JD Blog

No Snow Days in Hardcore: Inside YAMALOKA’s Blizzard-Born Studio Sessions

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“There are NO snow days in hardcore music.” – I wholeheartedly meant it when I typed it in the group chat on day three of tracking our debut EP, Sermons Of The Damned. At that point, it wasn’t just a statement—it was the reality we were living in. Snow was dumping outside, roads were getting worse by the hour, and somehow, that only made us push harder. I play guitar in YAMALOKA, a five-piece, no-frills hardcore […]

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Sala, a cocktail bar – Brought to you by Moffett Restaurant Group

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There was little fanfare in September when Charlotte chef and restaurateur Bruce Moffett quietly opened Sala, a European-style cocktail lounge next to his stalwart Italian restaurant, Stagioni. The opening was, however, an homage to Blanche Morgan Reynolds-Gourmajenko, the Charlotte socialite and legendary hostess who built the Tuscan-style villa in the 1920s at the spot where Stagioni and Sala now reside. Sala is the newest addition to Moffett Restaurant Group’s portfolio, which also includes Barrington’s, Good Food on Montford, and

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Norlin Era Gibson – The 1986 Standard

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I’ve ALWAYS wanted a Les Paul born the same year as me… along with LP’s from Bad Brains, Youth of Today, Agnostic Front, Sonic Youth, Cro Mags & Hüsker Dü. Norlin era Gibson was an awkward transitional period for the organization  – last year of Tim Shaw PAF’s. I gave this one a top wrap for a super slinky feel. and lets not forget to mention the Chainsaw case 😳 Banger Releases of 1986 Bad Brains – I

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MariGold Started her life as a Mary Ford Signature

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It’s DAMN hard to find a slim taper neck, ~9 lbs, Standard Gold Top… so I upfitted my own. Meet “MariGold.” 🤩 She started life as a Gibson Mary Ford Signature Standard and somehow became my No.1. Huge shout out to Worth at Mojotone for the insane-sounding 44 Magnum (21k passive) bridge pickup and vintage slim 500k CTS pots. Absolute fire. I also swapped out the floral guards and just added Kluson Locking Revolution Series

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4×12 Power to a Custom MojoTone 2×12 Masterpiece

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Finding the Perfect Balance: My Journey from 4×12 Power to a Custom MojoTone 2×12 Masterpiece For nearly a decade, I fought against the rise of digital modeling amplifiers. I was a purist — nothing, I told myself, would ever replace the roar and feel of a proper 4×12 cabinet pushing air behind me. My back, however, started disagreeing. After years of lugging heavy gear from gig to gig, I decided it was time to find

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He Is Legend – Suck Out The Poison 20 Year Anniversary Tour

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Fall. 2006. The Van. The CD. The Tour. I remember when He Is Legend dropped their follow-up to the critically acclaimed I Am Hollywood — it was October 2006, and fans were split. It was a departure from the sound that put them on the map via SolidState Records. That debut had launched them into the heart of a thriving metalcore scene, but this new record? Raw. Gritty. Honest. If you were a real fan,

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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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