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slavghoul · 1 year

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Interview from Upset Magazine 6/2023

Words: Steven Loftin

Like an apparition manifesting within a dense fog, it was through radio static that Swedish rockers Ghost were formed. In the kindergarten he attended as a young boy, Tobias Forge found himself enamoured with the music crackling through the little toy speakers. From this point forward, he began picking apart the notes and melodies - his journey toward the lore and canon coming into focus as he sat, trying to figure out how this black magic could be summoned.

While it would be many years before he would don his garb as Papa Emeritus, the essence of what his future would sound like was being set through his exposure to a wide variety of music. If any proof were needed, just look to the impressive list of covers Ghost have put their ghastly mark upon, including 2016's 'Popestar' EP, which included the band's takes on Echo & The Bunnymen ('Nocturnal Me') and Simian Mobile Disco ('I Believe').

Ghost's latest EP is another covers bonanza. A five-piece offering of Tobias's backstory, 'Phantomime' plays out like a Greatest Hits radio playlist - a fitting throwback to Tobias' first dalliances with music. Of course, when a group more aligned to the metal/hard rock community bust out covers, including Genesis and Tina Turner, eyebrows are raised. To this reaction, Tobias scoffs. "In 1991, Genesis was one of the biggest bands on the planet! That was a huge hit. In the mid-80s, when I had an older teenage brother who rented every VHS movie that came out, of course, we saw the fucking Thunderdome, and that was a huge hit, and it's still being played on Swedish radio. It's an evergreen; it's not an eclectic choice at all," he declares. "I grew up listening to Stranglers because my brother liked them. What else do we have, Iron Maiden - I mean, are you kidding? I'm a metalhead!"

Originally conceived during the sessions for their fifth album, last year's 'Impera', there were two folders on his computer's desktop: one named 'Impera', the other simply 'Covers'. As the ideas for 'Impera' grew, Tobias would enter his usual routine of working on a cover or two. "At any point, when you lose a little wind in writing your own things, it's quite nice to say, 'Today let's go in and work on the covers'; you can choose anything you want, you can work on absolutely anything you want. And you don't have to finish it, you don't have to release it, you don't have to do anything, but just continue working."

He likens it to the freedom of being a theatre owner who, instead of trying to pen the next greatest Broadway phenomenon, opts to have a go at something already timeless and perfected.

"Maybe you're like, 'Okay, so this fall we're just going to do a reinterpretation of Hamlet instead, that's going to be fine, and that keeps everyone working, and that keeps a project moving along! And I find a similar thing with working on covers. So as I was writing "Impera', the covers folder was also growing exponentially and at a point. I had this idea that was going to be a full-length album."

With COVID restrictions meaning the original producer for 'Impera' was stuck in the US, Tobias had to source a replacement. It would be Klas Åhlund who stepped up to the plate. But, on one condition. "He was pretty upfront. He was like. Yeah, I only want to make the record; I don't want to work on covers," Tobias remembers "Fine, fine, fine, that's fine." he shrugs. "So, after the 'Impera' recording was done, I felt as if making a completely different, whole record again: I didn't have time for that. I didn't have the energy for that. But once I trimmed down the number of songs to only these five to make a very rocky record, it loosened up the screws a little bit for me in terms of like, "Okay, so now I know what the EP is going to be - it's going to be a full, full-throttle rock one."

Ditching some rumoured softer covers, including U2, Misfits, and Motörhead. 'Phantomime is instead a delectable slice of Ghost doing what Ghost do best: creating theatrically big rock. It's Tobias's mark upon some bonafide classics, including Iron Maiden's 'Phantom of the Opera' which feels as befitting to Ghost as it does seeing Papa Emeritus kick the bucket ready for his next iteration. While the focus was on creating this small dose of Tobias's musical DNA, it also served another purpose; to simply be "not very complicated." The project began with the mindset of "we can make this recording loosely - quick but stress-free - as opposed to making a record which is your hard fifth record that needs to live up to certain standards. So it was just a very inspired, very simple recording, actually."

After the complexities of 'Impera' which wound up requiring two studios simultaneously running in parallel "to be able to work efficiently" - Ghost was morphing into a taxing experience for the band leader, "It was just a bigger thing [and] way more stressful."

Deciding to strip that covers folder down to the five tracks, by all accounts, 'Phantomime was a measured and reserved effort. "It ended up being me, an engineer, and an occasional musician coming in and doing something. It was so much looser, so much more mentally Feng Shui," he smiles, relief glowing in his voice. "And I think that that reflected a little bit on the two different records. They're meant to be related - they are definitely related - they were made roughly in the same time, but they're completely different things."

'Phantomime' plays out like a ghoulish social commentary. Starting with a searing rendition of Televison's 'See No Evil, the journey traverses the scourge of Televangelism (Genesis' Jesus He Knows Me') with a delightfully-fitting NSFW video, the instant gratification humans require to feel (The Stranglers' Hanging Around"); the pull back into cruel reality (Phantom Of The Opera"), and the resulting undying hope from a degraded society (Tina Turner's 'We Don't Need Another Hero"). Each offering is bolstered with Ghost's dramatic, theatric rock licks and Tobias's powerhouse vocals.

With 'Phantomime' in the bag and the European leg of the 'Impera' tour imminent (Tobias is currently holed up in preparation), the idea of reflecting on how he came to go from a young boy listening to the static sounds of pop hits on the radio to orchestrating not only a feverishly adored band and its lore but finding the capacity to embrace his inner music nerd, couldn't be more timely. Tobias's relationship with music has always been one of intrigue. He's a pop songwriter with the ambition and ideas of a stadium rock band, which, in essence, explains perfectly why Ghost can sit in a unique, exponentially growing and expanding space.

"My earliest inclination of wanting to transform into something else was definitely Twisted Sister," he recalls. "You know, "I Want To Rock' and 'We're Not Going To Take It' - that was a huge record in 1984, and in 1984, I was three years old," he says. "My brother was 16, so everything that was going on pop-culturally amongst teenagers was happening in my home."

It was thanks to his brother that much of Tobias's relationship with music was formed. He's introduced him to various giants of the time, like tectonic plates being pushed around, impacting and shaping his musical landscape. Translating for young Tobias the attitude of punk at the time, as well as everything else that was 'in', he remembers, "When I was a kid, and he was supposed to babysit me, as a pacifier he would put me in front of [Sex Pistols mockumentary film] 'The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle"," he laughs. "And then when that was over, he would just switch to [X-rated cartoon] Fritz the Cat. And I loved that stuff, of course. That was as much [about] the expression and the attitude. Of course, I loved the songs, but it was also filtered or combined with big songs for me." Those big songs ("Men At Work 'Down Under'," he initially cites, "those sort of songs still have a unique place in my in my writing") would eventually entwine with his darker side that he'd explore as he grew older. "Whilst my whole adolescence was completely in the name of extreme metal, I always had a very soft spot for Top 40 rock and pop radio always," Tobias explains. "And I've listened to that all my life. So it's almost equal portions of Venom as it is anything. that was on the radio."

Also, witnessing shock and glam-rock bands explode intrigued Tobias. He became swept away in the idea that not only could you push a boundary to its absolute limits with convictions and over-the-top grandiosity, but you could do so with songs that quantifiably bop. But, as time has gone onto prove, it wasn't pop music that enamoured Tobias enough that he wanted to become a pop star. It's the mythology and mystery that has become his calling card.

Tobias remained an enigma under the disguise of an evolving form of the iconic Papa Emeritus (now in his fourth incarnation) until 2017, after a lawsuit from a previous iteration of his backing band's rotating cast, the Nameless Ghouls. Visual and video components to releases are often hoovered up by the fandom, stripped apart for meaning and potential. Instagram posts are referred to as a '[Message From The Clergy]" (a phrase later claimed for 2022's Best Of playlist), and lest it is forgotten, the Ghost 'Grucifix' - the prominent crucifix deconstructed into Tobias's gothic 'G' logo - which ties together the vision, religious imagery and satire that would become a core part of the Ghost experience.

His musical ambition and education colliding in the middle of his Venn diagram between dark metal and pop magic is thanks to the likes of the aforementioned Twisted Sister and W.A.S.P., as well as his teen years in the black metal community. "Their first record was also a huge impact in Swedish media," Tobias remembers. "There was this big sort of Satanic panic thing going on at the time in the fall of 1984. Where you had essentially all those things happening. You had Mötley Crüe 'Shout At The Devil', which came out a year earlier, and they were there because they toured with Iron Maiden in 1984, so there was a lot of focus on these shock-rock bands. I saw that as a kid, and I was immediately blown away - it was the coolest thing I've ever seen. And I think that that was the trigger that made me identify as that is how I want to express myself."

