way we like it. 

Again, sometimes you feel like you’re shouting all of this support music we love stuff into an echo chamber.  Reaching and interacting with the same humans again and again.  Then something like Stillwater happens. I posted my BFOK review and it received more views in an hour than some pieces receive in a decade.  People were connecting. People were sharing.  Just like the concerts had felt like a trip back in time. This harmonious, collaborative online experience felt the same way.  It was like a Delorean back to Galleywinter 2005.

A respected person at the center of the Stillwater experience reached out to me about the article and Galleywinter in general.  He wanted to tell me how much it meant to him. He said lots of cool things. It felt like the most righteous validation ever. Worth more than all the money in Nashville combined. He said I read just about everything you post.  “Everyone does, whether they tell you they do or not. What you’re doing and have done for 25 years matters as much as what we do onstage.”

I'm not sharing this as a horn-tooting moment of look how great we are. I wanted to share the larger takeaway.

He went on to say that Galleywinter’s consistent and unwavering support of this scene, even when it wasn’t the trendy thing to do, has been vital. He spoke of how our coverage, our interviews, our very presence at shows and festivals, helps to amplify the voices of these artists who often get overlooked by larger publications. He said an Instagram post here, a Facebook share there from Galleywinter means more than when a national publication does the same. It shook me and reminded me right then, perhaps more profoundly than ever before, that this little corner of the internet we’ve cultivated isn’t just a hobby; it’s a lifeline. A family.

It’s a connection point for fans who crave authenticity and substance in their music. It’s a platform for artists to share their stories and their craft with an audience that genuinely cares. And yes, it takes time, energy, and sometimes our own resources, but the reward comes in moments like those in Stillwater – seeing a vibrant community thriving, knowing that we played a small part in nurturing that growth.

So, what can you do, the reader, the fan, to keep this fire burning? Keep showing up to the shows. Buy the albums, take home some merch. Tell your friends about the artists you love. Do it online. Do it in person. Engage with platforms like ours and similar minded ones. Share the articles, comment on the posts. From us. From the artists. From the venues you frequent. It's a different world than 2005. But a world you can still make a difference in. Let all the worlds know that this music matters, that these artists are fantastic, that these stories deserve to be heard. Your support, in whatever form it takes, fuels our passion just as much as the music itself does. We’re in this together, for the love of the song, for the spirit of this music, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

It turns out, there is someone out there. An entire family.