EAR TO THE GROUND

05/12/2026

Burnout in the Scene

When love turns to labor.

There’s a type of burnout that feels almost impossible to explain unless you’ve been in a scene or community long enough to experience it. Most of the time, it isn’t this dramatic downfall, it’s usually just staring at week old pictures and edits, resting on songs for a little too long, or just plain ignoring deadlines because you have a million assignments due the next morning, anyways. Other times it’s coming home from a show already exhausted but already thinking of the next thing you have to do or attend or turn in. And sometimes it’s realizing that the thing that usually helps you escape stress can just become another source of it.I think one of the hardest things about DIY scenes and communities is that they’re built almost entirely off of pure passion, nobody’s really forcing anyone to do any of this. Bands don’t have to spend hours, weeks, or months writing music, booking shows, or hauling equipment. Photographers don’t have to spend entire nights editing pictures. Writers don’t have to stay up trying to document scenes most people outside of their community wouldn’t even think twice about. But people still do it because we care, and it’s awesome, but it can get exhausting.Using myself as an example, running Ear to the Ground has absolutely shown me how quickly passion turns into pressure. There are weeks where I’m absolutely consumed by senior year, work, relationships, personal life, family, writing, editing, planning content I can’t seem to get around to, trying to stay active, so on and so forth. The hard part is I genuinely love it, I love being busy and I love my website and what I do. But because I’m so quick to work, I always convince myself I can handle more and more. I think everyone I’ve met in the scene, even casual fans have experienced this pressure.There’s this unspoken feeling that if you really care about your scene, you always have to contribute somehow. The scene moves fast. There’s always a new flyer being posted, another show, another release, another upcoming band, another thing to keep up with. Of course, social media makes everything feel even faster. Sometimes it feels like if you stop posting for a week, you disappear. Like if you miss a few things you aren’t “in” it. Nobody says it, but it can feel like it. What makes burnout in creative spaces hurt just a little more is that it almost always stems directly from love instead of resentment. We aren’t exhausted because we hate doing what we do, but because we love it so much that we often push ourselves past what we’re capable of. We care deeply, we want to support our friends and bands and create something meaningful, because we can get scared slowing down means falling behind. I don’t think people realize how common that feeling is.Scenes exist because people are willing to give pieces of themselves to support them, but unfortunately we aren’t endless resources. Everyone hits a point where it gets too much, and of course most of us are so hardheaded that we just push ourselves until we can’t. Like, missing a show doesn’t erase everything we’ve contributed to the scene, no matter if it's just a picture on a post or a flyer on a bulletin board.
I think part of keeping local scenes alive means learning how to care about the people just as much as the music itself, who’s gonna show up to a show if everyone is depressed and burned out. The scene doesn’t disappear when somebody takes a break. If anything, it survives longer when the people holding it together are actually allowed to rest. - Ziggy

01/01/2026

New Year, Same Noise

My reflection of my first few months, and what is to come!

Happy New Year, my loyal minions. Another year gone and it feels weird. I feel like 2025 slipped from right beneath my nose. When Ear to the Ground was birthed from my mind mid-July last year, I definitely wouldn’t have expected it to grow to where it is now. A place I can always look back to whenever I need to be myself or meet new people, and hopefully a place where everyone else can feel that way, too. What started as rambling about shows has turned into this little pseudo-archive of the Fayetteville scene. It may be small right now, but every single picture, video, and late-night ramble sesh to my friends means the absolute world to me, and I am so incredibly thankful.Looking back, these past couple months have only been the beginning of this newsletter. It felt so packed, first interviews, first articles, first time dragging my soggy, gross self through the rain at a gig. (Totally worth it, by the way.) I got to sit down with some amazing friends and acquaintances who have become almost the faces of the scene – Connor and Matt from Addalyn, and Ryder from Crooked Cult – people who are filled with personality and talent to the brim. Of course, it’s been weird and messy and slow, but I couldn’t imagine a better starting place.And of course, I need to thank y'all. The readers, the bands and artists, the people who share my links or posts, this seriously only works because of you. I may be small right now, but I have so many plans for this year to share this tiny little newsletter. For 2026, I’m trying to take this further. More articles, stories, interviews, more community things. I’ve got plans for my first physical magazine, some collabs with bands, and probably a few late uploads when I can’t sleep. The show calendar is live and shows will be added as I see them and my ideas won’t be stopping anytime soon.The new year’s always weirdly reflective and nostalgic, everyone is talking about resolutions or change, but I kinda like keeping this grit that made last year a successful start. Just pushing and pushing and pushing my stuff out there, probably annoying some people in the process. This is such a passion project to me and it seriously means so much that so many people want to follow along. So yeah, new year, same heart.Thank you for reading, thank you for listening, and thank you for caring about this newsletter and the scene that keeps my head spun on straight. - Ziggy

08/17/2025

Addalyn: A Farewell

History has its eyes on you.

