Earwig is unstoppable. Born of the Columbus , Ohio underground over a decade ago, this smart mid-western three-piece has no reservations about their work, or the life of it; music is just what they do. And front-man Lizard McGee may make it seem simple, like all this songwriting and producing and promoting is just in a morning’s work, but make no mistake: There’s some serious skill here. Still, Earwig has been struggling in the underground scene for long enough to know better than to hope for some sort of mainstream success in the music business. The band isn’t hoping to make it big, be the next Rolling Stone cover boys, or sell a million records. That sort of career is rare these days and McGee knows it. “Center of the Earth,” the band’s third release on the self-operated “micro-indie” LFM Records- and it’s best album to date -is a glorious departure from the tried-and-true, a powerful creation bred both of hope and discontent, wistfulness and fear. The band finally delivers on earlier promises to break the mold and cover new ground in indie-rock and spooky, underground-pop.

In January 2007, Columbus Ohio ’s Mega-Alternative Rock station CD101 added Earwig’s song ‘Used Kids’ to their regular rotation play-list. It was a risky move for a large commercial station. But it paid off for WWCD101 and the band, landing Earwig’s song in the Top 5 most requested songs at the station ever since. That’s a feat almost un-heard of for a small, do-it-yourself band. The song - which depicts local music legend Ron House (Great Plains, Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments) as a rebel listening to the voice of God on his walkman radio - is a stream of consciousness rant tempered with just enough fuzz and grit to make it first rate. The title name-checks a local record store that serves as ground zero to the indie/underground community in Ohio . The uber-catchy tribute has turned into a local phenomenon.

Topping out at over 400 spins in 6 months, “Used Kids” became one of the station’s most heavily requested songs. The popularity of the single has spread to other stations as well (Sirius, Top 5 at college radio; ACRN, WXCU, WCBE, WOBN and others in Ohio that report to the CMJ). The local press was quick to report the airplay and national media are starting to pick up on the band’s story with upcoming reviews and features in The Big Takeover, Wonka Vision, Verbicide and Alternative Press. Earwig has had modest success putting out a series of critically acclaimed but hard to find albums on their own “micro-indie” record label LFM Records. The band has gathered a small, but ferociously loyal, nationwide fan base. With the success of the single “Used Kids” that fan base is growing more quickly than anyone expected. Online sales for the new album have begun to steadily increase, says McGee. The band’s previous CDs are already out of print but digital sales of those albums’ songs remain constant. McGee adds “It seems like our digital and online fan base has been spreading like a virus.”

The years of hard work and dedication proves to be paying dividends in other ways too. Recently the band was selected by retailing giant Meijer for a distribution deal. The Michigan-based chain of 176 superstores, has launched a new program to promote regional music in its stores. Earwig’s new CD is now on the shelf next to the latest from Modest Mouse, TV on the Radio, and other recent major label releases. In addition, Earwig is featured in weekly ad circulars hitting 7 million households in Ohio , Michigan , Illinois , Indiana and Kentucky .

At Center Of The Earth ’s core is a trio that writes superbly crafted, taut, three-minute rock songs. Lots of bands write such songs, but few are written that anyone wants to hear more than once. Earwig delivers the goods. The rhythm section packs a wallop and swings like a monster. McGee’s voice delivers lyrics that avoid cliches. His strings of word are of the smart, multilayered variety that rewards listeners. “I don't know how much it shows, but this record is really about Ohio . It's about where we are from and being true to what you are,” says McGee. “The idea of ‘making it’ is all an obvious sham at this point. We are the polar-opposite of the latest warmed over trend from NYC or LA. We're not the Next Big Thing,” McGee says. “We've always been a sort of slacker band - 5 years between records! But we're honest. And we won't die.”

Earwig is already known for their ferocious live shows and brilliant albums. Their sound is powerful, McGee’s lyrics poignant, and their unique songs are catchier than anything on mainstream radio. Next on the band’s list of things to do: hitting the recording studio to begin work on their follow-up to “ Center Of The Earth ”. As McGee points out “There‘s just no good reason to sit around waiting to see what happens next. That can kill a band. We want to get in front of bigger audiences and keep the band moving forward.”