Decoding the songs he'd hear also became an integral part of that expression. "That was the only thing I did for years before I started writing my own songs." Recalling his time in kindergarten, they had a piano and guitar, which Tobias became infatuated with. Instead of playing with the other children, he would find himself enraptured, listening to the radio or flipping over whichever cassette happened to be loaded at the time. He would then imitate the sounds he was soaking up. "A lot of those early beginnings of how to learn and how I've learned how to understand music filters through everything I do now," he explains.

The early records he'd find himself trying to unpack included KISS 'Alive' and Pink Floyd's 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' - disparate matches, but undoubtedly Ghost fuel with hard rock melodies and psychedelic tendencies. "I had the first and the second Pink Floyd on a double LP that was called 'A Nice Pair'. And that's the shit that I sat and listened to and played guitar to," he says proudly. "That's weird music, that's really weird chord sequences and melodies that sort of went nowhere. And, that coloured me a lot in my vision of this is how you write a pop song. Of course, I knew more conventional writing as well. But I figured that this resonates with me, and I want to write more like that."

Tobias is the first to admit that the influence his musical exposure has had on him isn't the most straightforward. "For all the years that I was in bands, up until Ghost, basically when I was in bands not doing well, I got a lot of, I wouldn't say stick, but it was always like, 'You write weird songs, there's something weird about them, and it will never really become anything because it has that sort of weirdness to it".

As he grew, the songs he'd heard reflected this inherent strangeness he'd constructed. Before the days of mass formulaic pop factories, the music emanating from the radio abided by the strictest rule of needing to at least be approachable, but within these confines, artists of the 70s and 80s would push the envelope as far as they could. Citing Nik Kershaw's 'The Riddle' as one example, "Holy shit, if you would have taken that song and taken it to a chord structure masterclass amongst pop writers now who want to write songs for Miley Cyrus or The Weeknd or any of that sort of level they would say, no, no, no, no, that this will never work. It's too strange. It's too weird. You can't do that; it doesn't have the normal chord progression.

"There are a lot of songs from the 80s that are like that," he reckons, "compared to the now, more informative way of writing, the 80s was braver actually, and it worked well. And those songs are evergreens in a way that a lot of the top radio shit from seven years ago is forgotten, and that's the stuff that I grew up with when I started playing the guitar."

Having made that inner sanctum, he would enter kindergarten a reality, one where he can explore those recesses of his mind shaken by the musical earthquakes he experienced; now, he's matured and deeply entrenched in the reality. "Throughout the modern day of pop writing, I know a few professional pop songwriters, and we continue having these conversations because in pop," he says, "where some of them work prolifically on really high releases, they're like, it's strange how the business wants everything to be so informative. Everybody wants a weird song, but still, all the big songs are usually very, very formatted [and] very, very simple."

While unpacking the songs he'd heard back in the 80s offered Tobias a chance to comprehend what makes a good song, it, more importantly, helped him to set out doing it on his own. When digging into crafting a new Ghost number, Tobias explains that "each new song is a little bit like virgin territory with its own riddle to be solved, and is always a combination of the horror of maybe not solving the puzzle, with the thrill when you do. And it's never easy because each new song needs something new. And so you constantly need to feed your ability with knowledge about how other things are."

Breaking it down into a figurative example, he likens it to being like a detective. "I'm assuming that part of being a great detective is to constantly have an open mind, but also constantly learning about human behaviour and wha people do. If you just had 100 forensic classes, but you know nothing about people and how they live their lives, it's gonna be hard to solve crimes." The same rings true for writers who have to read to improve and further understand language, while comedians pull from real-life experiences - music is no different. Tobias's early days of stripping down songs to their basic parts and then rebuilding them have remained a constant endeavour. "But that's how you write songs as well; you go and absorb new things."

The covers process, as mentioned, is a release for Tobias. When things are stuck when trying to piece together a new chapter for the Ghost bible, a cover offers up a chance for something lighter. "Working on covers can be equally euphoric," he confirms, "because it's fun to understand a song whereas, on the other hand, it can be almost demoralising because you're like, I can't believe that this song is so much better than anything that I've written! And it's so much easier. It's so simple."

"I find myself overcomplicating things often, but you might not hear the complicated detour that I took to end up at the more understandable, straighter version that ended up being the actual recording," he continues. "That's a never-ending struggle because that's how it's supposed to be. It's not like you write the one song. I don't think I know anyone or know of anyone who's content with the idea of having written one huge song. And then you know, okay, that's nirvana for you. You don't write the one song the same way that if you're a comedian, it's not like, 'Oh, I just told the funniest joke. So now I'm done".

While Tobias is one for wanting to keep the ball rolling and on a constant endeavour to continue his musical evolution, he knows there's a limit. Every release of Ghost must have a purpose. Nodding to the 60s method of firing singles out on all fronts, eventually compiling them for a full-length release, Tobias acknowledges his relationship with his fans is based on a more long-term understanding. "That's not how we do things; we make an album, and off of that album, there are singles - it's a 70s/80s thinking. And I don't want to refrain from that - I don't want too many singles to be these autonomous little creatures."

But the world is different now. It's a Wild West where being in the masses' consciousness is key, so things may have to change for him. Admitting that right now, he knows he's post-release of Ghost's last canon entry, 'Impera', which arrived back in 2022, and while 'Phantomime' is a reasonable enough bridge, sooner or later, he's going to have to play the game of ensuring Ghost ramp up. Earlier this year, Ghost collaborated with Def Leppard's Joe Elliott on a re-release of 'Impera' cut 'Spillways' which, while a fantastic addition to their arsenal, adds to the same notion Tobias is fearful of. "I'm slowly preparing for making a new record that's going to come out in 2024, which is way too long for the current contemporary music climate; you need to be ever-present," the last phrase hanging in the air ominously.

That doesn't mean he has to lower his standards, however. No Ghost release will exist just for content's sake. Everything must have its place. He even reckons a 14-track album is "a lot of music", and he still sees an album as being "22 minutes of music per side" - true to form, currently, no standard issue of any Ghost album breaches 12 tracks. He's even ready to aim for the likes of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles by swiftly lobbing a couple of spicy takes out. "Look, man, I don't even think that 'Exile on Main Street' is that good. Not even the fucking White album is that great - break it up! Both of those records would have been better if they were trimmed down to singular records."

That pop mind breaking through; Tobias is someone who knows that music is entertainment. Certainly, a medium which often leads to more bulky connotations, but it must entertain. It's why he doesn't pay any mind to those naysayers that yearn for Ghost to be more metal or to follow a different path. This is Tobias's game; we're just privy to the sermon. These days the floodgates are open and, when compared to previous decades, as Tobias remembers it, "you had to buy your own records. Whatever additional music you got, that wasn't maybe heard on the TV or the radio, when you took something from someone else, was usually a choice, so music styles could in some way be a little bit more insular back then just because you weren't subjected to as much." He mentions his beloved death metal as being a signifier of the changes happening. "Back in the day, when I was starting listening to extreme metal, that was completely embraced by a certain little subculture or group of mostly teenagers and 20-somethings. Whereas in the 2000s, when Vice started doing black metal reporting, all of a sudden you have indie personalities who were fans of Darkthrone, and so, obviously, what ended up that turned into this fusion, which was a positive and very natural thing."

This cultural shift is another reason Ghost's space is widening and its success growing. "Nowadays, people are a little bit more open," he admits. But, with this comes issues. "As time has progressed, metal and hard rock, as well as most genres that have been around for a while, [they've] gone from this youth culture to a conservative institution because so many of the fans are now aged." The passage of time waits for no one. But, more presciently for culture, it also means our understanding of what is 'good' and what should be where is moulded differently to when we were younger. "Unfortunately, that happens to most people regardless of who you were when you were 20," Tobias reckons, "or your ideals when you're like 40/50/60 years old. Your brain starts morphing into a slightly more conservative, slightly more nostalgic... You don't want things to change."

Tobias is the first to hold his hands up and admit the same has happened to him. He yearns for 1984 and even 1990-94. He would even be happy with 1987, back to those days with the crackling radio and a childlike spirit. "That would be so much cooler. I loved that way more than in this day and age. But I can't sit around and mope about that because it's not a problem that it's not 1987."

'Phantomime' is proof nostalgia can be a useful tool. It fuels with passion, and Ghost is Tobias's Neverland. "There's such a debate about what we are and why that is." Ghost are a band that, thanks to Tobias's musical education, transcend time. They exist on their own plain and with the evergreen, timeless sounds of yesteryear echoing around Tobias's head, long may Papa reign with his gloved melodic iron fist.

#the band ghost #tobias forge #interview #really good one 👍

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annalis-e--shadowofpanem · 7 months

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My Muse Roster

I guess it's time to do this again. Below the cut is a list of all my muses, organized by verse and chapter. Unless they are listed under the inactive category, they are available for plotting and threads, regardless of how long I’ve been away from them. If a muse interests you SEND ME AN ASK, not a DM. This ensures that I see the email and I'll know to log into that blog.