Debuting with their first single Broken Mirrors in 2024, Addalyn has been an anchor in Fayetteville’s metal scene. What makes them stand out goes beyond their sound, though. From their first gig at Above Board Skatepark to headlining shows at Paddy’s, they’ve been blowing crowds away not only with sheer talent and expertise, but their authenticity. They’ve always been so down to earth and genuinely grateful for their success, which I think is refreshing in a world of nonchalant, wannabe cool dudes, like I’m always a fan of bands that aren’t afraid to be real and show off their personality. And because of this, their releases such as Icarus (my personal favorite) and Sisyphus feel like a personal experience when you see them live. And that honestly goes for all their music, like they aren’t just songs, they feel like a snapshot inside the mind of Connor, brought to life through the expertise of Nick, Daunte, Tristan, and Matt. The result is something that I believe is truly special, something raw, emotional, and genuine, which is exactly why Addalyn feels so unforgettable.Moving on to their final gig after watching them grow from the beginning, it was like… wow. Being there in all its sweaty, cramped glory at Paddy’s felt like watching the band unfold in front of me for the last time, y'know? Like seeing all the work, blood, sweat, and tears that led to that show stabbed me in the chest. I sound a little corny laying it out like that but that’s how I feel. And yeah, I kept getting stuck behind a wall of tall people most of the night, but the energy was so insane I barely even cared anyway. Their setlist was stacked with originals and covers, with my personal standouts being Battery, Love You After Death, Deny Defend Depose, 3063, Be Nice to Me, and of course Yours, Mine, Hours. Each song carried its own little moment and memory. When they did finish their set, I was crying, my friends were crying, we were ALL crying in the pit. And those rare moments where a show doesn't feel like just another show, but a community – Those are the moments that make me remember why I fell in love with this scene.

Of course, it isn’t just me who feels this way. I reached out to a few people to hear what they have to say, too!

Memories

“The first time I went to an Addalyn show, it was at some old biker bar that shut down. I forgot the name of it but it was Addalyn's second show ever since I didn't get to go to their first one (the halloween show for Art Attack). Despite the musty smell mixed with cigarette smoke, it was still a fantastic show! I actually caught one of my favorite clips ever of which Addalyn posted to their page. It was a video of lead singer Connor Faulk inviting an older fellow who was VERY eager to sing along, on stage. He let the older man sing along into the mic whilst the band played. It was honestly in my opinion, one of the most wholesome moments at an Addalyn show. I still look back on the memory to this day thinking about how proud of myself I was to capture that moment.” - Nala Sampson, Video Taking Extraordinaire“Definitely my favorite memory from a show was in Greensboro, it was the first one where they had it at the skate park. It was fun, a lot happened that day. I think all the memories from that day just put it together. I don’t even think that was their best show, like performance wise, but it was a really good environment because I got to ride my skateboard, and I was skating back and forth during the concert. I even live streamed a little bit of it on Twitch, and while I was live a wheel just randomly broke off my skateboard, and I crashed. I didn't hurt myself, so it just ended up being really funny. I wasn't even as close with Addalyn then as I am now. I mean, that's kind of how relationships work, but just watching a concert in that kind of environment and having so much stuff like that happen, it really shaped the show. Also, it was their first time playing some of their songs live in front of me, so it was a lot more hype because, if you know me, I've gone to almost every Addalyn show, probably above 75% of the ones they've had. It was great.” - Dayne Field, Addalyn Superfan“First time we (Shindig) played with Addalyn was at the Red Desk Cafe, they exceeded my expectations by a long shot. I was impressed by how tight they were as a whole.” - Trace Milone, String Fiddler of Shindig

Thoughts

“They were very consistent around Fayetteville compared to other bands, and they had a lot of stage presence with a love and interaction with the community that you don’t get to see often. Oh, and my favorite song is Mausoleum, the chorus scratches an itch in my brain and it’s also extremely fun to mosh to!” - George Potter, The Goth Dude“My comparison [in first impression to now] to Addalyn has changed drastically. Even though at the Red Desk they were great, I saw they were a little stiff, I guess you could say. But now they are way beyond that level, they improved stage presence, how tight they are, and just honestly they have improved as musicians as a whole. Seeing them at their last show, I was genuinely very proud of all of them, they all grew a lot in the past few months and they have shown how much they've improved. They kick absolute ass.” - Trace Milone

