2022

Les Paul Standard Project with Planet Tone Pickups

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For the record, None of my guitars are stock. I play aggressive music in drop tunings. I always replace my stock bridges, humbuckers and tuners. Humbucker I had been hearing great things about Planet Tone pickup co. After a few phone chats and emails with their staff I settled on the “Defiance” humbucker. “The Defiance humbucker offers a tasty mid range, and big bottom end for high power, high gain tone. Perfect for heavy styles […]

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We Sing With our Heroes, 33 Rounds Per Minute

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What could make a Plaza Midwood bottle shop even cooler? A vinyl Record store, that’s what! Years ago when I found out Tip Top Market was adding Premium Sound to their space I was super stoked. I mean, my favorite bar (Hattie’s Tap & Tavern), Tip Top Market and Premium Sound, all in a row?!?! Yes! At the time I lived literally right behind the building. This was convenient and addicting at the same time.

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Legend Bourbon Dinner Pairings – The Public House and Trolley Barn Fermentory & Food Hall

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This is my 4th round working Legent Suntory. A true collab of east + west, this is a bold Kentucky bourbon made by Jim Beam master distiller Fred Noe, and blended and refined by Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo. Legent is matured in oak and finished in wine and sherry casks. Get hints of spice and dried fruit. Two-nights back to back at some of Charlotte’s great spots; The Public House and Trolley Barn Fermentory.

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Darci Frank – The Vintage Cigar Bar – Purple Drink

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I first met Miss. Darci Frank at a Jim Beam industry event in 2016. I was pleasantly surprised to see she was (amongst a myriad of things) mixing up amazing cocktails at The Vintage Cigar Bar in Southend.  Check out the full story at https://southparkmagazine.com/lovely-lavender/ Justin DriscollHello, my name is Justin Driscoll. Originally from New Jersey, I call the wonderful state of North Carolina home. I might have taken your photo at some point or met you at

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Kurt Cobain Signature Mustang VS 2002 Competition Mustang Reissue

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$4,500,000 was the final closing price for the infamous “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video guitar at Julien’s Auctions. Well, since that is ridiculous, here is my replica! A 2002 Japanese  1969/1973 reissue, Ocean Turquoise, Competition Mustang with matching headstock and racing stripe. The bridge pickup (on both guitars) was swapped out. A Seymour Duncan 1990’s Hot Rails on the 2002 and a SH-4 JB on the Cobain model (stanard from Fender). The horrible stock Fender bridge was swapped

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The California Takeover – SNAPCASE – EARTH CRISIS & STRIFE

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In 1996, Victory Records released an iconic live album called The California Takeover, which featured recordings from a three-band bill in L.A. that boasted Earth Crisis, Snapcase and Strife — three of the most popular and influential hardcore bands of the Nineties. This show was rescheduled due to COVID and I decided to travel to Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY. I have been very vocal about SNAPCASE. It was Tremont Music Hall 8/28/1998 – within

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Delectable Davidson

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I recently spent the day in Davidson NC. Home to the elite liberal arts college, Davidson also has some great eats, drink and shops. I visited a few. Milkbread, Grow, Summit Coffee, The Pickled Peach and Main Street books. Also on the Davidson Campus look for the sculpture made of hardwood tree branches. “Common Ground” by North Carolina artist Patrick Dougherty is rustic art you can walk in, around and through. Another notable work is Magdalena Abakanowicz’s

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“Scenes From An Italian Restaurant” – Ever Andalo, NoDa

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My mothers side of the family hails from Sicily. Between that and growing up in Jersey I am really only snobby about Italian food. Ever Andalo knocked it out of the park! My favorite pasta hands down is Cavatelli. The folks at Ever Andalo hand make their own! When paired with Italian sausage, I was in heaven.  Everything they rolled out for me to photograph was top notch. Let’s not forget Crepe Cellar, the NoDa restaurant Jamie Brown

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The Great Pacific Northwest – A Nirvana Pilgrimage

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In memory of the 28th anniversary of the death of Kurt Cobain I revisited photos of my trip to Seattle and his home town of Aberdeen, Washington. Aberdeen – Kurt & Krist Home Town1) I am not sure if anyone would willingly visit the economically deprived town if it were not some sort of fan pilgrimage. From Portland we took an hour detour off the I-5 to the small logging town of Aberdeen. After years

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Makers Mark Women’s Bartender Competition @ Billy Sunday

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I absolutely love working with Sarah, Kevin and all the folks at Maker’s Mark. All of their events are amazingly fun, delicious… and yes, drink responsibly!! 😜 In honor of Women’s History Month alongside the history of Maker’s Mark this event was dedicated to all the amazing Women in the industry. Makers Mark co-founder Margie Samuels  is the reason most folks buy their first bottle of Maker’s Mark and Bill is the reason they buy their second. The shape of the

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