It’s been a long time since we’ve put out a Local Ear magazine… and some of you have asked, “Are we done for?”
Here’s the truth.
Local Ear has reinvented itself more times than most people realize. It actually began in 1998 as Nevada’s Local Music Buzz, one of the earliest local music websites around. By 2001, it had its own dot‑com and officially became Local Ear, expanding coverage beyond just one town. In 2002, we shifted into print with a hand‑distributed “news‑zine” to reach more people at a time when websites still weren’t mainstream — at least in the Midwest. We went full blog in 2003, then joined Blogger in 2004, keeping the digital side alive while Dangerous Doug Harper was touring, creating early YouTube content, and spotlighting indie bands.
As our print zine era was winding down in 2006, Local Ear shifted gears toward becoming more like an indie label. We produced the compilation CD Bands From the Back 40, which was distributed to all 50 states, featured in Guitar World Magazine, picked up radio play, and even made its way onto shelves at major record stores like Hastings and Target. A second release, Bands From the Back 40 #2, followed the next year, expanding the reach of the local scene even further.
During this period, Local Ear also expanded into broadcast media with the Local Ear On‑Air radio show — a 105‑minute program on KESM in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, airing from late 2008 through early 2010. It spotlighted local artists, regional music news, and the underground scene, giving Local Ear yet another platform to amplify musicians.
Around this time, Local Ear evolved into a production company and then into more of a promoter. In 2009, we released one last special comeback news‑zine at a major David Allen Coe concert. By 2010, Local Ear transitioned into the Local Ear / Music Exurbia brand — with Music Exurbia originally intended to become the retail store for Local Ear. The store concept was short‑lived, but Music Exurbia carried on in new ways, continuing the spirit of local music support even as Local Ear quietly disappeared altogether by 2012.
From 2012 to 2021, Local Ear wasn’t officially active, but the spirit never fully died. There was a pretty cool musician reunion weekend during that period — not even sure if it carried the Local Ear heading — but it was promoted using the original Local Ear YouTube page. Even in the quiet years, the community kept the flame alive.
In the last five years, Local Ear has quietly resurfaced in new corners of the internet. A Local Ear TikTok page was created and managed by Trevor — the world’s greatest music fan — keeping the vibe alive with clips, memories, and scene‑love energy. Some Local Ear‑themed content has also appeared on the With Doug TV channel, most notably the Lunch With Doug Movie, which was produced under the Local Ear banner. The Lunch With Doug podcast has featured new interviews as well as classic conversations from the old radio‑show era, bridging the past and present in a way only Local Ear can.
Then, in 2021, Local Ear returned in its strongest form yet — a full magazine — producing nine issues and still promising the long‑awaited Issue #10.
So no… we’re not done. Not even close.
Local Ear has always adapted to whatever keeps the local scene alive. Whether it’s print, web, blog, livestream, production, radio, TikTok, or whatever comes next — the mission stays the same: document the culture, support the artists, and keep Nevada’s creative heartbeat loud.
The underground never dies. It just evolves.
Comments