Personal Impact

“I love Addalyn so much. So many friendships have blossomed from these shows and it has been nothing but a blessing to see these incredibly talented guys perform. Connor Faulk is an incredible guitarist and has grown so much as a vocalist. He was my first friend made from the band and worked so hard for the band's success. Nick is an unbelievably AMAZING guitarist (or bassist – can't remember), seeing him play is honestly mesmerizing and Nick was my second friend made from the band. Matt's drum work really gets you riled up, it's the heart of the music and what gets your heart racing with excitement. He's also an incredible artist!” - Nala Sampson“I’ve actually been a really close friend with all the members of Addalyn, it’s been a really great experience. But I’ve been particularly close with Nick my entire life, like we literally grew up and had our childhoods together, and he really influenced me just a crazy amount. He’s definitely inspired the way I see music, he’s really just been a great friend throughout the years. Ever since I met Connor, we clicked, we have very similar personalities and he’s definitely given me some really good life advice, just one of the greatest people that’s come into my life and just makes things better. Their music, though, it’s just gained on me, I don’t know if it’s because it’s made by the people who made me, but also I really do like their genre of music and they’ve changed my music taste. Seeing them in shows also is really cool because seeing my best friends play and be famous and it’s just like “oh my gosh I know those guys.” It’s almost inspiring, because it’s absolutely something I want to do in life. Tristan is also such a character when you get to meet him, he’s really witty and I think the biggest thing I’ve stolen from him is that smirk he always does. (The Tristan face.) They’ve really been like family to me, and I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the impact of every single member of Addalyn. To put a long story short, without Addalyn, it would be like if Martin Luther King had to lead the Civil Rights Movement pretty much all by himself. Not including Rosa Parks, I guess. I’m just trying to make an analogy for the impact these guys had. I’m going to miss them.” - Dayne Field

All in all, I'm honestly really going to miss this band. I don't know if it's obvious enough, but I'm personally pretty close to the band, so seeing them grow both as people and performers has been the coolest thing ever to me. Ever since I met Connor in like 2023, I knew he'd make an insane frontman in a sick ass band, and he did it in like a year and people love him. It's honestly inspiring, just like Dayne said. And don't even get me started on how freaking talented Nick and Matt are, I've known both of them for a hot minute, we've performed together at school, and I'm always just blown away with their modesty and talent. BOOOO Nick for going to college... (kidding!) And Daunte and Tristan are both just absolute characters, and I know I probably sound like I'm praising this band just because I'm friends with most of them, but I'm genuinely incredibly proud of their success. Being real, without going to my first Addalyn show in April, I wouldn't even have this website or even be aware of the scene here at all. Serious! Addalyn has impacted the scene so much and I don't even think they know the half of it. They've had an incredible run, and I really do wish the best luck to Nick in college, and for the future success of the band's members. I love Addalyn very much, their music, the members, everything. Bands like Addalyn don't come around often and I feel so lucky that I got to be here for it at all, beginning to end. - Ziggy

07/14/2025

Screamo Summer Camp @ Panther Lake

11 bands. 1 lake. 0 chill.

There’s something kind of unique about the lingering chaos before a local gig. By the time the show was supposed to start, it was pouring, and I ended up on the lake’s dock, sitting crisscrossed under a tiny umbrella with my friend with my jeans soaked and my hair already frizzing out like crazy. My friends were jumping right into the lake, clothes and all like the rain didn’t matter anymore. It was messy and just a little miserable, but honestly? No one cared.Right as the rain was letting up, Lofield began their set. The atmospheric tone and nostalgic feeling their music had held this emotional undercurrent that set the tone for the day. Not heavy but honest. Their set washed over the few people scattered around like memory in motion. Their guitarist described their material best as “I love video games” music, and I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Their set felt like a comforting reset to the rainy madness that came before the show!Then came This Island Earth, and with them a total change in energy. Their set hit right in the gut, dripping with angst, almost resembling the music of Title Fight. They were the first band to really get the crowd moving, and the first few moshers started throwing themselves out there. Their set felt like the real kickstart to the gig, and they were awesome.Then, of course, came local Fayetteville heavyweights Addalyn. No matter how many times they’ve played, their set always feels fresh, heavy, and totally down to earth. There’s this familiarity to them, but it never gets old. They had the crowd locked in from the jump, keeping the energy high and the movement constant. At one point, my friend literally threw me over his shoulder and started spinning me around in the pit! Addalyn knows how to command the attention from a local crowd, and they did it again, easy.After came carcrashpoolparty with a set that was gritty in all the right ways. Their instrumentals had this beautiful quality to it, layered and full of emotion that made the raw and powerful vocals hit even harder. That contrast between the instruments and the vocals gave the band a real edge. They were loud, messy, and real. Everything you’d want from a great screamo band.The last band I caught was Glamourworld, and they seriously brought it. I could feel the bass literally rattling my bones and the stank face I made during those heavy drops was disgusting. (In the best way possible, of course.) People were losing it in the pit, at one point two members of local band Wetiko started wrestling in the mud like it was nothing. Totally impossible to stand still during their set. (And they did it all without their singer, too, like it’s crazy.) The perfect band to be sent off with.By the time I had to leave I was soggy and gross and grinning like an idiot. But there’s something about shows like this. The rain caused issues for the bands and absolutely soaked everyone around, but even with these setbacks, it really proves how much this community values local music. It's sweaty and uncomfortable and noisy, sure , but it means something. Gigs like this are why we show up in the first place. - Ziggy