Right now, my current focus is Pan. (@annalis-e--shadowofpanem) Secondary focus is on Aja. (@ajathings)

I have one blog I need to make that I'll hopefully be able to dedicate time to soon.

The Weaving Shadows

Main Theater

Annalis’e Doi: @annalis-e--shadowofpanem

Eleanor Novak: @a-shadow-far-cast

Cyanne Demissie: @cyanne--shadowofpanem

Slayer of Nations Team

Paris Salim Devi Ó Braonáin//Shiloh: @salim--slayerofnations

Sparrow Ravensdale: @a-caged-sparrow

Vermillion Graves: @vermiliongraves

Umbrae Somnia

Agnes Lemieux: @umbraesomnia

Saga Skarsgard: @warden-skarsgard

Leslie Jacobs @penumbraesomnia

Amber Shu Lam: @anambershadow

The Weaving Shadows Library

Deborah Marks: @theshadowsnetwork

Francizska Zarzecki: @a-longing-sonneteer (Also apart of New York City Songs)

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New York City Songs

Aja Zephrine Loftin: @ajathings

Faith Park: @asouthernlight

DC Divergent

Kara: @kara--zor-el

Tales of a Dreamer (Under Construction)

Seiyrra Spaios: @seiyrra

Abidalla Fjallbjorn-Ondsouf: @raptyr

Inactive

Xiu Zheng: @zhengxiu--flavorsandvisions (Redeveloping)Thyme: @thyme-thewanderingwolf-d11Robin Meade: @balancingmeadeRhysa @i-rhysa (Pre production)

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lsdunesarchive · 1 year

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L.S. Dunes: “I don’t really think much of the word supergroup – I’d prefer superhandsome group”

Featuring some of rock’s most well-loved faces, L.S. Dunes have taken 2022 by storm – just don’t call them a supergroup.

Words: Steven Loftin. Photos: Luke Dickey, Mark Beemer, Zachary Spangler.

Trying to get your mates together is hard enough at the best of times, but what about when you’re all in busy bands? Well, L.S. Dunes managed to make it work, with its five pieces all coming together to create a barnstorming mix of emo, post-rock, and hardcore.

Consisting of – deep breath – My Chemical Romance’s musical magnate Frank Iero (guitar), Circa Survive’s Anthony Green (vocals), along with emo pioneers Thursday’s rhythm section Tim Payne (bass) and Tucker Rule (drums), and Coheed & Cambria’s Travis Stever (guitar), one thing is certainly clear – there’s an abundance of joy and connection between this pedigree dream team.

“You don’t find the connection that we have very often,” says Anthony. “It’s rare. So to have it with these guys, and to have it with this band is such a gift.” It certainly seems as if there’s something in the water amongst these five chaps. Or as Tucker quips, “Some people’s grandma just know how to make sauce; they don’t have to measure anything. They just throw it in…so we are the grandmas of our craft!” Tasty.

It’s such a joining of forces, in fact – a Power Rangers morphin’ time situation if you will – that even when telling people, they didn’t believe it. “I told some guys about it that thought I was lying,” Anthony grins. “And I was like, no, I’m in a band with them now! And they were like, ‘No, you’re not…’. And then a year later, we announced that we were a band and I was like, see, I told you!”

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Not turning up empty-handed, their debut outing – ‘Past Lives’ – found itself being created during the various lockdowns. A pandemic reaction born out of backstage promises in passing between its members over the years, in 2020 emails were finally sent, and text groups were alight.

“When Dunes started, it was at the height of it,” starts Frank. “And you had five individuals who all they ever knew was playing music for live audiences. All of a sudden, that gets snatched from you, and you don’t know what to do anymore. The only thing you’ve ever known is gone. So for me, L.S. Dunes has always represented a lifeline. A new lease on life and a new opportunity to figure out how to do the thing you love in a new and exciting way.”

The first time the gang was able to get together in person was at Frank’s house. But hanging over the group was a sneaking subconscious; “What if this doesn’t work? What if playing the songs together sucks? What if the feeling isn’t there?” As Tucker recalls, “But I think that we just trusted in one another, and then everything just clicked into place for everybody.”

Frank remembers, “At first, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be. I knew I loved the songs we were writing, but I wasn’t sure if it was a real band. It wasn’t until I first heard Anthony sing on a demo or two that I realised it was a real band. The second I heard it all come together, I couldn’t wait for people to hear it.”

Their first actual IRL performance together was for the video for single ‘Bombsquad’. “I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time that we were hanging out,” Anthony casts back. “I felt like a little kid. I felt so lucky to be in a band with these guys who were able to joke around but also able to get serious and talk about a song in a way that was respectful and loving to everybody.” For a band steeped in emo prestige, it’s only fitting too that their debut public outing came last month at emo-nostalgia festival When We Were Young in Las Vegas

Of course, when you’re dealing with such high stakes – after all, between them, they have a musical reputation most bands could only dream of – it means things have to be kept hush-hush until ready. Anthony found this to be quite the challenge. “I had a hard time not just posting and sharing the first demo,” he laughs. “Like, I wanted to tell everybody right away, and I’ve always had a difficult time with that, [but] it needed to be a thing that was more strategic.”

Tucker adds his perspective, “It’s insane because this writing process, and this whole thing has been such a huge part of all of our lives, literally for me besides the birth of my daughter and any of that stuff, this is the thing that I’m most proud of and to not be able to talk about it was gut-wrenching.”

Once word got out about L.S. Dunes, a certain S-word began being bandied about by the press and fans, allowing another reckoning to set in. “It’s nerve-racking because people throw around that ‘supergroup’ term, so people have an expectation that the record is going to be a certain way,” admits Tucker. “And I know that we love it the way that it is, so I think there’s a level of excitement to show people what we’ve been doing because it was such an important thing in our lives.” And on that supergroup term, Frank smirkingly adds, “I don’t really think much of that word. It’s kinda silly really. I’d prefer super-handsome group or soup-or-salad group.”

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It’s evident that ‘Past Lives’ means a lot to its creators. Mostly because it was a chance for each member to reignite that feeling of first stepping into a room with a bunch of your friends and stabbing at instruments until you made a unifying sound – even if it was created “in the cloud” as Tucker puts it. “We joke that the L.S. in L.S. Dunes stands for Low Stress because that’s literally how we wanted to have it,” he explains. “The mantra for this band is like if you’re gonna get stressed, let’s shelve this idea. Let’s make this a place to be talking purely creatively.”

Given each member is at a stage in their respective careers where they’ve been around the block a few times, it also gave them a chance to peek behind the curtain of each other’s processes. “It’s like sitting in your living room,” Tucker reasons. “You would never think you would be able to have two living rooms,like everything is just where you want it to be, everything feels natural. And it’s fun learning about everybody else’s process in their bands too.

“I think the surprising part is we’re all cheerleaders of each other’s bands and each other’s careers. It’s interesting to hear all the stories you know about our projects.”

Anthony adds, “Something that I think we’ve all learned is that if you keep the vibe respectful and loving, and make sure that the friendships that everybody has are intact, then everything else will fall into place. So we can be good friends to each other, hold space for each other and be respectful of one another in that way, then all the musical stuff is just going to benefit.”

And in case you couldn’t tell, the love in L.S. Dunes is palpable. “Me and a couple of the Thursday boys went out to see Anthony play, and I’m sitting there watching like, ‘Oh my god damn, that’s my fucking singer. He’s so fucking handsome. And he’s so good’,” Tucker beams. Returning the compliment, Anthony adds, “I was watching Thursday play the exact same place the night before, and I was having the exact same thought just watching Tucker thinking, damn, I get to be in this band. I get to be in a band with this guy.”

What the future holds for L.S. Dunes is anyone’s guess. The pandemic pause allowed its members to seize the day and create this swirling mass of their individual components. “Not to sound cheesy, but it’s time for us to let these songs take us where we’re supposed to go,” reckons Tucker. “People always ask, is this a full-time thing? And it’s like yes, and I think that we’re just gonna follow these songs where they take us.”

“Originally, its purpose was to keep us creative and out of a depressed state of not being able to do what we loved,” says Frank on Dunes’ initial intentions. “And now it’s taken on a new life; it’s alive now. And only growing. I’m curious what the future holds, and incredibly excited to actually be in this band that was never meant to be – playing these songs live for people…songs that were written in uncertainty and collective solitude.”

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And it would seem ‘Past Lives’ is already paying dividends. “The other day I have I was somewhere I was walking and I heard somebody go, that’s the guy in L.S. Dunes, and I was like, ‘Shit, I’m the guy from L.S. Dunes’,” Anthony cackles.

