20 Years of Nobody’s Darlings – Lucero at Neighborhood Theater 09/10/25

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TWENTY YEARS!?! It somehow feels like both a blink and a lifetime. Over these past two decades, I owe a huge thank you to Lucero’s guitarist and longtime friend, Brian Venable. My archives are overflowing with years’ worth of incredible Lucero photos—thanks to Brian’s consistent generosity in hooking me up with a photo pass, time and time again. This past Wednesday, the boys rolled through town for a school-night show at The Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa. […]

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EC – EVIL WOOD + MojoTone Bill Kelliher Hellbender Humbuckers

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The Hunt: One Guitar Among Thousands When it comes to finding the perfect guitar, every player knows the journey can be as personal and painstaking as crafting the tone itself. For me, the search for a new number one fiddle became an obsessive hunt — and it paid off in full. I present to you: The EC Evil Wood. The ESP LTD EC-1000 Burl Poplar isn’t just a workhorse — it’s a visual statement. Every

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The Fig Tree celebrates 20 years

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Since 2005, The Fig Tree — located in the historic Lucas House in Elizabeth — has been a cherished neighborhood haunt and a beloved backdrop for celebrating life’s special moments. Over the past two decades, the 7th Street corridor in this storied neighborhood has seen significant change, with mid-rise apartments and sleek new restaurants reshaping the landscape. Yet at The Fig Tree — housed in a quaint 1915 bungalow — things have remained largely the

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Billie Eilish – Hit My Heartstrings Hard and Soft

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Apparently, Dave Grohl was alerted to Billie Eilish by his daughters and claimed he had never seen a phenomenon in the music industry like this since, well, Nirvana – when Nevermind broke. Similarly I’m going to thank my daughter’s as well and also agree with Dave. I have become a fan. Why? Unlike Taylor Swift and her (in my opinion) unethical approach in having a team of writers crank out hits…. Billie and her brother

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First look! Mazi, South End Mediterranean

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A first look at Mazi, the South End restaurant from Built On Hospitality featuring Mediterranean flavors and southern ingredients. Mazi, a new Mediterranean restaurant in South End, is energetic and contemporary, evoking the feel of a buzzy city bistro. Tufted green banquettes run along one side of the deep rectangular space, while artichoke-shaped lights cast a warm glow. Back in February, Built on Hospitality chef and partner Chris Coleman was deep into the physical buildout and menu

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Poison The Well ‘Opposite of December’ Golden Nugget + YCBY Test Press

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I present the seminal Trustkill era metalcore record that influenced a whole decade. None other than Poison The Well’s the ‘Opposite of December a Season of Separation’ – I’ve been eyeing original pressings on eBay over the past year. Most were selling from $150-200. So when I heard they were re-pressing in three color variants, needless to say I was excited. Only snag was you could only pick one up on a tour stop. With no North

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Sound (+) bites: Orosoko Sound Bar

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Cocktail bar Orosoko brings a multisensory dining experience to South End.  Amid the ubiquitous mid-rise apartment and office buildings in South End, Orosoko Sound Bar stands out, precisely, by not standing out. Even the sign is enigmatic, a simple script “O” on the corner of the small one-story building at the corner of Bland and Winnifred streets. Full Feature story at https://southparkmagazine.com/sound-bites/

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Schuylar Croom – Burn All Your Rock Records – Neptunes 02.28.25

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For decades I have been privy to watching my dudes in He Is Legend shred their witchy, southern Hardcore. So when the opportunity arose to photograph frontman Schuylar Croom spin a guest DJ set – I took it. Super fun night. Mr. Croom adorning a Cramps shirt, shaking and grooving – while spinning at 33 RPM. He kicked off the evening with Jim Carroll’s “People Who Died” .  Might I add it was rather refreshing to see

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StefTone x MojoTone – Around The Super Strat

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My first venture outside Les Paul’s & Offsets. Behold the SC-20 (MH style) LTD. I swapped out the ESP stock pups for MoJo Tone Magnum 44 & 58’ Quiet Coil (bridge) in the neck position. NEW output 21k-11.2k-11.6k. Thank you Mr. Keith Mcandrews for the pairing suggestions. As Keith elegantly put it – “Stephen Carpenter used that guitar in the ’90s before he switched over to a 7-string. That Neck single coil can be heard

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Beloved – Failure on (Original Press) 2009 Edition – Broken Circles

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Another NC Hardcore / SolidState grail I’ve been hunting for the better part of a year. I first heard Beloved when given a copy of 2001’s “The Running” – produced by NC audio legend Mr. Jamie King of Swift (BTBAM, Glass Casket, He is Legend). Was fortunate to track a few records with him at The Basement Studio in Rural Hall, NC. This particular record turned a lot of heads upon its highly anticipated release. NC

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