Saying Goodbye

Metro-012916-Groove

This marks my 70th column forMetro. I’m sad to say that it’ll be my last.

It’s been a wonderful opportunity to share thoughts, ideas and stories with readers since the weekly launched in October 2014. But as this new year got underway, I took a look at everything that happened in 2015 with all of its successes (and stresses), and I decided it was time to let go of this column. Not that I really wanted to, but I realized that I was spending less time on something I’d been doing for nearly six years now — blogging — which has been integral to my music-blog-turned-record-label Aloha Got Soul since day one.

With AGS growing into a label at the beginning of last year and therefore demanding more effort toward releases, events, promotions, etc., I found that its core — the blog — was lacking more than ever before. So this year, I hope to focus my attention once again toward blogging, one of my favorite modes of writing for its openness and immediacy, as well as the stream-of-consciousness musing it sometimes provokes.

There are so many curious pockets and wonders of Honolulu’s music scene to be discovered and discussed. I’ve met a lot of great people and made lasting connections through this column. I hope you enjoyed readingBeyond The Grooveeach week, and that it inspired you in some ways to start something new or try something different.

As this column comes to its finale, I want to let you know that this Sunday will be a first for Aloha Got Soul: We’re hosting a special live acoustic set by Mike Lundy to celebrate his album release at Hungry Ear Records.

Mike Lundy will be playing songs from his 1980 LP,The Rhythm Of Life, live for the first time in many years. It feels a little surreal that these songs will be heard live this weekend. Our previous release parties last year were more of a meet-and-greet with the artist, fans chatting with Mike while his record spun in the background. But we knew we had to start the year with a fresh approach. This time around, we’re anticipating a raw, intimate performance from Mike. Just his voice, his guitar and the tunes he wrote some 36 years ago.

I’m not sure when we’ll hear him play live again, so this is your chance: Join us at Hungry Ear onSunday, Jan. 31,from2 to 4 p.m.

As for me, I’ll continue writing at alohagotsoul.com. Feel free to reach me there, on Facebook, or via email at info@alohagotsoul.com.

ROGER RECENTLY TURNED HIS BLOG INTO A RECORD LABEL: ALOHAGOTSOUL.COM