The reaction to the band has even surprised Frank, who admits, “You never know what to expect when you put new art out into the world. Are people going to get it? Are they going to like it? Will they care at all? That would be the worst, to be met with indifference. But the response has been overwhelming so far, and they haven’t even heard the whole record yet! It’s very exciting. I really think it’s a fantastic record. I’m excited for people to live with it for a minute.”

Circling back to that supergroup tag being pasted over everything they appear near, Tucker chortles, before summing up L.S. Dunes nicely. “The only thing super about it is the fact that we talked about it and made it happen! There are so many times that I would hang out with Anthony in passing and be like, ‘Yo, we should do something together’, and it just never comes to fruition because everybody’s busy… but this is the project that happened. This is the project that’s happening.” ■

Taken from the December 2022 / January 2023 edition of Dork. L.S. Dunes’ album ‘Past Lives’ is out now.

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unproduciblesmackdown · 2 years

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source with handily formatted / consolidated info about the panic of ‘29

MARK SAVITT AND EVA HEINEMANN REVIEW THE PANIC OF ’29 Less Than Rent Theatre Written by Graham Techler Directed and Scenic Design by Max Friedman Costume Design by Corina Chase Lighting Design by Jamie Roderick Sound Design by Margaret Montagna Music Supervision by Spencer Grubbe Fight and Intimacy Director: Lexi Orphanos Props Design by Brandy Hoang Collier Hair and Makeup Design by Sarah Plata Orchestrations and Incidental Music by Barrett Riggins

CAST: Erik Lochtefeld (8/13 Brian Morabito) as Richard Whitney Jared Loftin as Granton and many others R. J. Vaillancourt (8/13 PJ Adzima) as Oswald and many others Olivia Puckett as Dot Julia Knitel as Lady Generosity Will Roland as Jimmy Armstrong Jail Cheeks-Lomax as Ingrid and others Joelle Nicole Johnson as Eva Rachel B. Joyce as Minnie and many others Will Turner as Officer Kent and others

MARK SAVITT: Graham Techler’s THE PANIC OF ’29 is a sprawling epic in three parts. The first part takes place in 1929 when London’s stock market crashed and the crash of the New York stock market seemed imminent. Vice President Richard Whitney (Brian Morabito) of the exchange tries to get people to believe that all will be well, but his secretary Dot (Olivia Puckett) and associates Granton (Jared Loftin) and Oswald (PJ Adzima) knows otherwise. Eva (Joelle Nicole Johnson), the owner of a cabaret, expects to profit from excessive drinking after the crash. Her sister Ingrid (Jail Cheeks-Lomax) who works with her wants to work at a movie theater. The club's singer, Lady Generosity (Julia Knitel) is involved with a poetic police officer, Kent (Will Turner). Jimmy Armstrong (Will Roland), who is keen on Dot, writes crime stories for a pulp magazine. The second section takes place in 1933 during the Depression. Eva, Ingrid, Dot, Lady Generosity, and Jimmy are now among the poor living in shacks. A mysterious figure Tommy-gun Tommie is killing off many members of the police force. The final section takes place in 1941 before America’s entry in WWII. Dot, Jimmy, Lady, and Eva are now operating a lodge near Niagara Falls. They are not concerned with profit and allow a guitar playing drifter to stay in exchange for some songs. An incestuous trio of fur hat wearing French orphans (Rachel B. Joyce, PJ Adzima, Jared Loftin) also find their way to the lodge. They are shady characters with dubious intent. They are also the funniest part of the play, and I loved every moment they were on stage. A figure from the past presumed dead reappears. Things move quickly in this tale and characters other than the principals drop like flies. The writing is both hard-boiled and filled with puns and alliteration. It was very amusing. Nothing makes much sense, but the performers carry it off with elan. The songs performed by Lady and the drifter are a great added bonus. I was surprised that this was not a serious examination of the ’29 crash, but once I realized that it was going to be very different, I was more than willing to accept the show on its own terms. HAPPY FACE

EVA HEINEMANN: When Mark and I agree about a play and one of the main characters is Eva, you know you are for a helluva treat! Not only was the play pure nonsensical fringe-like pleasure, but the acting was perfect to boot. Jared Loftin, PJ Adzima, Jail Cheeks-Lomax, Rachel B. Joyce, and Will Turner appeared in multiple roles that were so different that I hardly recognized them as the same actors. You know they were having a blast doing this play as much as we were watching their antics. Meanwhile Brian Morabito, Olivia Puckett, Julia Knitel, Will Roland, and Joelle Nicole Johnson played true to their characters no matter what unlikely positions they found themselves in. Do not panic that you only have till the 20th to see this but rush on down now. You don’t want to miss this delightfully droll play. MAJOR HAPPY FACE

CLOSES AUGUST 20TH PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Tuesday-Friday at 7:15pm Saturday at 2:15pm and 7:15pm

#the panic of '29 #will roland #including the closing date and performance schedule lmao like inspiring someone who otherwise wouldn't to see it & report back All the deets

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nwbeerguide · 6 months

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Bardstown Bourbon Company releases the latest in their Discovery series, #11. Also, lookout for a collaboration with Carter Cellars.

Press Release

BARDSTOWN, Ky. ... Bardstown Bourbon Company’s modern and transparent approach to whiskey making will be on full display in two new releases hitting shelves October 6.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery #11 continues the award-winning series that showcases the innovative distiller’s practice of artfully blending rare and exemplary whiskies found around the world to push the envelope of flavor and style. Yet, in a first for the distillery, this edition of the Discovery Series includes a bourbon that was estate-distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Co.

“This is a special milestone in our Discovery Series, as our own estate-distilled whiskey has now matured, which gives us some exciting new blending opportunities,” said Dan Callaway, VP of Product Development for Bardstown Bourbon Co. “So, for Discovery #11, we decided to celebrate in a Kentucky kind of way and chose all Bluegrass-based bourbons to blend with what we estate-distilled.”

Over the years, the Discovery Series has combined whiskies from Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Georgia, and even Ontario, Canada. Discovery #11 is the first time since Discovery #4 the series has featured all Kentucky bourbons.

“We used our bottled-in-bond recipe from the new Origin Series of our estate-distilled bourbon, however we wanted to explore a different take so the whiskey aged its entire life in French oak barrels as opposed to the traditional American oak,” Callaway added. “On their own, these stood as three tremendous bourbons, but some real magic occurred when they came together.”

Discovery #11 offers rainier cherry, butterscotch, brown sugar and roasted peanut on the nose, then a spirited palate of toffee and cinnamon spice, followed by a finish of ripe red fruit and oak. It is presented at 118.1 proof (59.05% ABV) and offered at an SRP of $139.99. Roughly 3,000 9L cases will be available through the Bardstown Bourbon Co. gift shop, at retailers in 24 states and online at Seelbachs.com.

Collaboration with world-class vintner Carter Cellars added as a special release Continuing its Collaborative Series that crosses spirits categories, Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s second new release is a collaboration with Mark and Sherri Carter, and the decorated Napa Valley winemaker Carter Cellars.

For this release, a custom blend of mature bourbon and rye rested in ten Carter Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet barrels for an additional 14 months. The wine barrels were freshly emptied, to impart maximum flavor and they were separated and rotated throughout the rickhouse multiple times, yielding a beautiful balance of indulgent dark fruit and French oak spice.

“Carter Cellars has always shot for excellence in our award-winning wines, and we have a long history of producing 100-point wines. This has been a wonderful collaboration bringing together our teams who are all continuously on the pursuit of perfection,” said Mark Carter of Carter Cellars.

Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Carter Cellars Collaborative Series offers a premium and complex aroma of cassis, violet, cinnamon and leather. On the palate it presents a rush of dark fruit, roasted pecan and vanilla cream that leads to a luscious lightly tannic finish. It is presented at 108.3 proof (54.15% ABV) and offered at an SRP of $159.99. Roughly 225 9L cases will be available at the Bardstown Bourbon Co. gift shop and select Kentucky retailers.

About Bardstown Bourbon Company Founded in 2014 by Peter Loftin in the heart of Bourbon Country on 100 acres of active farmland, Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the country’s most modern and technically advanced whiskey distilleries. Celebrating the art of making high-quality, authentic bourbons, the innovative distillery produces custom rye, whiskey and bourbon for prominent brands including Jefferson’s, Blue Run, Belle Meade and many others through its one-of-a-kind collaborative distilling program. Bardstown Bourbon Company honors tradition and drives innovation with their exceptional destination experience for visitors, including The Kitchen and Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Company. In addition to their flagship Origin Series, Bardstown Bourbon Co. offers limited releases throughout the year including the Discovery Series, which showcases the art of blending, and Collaborative Series, which celebrates partnership and transparency across multiple spirit categories. Bardstown Bourbon Co. also owns Green River Distilling Co., located in Owensboro, Kentucky. Learn more at BardstownBourbon.com.

#Bardstown Bourbon #Spirits #Bourbon #Kentucky #KY #Bardstown #Press Release #Carter Cellars #Discovery 11

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lecameleontv · 3 years

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Le film Daredevil (2003) avec l’acteur Leland Orser.

Programme-TV

Page Facebook -

Equipe Technique : Mark Chadwick, vu dans l’Ep. 1.15 dans la série Le Caméléon.

Distribution : - Ben Affleck, déjà rencontré dans le film Pearl Harbor (2001) - Jennifer Garner, déjà rencontrée dans le film Pearl Harbor (2001) et vue dans l’Ep. 3.13 de la série Le Caméléon - Jon Favreau, déjà rencontré dans le film Very Bad Things (1998) et qu’il retrouvera en tant que producteur exécutif dans les Ep. 1.11, 1.12 et 1.18 de la série Revolution - Lennie Loftin, déjà rencontré dans le film Seven ...

sources : imdb, molotov

Autre actualité cinéma 2003 : - Le Maître du Jeu - Confidence

Alias Argyle dans la série Le Caméléon.

#daredevil #Leland Orser #2003 #ben affleck #jennifer garner #jon favreau #lennie loftin #mark chadwick

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dr-archeville · 3 years

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INDY Daily: N.C. Republicans Abetted the January 6 Insurrection • Profiles of Congressman David Price • Research at Duke on the Next Generation COVID Vaccine

It’s Monday, October 25

Thank you to this week's sponsor, Habitat for Humanity ReStores. They accept donations of gently-used furniture, décor, appliances, cabinets & more. They sell these at a discount to the public, and all proceeds support Habitat’s mission to build affordable homes in the Triangle. Visit on of their stores in Wake, Johnston, Durham and Orange counties.

Good morning, readers.

As a U.S. House select committee investigates the events of January 6 and the Capitol protests that turned into riots, it's interesting to see the connections between these events and North Carolina Republicans.

A report in Rolling Stone this weekend reveals that a number of congressional Republicans, including North Carolina's own Madison Cawthorn, were "intimately involved in planning both Trump’s efforts to overturn his election loss and the January 6 events that turned violent."

That's according to two sources involved with organizing the protests who are talking to the committee and say they are willing to publicly testify. And while Cawthorn's involvement is predictable, Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows is likely to be remembered for his role in doing nothing to persuade Trump to call of his angry mob of supporters:

While there have been prior indications that members of Congress were involved, this is also the first account detailing their purported role and its scope. The two sources also claim they interacted with members of Trump’s team, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who they describe as having had an opportunity to prevent the violence.

And then, there's North Carolina's newest state House member, Rep. Donnie Loftis (pictured below), who was also in attendance. Loftin was chosen by Gaston County Republicans to replace Rep. Dana Bumgardner, who died earlier this month.

From a WRAL report:

Loftis posted a picture of himself to Facebook ahead of the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal Rally," saying he was on a bus headed to Washington, D.C. He followed up with comment, seen in a screenshot provided to WRAL News overnight by a source who said the posts have been deleted.

"I got gassed three times and was at the entrance when they breached the door," Loftis, an Army veteran, posted at the time. "I spoke to many service members, and we all agreed that we didn’t want to be there, but we had no other choice. They don’t get it that they work for us. And I mean that in a respectful way.

"My Oath of Enlistment has the phrase ‘both foreign and domestic,’" he continued. "We didn’t think it would actually be domestic."

But Loftis told the station his involvement with the protests turned riots was peaceful.

"On Jan. 6, 2020, [sic] while I peacefully exercised my first amendment rights in front of the US Capitol, I was surprised and disappointed to watch others storm the entrance as violence ensued," he said. "I had absolutely zero involvement in the rioting and categorically condemn the storming of our Capitol building that day."

When WRAL News pointed to his change in tenor since the initial Facebook posts and asked for a phone conversation, Loftis said the statement "is my final word on the matter."

The North Carolina Republican Party declined comment through a spokesperson Friday, as did House Speaker Tim Moore.

So it's looking more and more like the rallies that turned into riots were premeditated and orchestrated by people, albeit not the smartest people, in positions in some of the highest levels of government and that participating in the events that day is, for the GOP, a ticket to a more powerful position within the party.

Anyway, here's a video of Madison Cawthorn getting called out in public for his part in the insurrection. He still maintains that Donald Trump won the election last year.

Happy Monday!

Like the INDY Daily? Share it with your friends and ask them to subscribe!

The INDY Daily is made possible by the INDY Press Club, which is helping us keep fearless, independent local journalism viable in the Triangle.

[Congressman David Price. Photo by D.L. Anderson.]

Orange County

Carrboro's fire department is investigating a fire that broke out around 3 p.m. on Friday at Carrboro High School as suspicious.

Here's a profile on Congressman David Price, who is retiring in 2022 after 18 consecutive terms. Here's another one.

A UNC-Chapel Hill course on the Israel-Palestine conflict has stirred controversy.

Here are our endorsements for Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough mayor and town council races, and endorsements for three seats on CHCCS Board of Education. Candidate questionnaires are also available on our website. Early voting is underway!

Durham

Southpoint Mall was evacuated Sunday afternoon following a fight in the food court in which a firearm was present, but no shots were fired.

Researchers at Duke received a $17.5 million federal grant to develop the next generation COVID-19 vaccine over the next three years.

Here are our endorsements for Durham mayor and town council races. Please note that the endorsements remain the same for the general election as for the Durham municipal primary. Candidate questionnaires are available on our website and early voting is underway.

[Incoming Rep. Donnie Loftis, left. Photo from Twitter.]

Wake

Several non-fatal shootings took place overnight in Raleigh on Sunday.

Questionnaires for Wake County municipal candidates are now available on our website. We will be adding more as we receive them.

N.C. + Elsewhere

ICYMI, people incarcerated in North Carolina prisons are no longer allowed to receive handwritten mail.

The N.C. GOP's replacement for state House Rep. Dana Bumgardner, who died earlier this month, was at the Capitol on January 6 and close enough to the riot to get hit repeatedly with tear gas. Incoming Rep. Donnie Loftis told WRAL his presence at the Capitol was peaceful. Loftis also resigned his position as chairman of a local hospital board last year over pandemic-related social media posts.

Statewide COVID-19 by the numbers: Friday, October 22

2,609 New lab-confirmed cases (1,463,410 total; seven-day average trending down)

1,693 Current hospitalizations reported (seven-day average trending down; 17,765 total deaths, +60 over Thursday)

49,271 Completed tests (18.83 million total; most recent positive rate was 4.4 percent)

11,494,130 Total vaccinations administered; 55 percent of total population fully vaccinated; 66 percent of 18 years+ fully vaccinated. (State data not updated daily)

Eat. Drink. Do.

Get out and about in the Triangle today. Got an Eat.Drink.Do Idea? Email us at [email protected]

Eat Bull City Burger & Brewery's burgers inspire poetry.

Drink Sono has Halloween- themed cocktails in downtown Raleigh.

Do The Carolina Hurricanes play the Toronto Maple Leafs at PNC arena at 7 p.m.

Today's weather

Partly cloudy and windy with a chance of storms. Highs around 80.

Song of the day

Grace — Hiss Golden Messenger From the newly released "new kind of holiday album" O Come All ye Faithful

— Jane Porter— Send me an email | Find me on Twitter

If you’d like to advertise your business to the Daily's 33,000-plus subscribers, please contact John Hurld at [email protected].

Love the INDY Daily? Support it by joining the INDY Press Club.

#news #The INDY #NC #NC GOP #January 6 Insurrection #David Price #Duke Hospital #COVID Vaccine

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roadwarrior1970 · 17 days

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Lake Chelan, WA

Lake Chelan Lake Chelan is a natural lake that almost resembles a fjord in sections. It is a beautiful vacation getaway about 180 miles east of Seattle. The town of Lake Chelan has many resorts, restaurants and wineries. The mountains near the town also have many hiking and mountain bike trails. Shoe Trail

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#adventures #explore #hike #hiking #hikingadventures #lake #markloftin #mtb #roadtrippinmark #sunset #travel #Mark Loftin #Mark’s Adventures #Road Trips #roadtrip #Solo Explorer #views

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bigcitiesonfoot · 3 months

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Nashville in 24 Hours

Nashville has three mandatory things to check out, and all are within blocks of each other: Broadway's live music zone (and the nearby Roman Auditorium), the Country Music Hall of Fame and the nearby walking bridge over the Cumberland River (to give the ears a rest!). If you're a sports fan, both the Nashville Predators hockey and Tennessee Titans footballs teams play nearby the Broadway music area.

After checking out Memphis' Beale Street, Nashville's Broadway was comparitively busier, louder and more chaotic. There was over 50 bars and restaurants over a three block stretch of Broadway, and live country music was blasting from most of them. My personal favorites of the dozen we checked out were Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse (multi-level, loud and rambunctious, a real party zone!) and AJ's (Alan Jackson's) Good Time Bar (small joint with more of a true country dive vibe).

The nearby Country Music Hall of Fame is an awesome journey through the history of country music. A ton of memoribilia here - everything from country legends' instruments to their cars. Also of note is the rotating exhibits, which during our visit featured the LA country rock scene of the sixties and an exhibit on Dick Curless (who I had not heard of, being a rock n roll guy). As part of one of the Country Music Hall of Fame ticket packages, there is a shuttle to RCA Studio B (a mile away on Music Row) where Elvis, Dolly and Waylon Jennings recorded. Highly recommended for music history buffs!

#explore #markloftin #urban exploring #travel #mark loftin #nashville #road trip #roadtrip #roadtrippinmark

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drowningeffect · 2 years

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New Song Release by Drowning Effect!

Drowning Effect's latest release, "More People"

https://open.spotify.com/album/2NVpBtrpGlhbYpXNXJFIVM?si=6j_-I3UoSZGJfeLkhnSQqA Drowning Effect’s latest release, recorded at 25th Street Recording Oakland, CA Drowning Effect is: Thad Baker – Vocals.Guitars James Spadaro – Bass Mark Loftin – Drums

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#2022music #drowningeffect #indierock #james spadaro #mark loftin #markloftin #music #newmusic #rocknroll

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nsula · 5 years

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Spring 2019 Honor List

NATCHITOCHES – One thousand forty-three undergraduates were named to Northwestern State University’s Honor List for the Spring 2019 semester. Students on the Honor List must be enrolled full-time and have a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.49. Students listed by hometown are as follows.

Abbeville – Annemarie Broussard, MaKayla Lewis, Zabrinia Spates;

Aimwell – Jonathan Poole;

Alexandria – Markeyla Anderson, Gavin Arabie, Sharenthia Chew, Angel Christophe, Josyf Das Neves, Joshua Dorsey, Alexis Flowers, Kelvina Ford, Zuleika Fountain, Vanity Givens, Kyle Guillory, Khloe Jasper, Whitney Joffrion, Gustov Johnson, Martavius King, Ashley Koestler, Kasey Lacombe, Taylar Lee, Kelli Leone, Jimmie Magee, Dean Mayeux, Jason McDaniel, Jalyn Mcneal, Ashley Mitchell, John O’Dell, Madison Ogorek, Tiffany Ore, Sadae Polk, Alyssa Rivers, Mart Sampson, Brandy Sayer, Shakera Shorts, Kizzy Slaughter, Kiaijah Thomas, Hailey Urena, Jenna Wade, Alysha Walker, Aalyiah Williams;

Amelia – Renwick McPherson;

Anacoco – Rachel Fournier, Angela Guy, Andrea Halladay, Tristan Harvey, Madeleine Hensley, Aaron Norris, Jason Ortiz, Ireland Slocum, Amanda Sorg, Tyler Stephens, Emily Williams, Rhonda Perry,

Arlington, Texas -- Mariah Denson, Devin Gipson, O’Shea Jackson;

Arnaudville – Macey Boyd, Bailey Dautreuil, Maddison Janice;

Athens – Jacob Ellis;

Atlanta – Ashley Mitchell, Jackson Teal, Jamie Wagley;

Aurora, Colorado – William Mccullough;

Avondale – Mikala Clark;

Bastrop – Alisha Bolton;

Baton Rouge – Jordan Hall, Melvin Hudson;

Belcher – Loriann Long;

Boyce – Lane Robinson

Baker – Devante George, Cherish Netter;

Ball – Angel Chavez, Christopher Constance, Bryan Sayes, Vanessa Toney, Alice Wilson;

Bastrop – Allenicia Arbet;

Baton Rouge – Mark Alexander, Chloe Castello, Ricky Chatman, Shelby Christian, Briyonna Collins, Madison Harris, Mckane Kinchen, Griffin Lundin, Cydni Millican, Rachel Monsour, Katie Pham, James Steelman, Jharon Whitfield;

Beacon Falls, Connecticut – Stacey Brown;

Bedford, Texas – Katina Booker;

Belle Chasse – Hayley Barbazon, Denim Reeves;

Belmont – Kelly Bass, Ashley Hill;

Bentley – Heather Jones,

Benton – Bryanna Cooper, Steven Gardner, Milla Gonzales, Grayson Isom, Colby Ponder, Blaine Reeder, Hannah Schott, Jackson Mathews, Megan Russell;

Bermuda – Michael Vienne;

Bienville – Sarah Macynski;

Big Spring, Texas – Kristin Wilson;

Birmingham, Alabama – Emma Wallace;

Bogalusa – Amanda Crawford, Taylor Johnson;

Bossier City – Yetunde Adegbovega, Austin Averitt, Abigail Castillo, Kendall Corkern, Cameron Davis, Daniel Dial, Kimberly Eloby, Ri’Kaela England, Khairig Frost, Hannah Gaspard, Margaret Gates, Jacob Guest, Tangy Heilbling, Ashlynn Henderson, Jordan Hunter, Shane Kaiser, Alyssa Kidd, Seth Lowery, Jordan Markle, Rebecca Markle, Jennifer Martinez, Rance Mason, Coby McGee, Alexa Montgomery, Yuridia Olea, Sabri Parks, Shelby Peebles, Brittani Phillips, Rachael Pierce, Cierra Rachal, Litzy Rivera, Gabriela Rodriguez, Madison Rowland, Rheagan Rowland, Dakota Schudalla, Makayla Strother, Trevor Tackett, Kellie Toms, Bobby Trichel, Madalyn Watson, Pamula Whicker, Elizabeth Zanca, Nour Zeidan;

Boutte – Jose Del Rio;

Boyce – Savanna Budnik, Timothy Glass, Kaitlyn Miller, Jessie Turner, Julia Watson;

Brownsboro, Texas – Brice Borgeson;

Buffalo, New York – LeTerrance Reed;

Bunkie – Izola Williams;

Bush – Serena Bonnette;

Calhoun – Marissa Barentine;

Campti – Paige Cason, Damarte Fisher, Kourtney Horton, Malachi Lester, Pepper Lloyd, Madison McLaren;

Canton, Texas – Tiffany Cayson, Jack Dyre;

Cape Coral, Florida – Karleigh Acosta;

Carencro – Malik Babin, Chaney Dodge, Harold Williams;

Cartagena, Colombia – Samantha Arellano Chavz, Edwin Castro Frias, Jalima Dias, Miledys Jiminez Vasquez, Daniel Racero Rocha, Gabriela Forero Salcedo, Sadoc Silva Calderon;

Cartagena Bolivar, Colombia – Alejandro Dager Carrasquilla;

Castor – Loxlie Dodd, Hogan Nealy;

Center, Texas – John Harrington;

Chalmette – Isaiah Carpenter, Gabriel Ernest, Sara Mendoza;

Chatham – Jonathan Gill;

Cincinnati, Ohio – Terry Brewer;

Clarence – Quintarous Coleman, Kimberly Reliford;

Clinton – Arianna Parrish;

Cloutierville – Alexia Gistarb;

Colfax – Camren Bell, Kensey Knight, Paidin Luneau, Kaitlyn Slalyter, Ontavius Williams;

Colorado Springs, Colorado – Sarah Wagner;

Columbia – Jackson McCann;

Columbus, Mississippi – William Taylor;

Converse – Zachary Faircloth, Nicolas Farmer, Victoria Gasper, Wade Hicks, Jared Jagneaux, Skyler Laroux, Ashley Sims, Delia Smith, Triston Waldon;

Coppell, Texas – Jada Freeman;

Cottonport – Jacob Harris, Joneshia Jacobs, Christine Lemoine;

Coushatta – Journi Brown, Faith Cason, La’Zaria Clark, Jon Hester, Tawanda Johnson, Amey Sepulvado;

Covington – Madison Blanks, Sarah Shiflett, Jennifer Vo;

Coyolilla Veracruz, Mexico – Guadalupe de Jesus Mendez Zaragoza;

Crowley – Mc’Kayleen Milson;

Cullen – D’Agurelle Epps;

Cut Off – Zachary Breaux, Kaelyn Musgrave;

Dallas – Nadia Carney;

De Berry, Texas – Sarah Britt;

DeQuincy – Hayden Robertson;

DeRidder – Carson Brown, Lauren Callis, Maygin Chesson, Sheridan Douglas, Sarah Fulford, Katherine Goodman, Michelle Green, Alexis Holland, Elliott Jones, Ethel Jones, Jordan Mack-McNair, Presley Phelps, Richard-Jayson Puzon, Morgan Smith, Heather Sorton, Madison Tilley, Tyler Wright, Airiuna Satchell;

Delhi – KeDiejah Cooper;

Denham Springs – Samantha Burgess, Joni Burlew, Caleb Callender, Zyneshia Jennings;

Deville – Emily Bonial, Courtney DeVille, Amy Henderson, Ashtyn Knapp, Karlee Littleton, Morgan McCrory, Caleb Rhodes, Marcia Rogers, Garrett Sellers;

Dodson – Nolan Griffin, Brendan Thomas;

Donaldsonville – Jermaine Collier, Natalie Landry;

Doyle – Mackensie Ulrich;

Doyline – Carmesia Russell;

Dry Prong – Ethan Lewis, Shian Murrell, Lindsey Weatherford, Ashley Webb;

Dubach – Oilvia Hancock, Kayla Loyd;

Dubberly – Audrie Dison;

Duson – Alexandra Broussard, Desmond Prejean;

Edmond, Oklahoma – Ravon Nero;

Elizabeth – Hannah LaCaze;

Elmer – Victoria Coleman

Elton – Maia Lacomb;

Eunice – Tanner Thibodeaux, Emily Deshotel;

Falfurrias, Texas – Marco Arevalo;

Farmerville – Adrianna Loyd, Jalissa Loyd;

Fayetteville, Arkansas – Cody Coleman;

Ferriday – Dalenesha Wimley;

Fisher – Hayden Courtney;

Flatwoods – Lindsey Willis;

Florien – Katelynn Alford, Danielle Anthony, Gabrielle Bryant, Braelyn Calhoun, Magon Lester, Ashton Remedies, Jordan Weldon;

Flower Mound, Texas – Randall Ruffner;

Folsom – Monique Basse, Shaylee Laird;

Forest Hill – Adrianne Dore;

Forney, Texas – Kaymi Wheeler;

Fort Polk – Brittany Chadwick, Mara Eifolla, Jayla Hart, Andrea Marquez, Madison Popp, Amanda. Ridenhour, Shiela May Tabonares, Whitney Tipton, Kiara Turner, TeKweena Wilson, Alexie Sarabia;

Fort Riley, Kansas – Breanna Bryan;

Fort Worth, Texas – Charles Gregory Meade;

Franklin – Zachary McEndree;

Franklinton – Randy Garza, Brittany Sanders;

Frierson – Mason Barnes;

Frisco, Texas – Hallie McCarroll;

Geisman – Rylee Leglue;

Guin, Alabama – Taylor Porter;

Garland, Texas – Joseph Goodson, Kobe Poole, Nia Randall;

Geismar – Elijah John-Baptiste;

Georgetown – Kaleb Hudson;

Glenmora – Reagan Humphries, Abbie Johnson, Kerstyn Johnson;

Gloster – Caitlyn Burford, Paris Gillum;

Goldonna – Brianna Calhoun;

Gonzales – Julie Breaux, Chaquera Caldwell, Ashlyn Chenevert;

Grand Cane – Sandra Kimble, Ciana Mcintyre, Emily Miller;

Grand Isle – Abigail Frazier;

Grand Prairie, Texas – Stephen Garrett;

Greenwell Springs – Morgan Bellot;

Greenwood – Leah Evans, Tamera Harris, Trenton Starks;

Gretna – Braxton Brown, Leroy Holmes, Nadia Johnson, Michael Wilson;

Gueydan – Hannah Sedatol;

Hackberry – Lexie Stine;

Hahnville – Cierra Puryear, Colin Vedros;

Hammond – Kaylon Wiloughby;

Harlengen – Frances Knight;

Harvey – Destiny Johnson;

Haughton – Deitric Alexander, Shakayla Bell, Katelynn Edwards, Anitra Fayad, Camry Heath, Kylee Jackson, Timothy Newell, Angie Nguyen, Makenezie Rains, Licentra Randolph, Bailee Rattanachai, Kaylee Sanford, Joshua Steele, Megan Tilley, Laura Waldroup, Katherine Weeks, Kacie Wilkinson, Chases Woltz, India Wright;

Haynesville – Jmarquiez Robinson, Sabrina Sowell, Michael Turner, Allysa Dodds;

Heflin – Kendall Brunson, Simiuna Cook, Kyle Smith;

Henderson – Andrew Blackmon;

Hessmer – Daren Dauzat;

Hineston – Victoria Carroll;

Homer – Francene Ferguson, Keyana Mccoy, Mariah West;

Hornbeck – Lane Alford, Ariel Rodgers;

Houma -- Courtney Chancellor, Rhiannon Dean, Venessa McKinley;

Houston – Rafael Bonilla, Jennifer Hitt, Casey Irvin, Natashia Jackson;

Humble, Texas – Toiquisha Johnson, Furquan Shorts;

Independence – Maria Thomas-Alfaro, Chloe Whiddon;

Iowa – Keiona Guy;

Jasper, Texas – Linsey Guthrie;

Jeanerette – David Blakesley;

Jefferson – Emily Ricalde;

Jena – Tiara Brown, Braegan Burlew, Candace Decker, Madison Erwin, Jasmine Furlow, Chelsea Redd, Tyler Thomas;

Jennings – Destiny Brown, Anayah Joseph;

Jonesboro – Ashlyn Gaines, JaVonna Lawrence, Alex Toms;

Kaplan – Chris Hebert;

Katy, Texas – Brittnay Cecil, Floyd Turner;

Keatchie – Sarah Plaisance;

Keithville – Germany Jones, Shelby Loftin, Cara Lorenen, Maya Porter;

Kenner – Emily Bennett, Willie Soniat, Parul Sharma;

Kentwood – Iris Travis;

Kernen – Antonia Blattner;

Kinder – Teralyn Plumber;

Konarskie, Poland – Elzbieta Iwaniuk;

Labadieville – Jacellynn LeBlanc, Logan Simoneaux;

Lacombe – Amy Schneider;

Lafayette – Taylor Aucoin, Ashanti Alfred, LaToya Bellard, Emma Burlet, Jared Dore, Reagan Guillory, Jacob Hawkins, Qualantre Jackson, Michele Kramer, JaKayle Lee, Paul Martin, Skylar Mccoy, Robert Middleton, Sarah Palmintier, Aishwarya Patel, Tylar Senegal, John Touchet, Ireland Williams, China Young;

Lafitte – Helen Kassahun;

Lake Charles – Landon Dore, Camren Green, Joel Moreaux, Jordan Mulsow, Destany Washington;

LaPlace – Caitlyn Turnbull;

Las Vegas, Nevada – Caitlin Schweighart;

Le Mars, Iowa – Shannon Smith;

League City, Texas – Lacee Savage, Blake Tessitore;

Leander – Karissa Boswell;

Lebeau – Sharissa Tanner;

Lecompte – Logan Cheek;

Leesville – Dakota Abrams, Cecilia Alfaya, Kimberly Alwell, Jebediah Barrett, Hailey Brantley, Kaylee Buby, Victoria Butler, Anthony Cantrell, Charlotte Cassin, Joseph Cryer, Cameron Davis, Marlee Dowden, Payton Gordy, Caleb Hillman, Hanna Johnson, Zachary Keeton, Lauren Kreyenbuhl, Mahala Lewis, Christina Lluvera, Gerard Lord, Brianna Maricle, Billy McGhee, Amy McKellar, Ashley McKellar, Kaitlyn Pajinag, Chloe Rouleau, Destiny Sanders, Cesar Santos, Dalton Schulte, Erin Schwartz, Megan Trask, Tabitha Vasquez, Marissa Weldon, Lana West, Cheyene Wise, Mikayla Zills;

Lena – Dillon Guin, Courtnee Hamberlin, Cortland Smith;

Lettsworth – Landon Benton;

Little Elm, Texas – Daniel Larin;

Little Rock, Arkansas – Whitney Jinks;

Livingston – Jay Gentry-Pace;

Livonia – Ryann Bizette, Shanyia Haynes;

Lockport – Malaina Falgout;

Logansport – Rebecca Tomlin, Shelby Woods, Kendoyle Cox;

Loranger – Cambree Bailey;

Lubbock, Texas – Miranda Stroud;

Mansfield – Tremeon Allen, Latyeauna Goodwin, Nicolette Hogan, Canessia Johnson, Demetric Preston, Madylin Sullivan, Kyah Wilson,

Madisonville – Zoe Almaraz, Bailey Perrilloux;

Mandeville -- Mya Holmes, Jalen Willis;

Many – Jocelyn Cannon, Patrick Colston, Sarah Cross, Timothy Early, Sydni Easley, Kyle Elliott, Tiarra Frazier, Brittney Garcie, Moses Gonzales, Jessie Johnson, Clayton Kelley, Lathan Meyers, Darion Miller, Matthew Peace, Andrew Penfield, Tanner Rains, Madison Rutherford, Aubrey Sepulvado, Mallary Veuleman;

Maringouin – Laura Scronce;

Marksville – Regan Balius, Nichole Dauzat, Leah Dupuy, Kayle Gaspard, Olivia Johnson, Victoria Lucas;

Marrero – Kelsey Brooks, Lius Escobar;

Marshall, Texas – Alexis Balbuena, Abagale Godrey;

Marthaville – Dylan Daniels, Veronica James, Thomas Lirette;

Meraux – Sophie Stechmann;

Merryville – Kyleah Franks;

Mesquite, Texas – Eric Renova, Curtis Williams;

Metairie – Kathryn Bancroft, Madysen Norra;

Midland, Texas – Channing Burleson;

Minden – Erin Dotson, Layla Easley, Abby Greene, Karasha Harris, Kiara Jenkins, Donna Law, Asata Sylvas, Jorge Zaldivar;

Missouri City, Texas – Cayla Jones;

Monroe – Demonta Brown, Kennedy Butler, Jansen Chisley, Kiara Drumgo, Taylor Edwards, Jaronda Griffin, Prettyunje Hunter, Diamond Knox-Jackson, Ashley Murphy, Keldrick Ward;

Montegut – Stephanie Cohen;

Monterey – Rebecca Womack;

Montgomery – Tabatha Bowlin, Payton Carroll, Gerald Chelette, Hailee Skains, Laryn Graves;

Monticello, Arkansas – Kamilah Kelley;

Mora – Gracy Rowell;

Moreauville – Reginea Alexander, Ashley Dunnam;

Natchitoches – Jeremy Aaron, Cass Arnold, Aaron Averett, Thomas Balthazar, Adam Barnes, Blake Bechtel, Terrius Bell, Kacy Bonds, Matthew Brown, Charles Bouchie, Santaurus Burr,Ladiamond Burrell, Dominitra Charles, Kaleb Chesser, Lane Clevenger, Jessica Coleman, Kaia Collins, Christian Cunningham, Sean Day, Moises Florez-Perez, Hannah Forsythe, Eric Fredieu, Abbie Garner, Peyton Graham, Denetria Green, Pamela Gross, Thomas Hadzeriga, Jalen Hall, Jasmine Hall, Samantha Hall, Deshon Hayes, Jett Hayes, Saul Hernandez, David Holmes, Jasmine Howard, Kanika Irchirl, Rachel Jeane, Emily Johnson, Karlee Laurence, Robert Lee, Emily Leone, Christopher Lewis, Helen-Lois Mancil, Wesley Manuel, Savannah Maricle, Brooklyn Martin, Tyler McCain, Lamarr McGaskey, Kristin McQuillin, Joshua Minor, Jair Morelos Castilla, Jakori Morris, Katelyn Murphy, Tori Neitte, Matthew Nelson, Donovan Ohnoutka, Christian Owens, Leilani Padilla, Kenneth Penrod, Eryn Percle, Veronica Pikes, Kenneth Poleman, Katherine Rachal, Michael Raymond, Jeffrey Remo, Devin Reyes, Kayla Rokett, Taylor Rutledge, Shelbi Ryan, Jalon Sangster, Chandler Sarpy, Gabrielle Scarborough, Natalie Sers, Anna Sibley, Athena Smith, Blake Teekell, Joseph Thibodaux, Margaret Thompson, Lantz Vercher, Elizabeth Vienne, Garrett Vienne, Huey Virece, Laurin Waldrip, Jacob Ware, Brianna Watermolen, Anna Waxley, Emma-Leigh Webster, Ellen Wells, Deondra White, Nicholas Wiggins, Leah Wilkins, Shavon Williams,

Natchez – Victoria Bradford, James Rougeou, Lauren Seawood;

Navasota, Texas – Shelton Eppler;

New Iberia – Mia Bashay, Dainell Ledet, Alex Romero;

New Llano – Deja Castille, Laura Cowell, Kendra Jones, Earnesta Riggins, Gabriel Vargas, Caden Wheeler;

New Milford, Connecticut – Lisa Rosenberg;

New Orleans – Demetrius Boulieu, Nyasha Brown, Damon Carter, Jeron Duplantier, Darlene Fairley, Matthew Gonzales, Omar Hall, RyShaneka Kirsh, Maxwell Martello, Phallon Robinson, Jonae Skinner, Rishard Winford;

Newellton – Chasity Glasspoole;

Noble – Shelby Etheridge, Tiffany McMillion, Krista Rivers, Thomas Rivers;

North Richland Hills, Texas – Cody Germany;

North York, Ontario – Alexander Comanita;

Oak Ridge – Kelly Futch;

Oakdale – Clayton Ashworth, JaQuanda Evins, Dylan Hamblin, Destani Johnson;

Olla – Morgan Barbo, Amanda Fenoli, Savannah Kirl;

Omro, Wisconsin – Jason Kralovetz;

Opelousas – Keylee Boone, Jordan Brisco, Kenya Gradnigo, Kayla Pitre, Lashante Richard, Kallie Zeringue;

Paris, Texas – Cody Vorwerk;

Pelican – Tyler Howard;

Pensacola, Florida – Mallory McClain;

Pierre Part – Blaise Crochet;

Pineville – Savannah Hope Andries, Melissa Barnhill, April Cain, Erika Carter, Korey Cleveland, Luke Conway, Sydney Duhon, Selena Ferguson, Ameera Ghannam, Ollie Gossett, Leia Graham, Megan Jacks, Trey Joseph, Ethan Lachney, Brooke Leger, Rodney Lonix, Sierra Matney, Sonya McClellan, Autumn McSwain, Abby Nichols, James Perry, Hannah Pusateri, Christina Rachal, Amaria Sapp, Elizabeth Shuler, Laikyn Slusher, Robert Tabor, Emily Wiley, Sarah-Elizabeth Wilkes;

Pitkin – Braydon Doyle, Jayce Doyle, Jessica Jones;

Plain Dealing – Nicholas Cason;

Plano, Texas – Asher Van Meter;

Plaucheville – Alexis Casarez;

Pleasant Hill – Makenzi Patrik;

Pollock – Krystal Bennett, Sarah Hunt, Dalton Kopp, Allyssa Zemp;

Ponchatoula – Keyadda Brim, Kaitlyn Hawkins;

Pontotoc, Mississippi – Elizabeth Murrah;

Port Allen – Evan Daigle, Kaleb Gauthier;

Port Barre – Danielle Schexnayder, Kristen Sonnier;

Prairieville – Hannah Beason, Donesha Blount, Lauren Breaux, Claire Credeur, Kristen Prettelt, Lysia Varisco, Elllise Vice, Brady Wilson, Faith Wilson;

Pride – Ashlyn Johnson;

Princeton – Katelyn Nattin, Ariell Shield;

Provencal – Taylor Craft;

Puyallup, Washington – Aine Oh;

Quitman – Cindy Crawford;

Raceland – Emily Adams;

Ragley – Katherine Greenmun;

Rayne – Bishop Breaux;

Reno, Nevada – Sydney Oren;

Richardson, Texas – Riley Cantrell;

Richfield, Minnesota – Leah Barnes;

Richmond, Texas – Ebonie Francis;

Ridgecrest – Melissa Kelly;

Ringgold – McKenzie Davidson, Autumn McCoy, Olivia Prado;

River Ridge – Rachel Chimeno;

Robeline – Chad Berly, Patricia Goodwin, Hannah Hennigan, Kristal Lachney, Kacy Morae, Ember O’Bannon, Laura Olguin, Morgan Rachal, Hannah Schoth;

Rosepine -- Emilee Johnson;

Ruston – Paul Bryant, Tekiren Evans, Jalen Garrison, Seth Hartsfield, Christopher Letendre, Aujani Richburg;

St. Amant – Larson Fontenot;

St. Bernard – Ashlie Kieff, Emily Snyder;

St. Francisville – Emeria Jones;

St. Martinville – Belinda Alexander, Jacoby Fontenette, Destiny Simon, Maleik White, Cassandra Zenon;

St. Rose – Crystal Jones;

Saline – Makayla Jackson, Isabella Jones, Malayna Poche, Aaron Savell;

San Antonio, Texas – Matthew Aguilera, Anthony Renteria;

Sarepta – Katie Ingle;

Scott – Hannah Durgin, Tayla Soileau;

Shreveport – Aubrey Allen, Katelynn Benge, Frances Boggs, Leta Broome, Makayla Bryant, Shatericka Christor, Kesherion Collins, Naterria Davis, Reonia Davis, Hailey Deaton, Miya Douglas, Daja Easter, Deadrian Egans, Meghan Fry, