The Riverfront Times Has a New Music Editor, As of April 6
There's no easy way to say this, and for once I've been at a loss for words on how to tell people, so I'll simply say this: Tuesday, April 5, is my last day as RFT music editor. In mid-April I'm moving back to Cleveland and taking a job with Alternative Press as their managing editor. This will let me be closer to my family and my boyfriend, who I actually met because of A to Z. (And this post about Matthew Sweet, specifically. But that's a meet-cute story for another time and place.) I also really can't put into words how much I love St. Louis and how much I'll miss the city -- and in particular the people in the music community. I moved here knowing absolutely nobody. But because people were so friendly and willing to talk to me, I slowly but surely found a true home here. I've had so many ridiculous (and awesome) experiences because of this job, and I've met so many amazing people. I know how rare that is, and how lucky I am to have had this position, and I'm so thankful. I'm proud of the local music community, and what it's accomplished -- and continues to accomplish, maybe now moreso than ever.
[Note, March 31: I've received a ton of inquiries about this, so just to clear up any confusion: This blog, A to Z, is not going away. I realize that it looks like this is "my" blog because it has the same initials as I do, and because I happen to post a lot on it, but this is the Riverfront Times' music blog -- not my personal blog. It belongs to the RFT; it doesn't belong to me. The name actually came from the print column I used to do, which was called A to Z. And that column name was meant more to convey that the RFT covers "music from A to Z" in St. Louis -- which is also the goal of this blog. So even though I'm no longer going to be music editor, this blog is still the RFT's music blog, and it's still continuing on apace under Kiernan's leadership.]
I'll have more to say in a farewell column running in print in the April 7 issue. But I'd also like to introduce my successor.
His name is Kiernan Maletsky. He went to Mizzou and is moving here from Denver, where he's been working at our sister paper there, Westword. From talking to him so far, I am very confident that he's going to hit the ground running here and do a wonderful job. He stresses that he's committed to becoming involved in the local music community, and that "globally, there's really no genre of music I'll dismiss out of hand." His memorable shows bear that out:
"My favorite concert of the last two years was a local band in Denver, my second favorite was Yo La Tengo, my third favorite was Big Boi and my fourth was Brandi Carlile," he says in an email. "And that, still, my favorite concert ever was the White Rabbits at Mojo's in Columbia, the first time they played in town after they moved to New York."
I'll be showing him the ropes early next week, and he'll be out and about soon, so definitely be sure to make him feel welcome in St. Louis. Oh, and his RFT email is up and running, so feel free to drop him a line hello! kiernan DOT maletsky AT riverfronttimes DOT com. (You know what to do to make that email-friendly.)
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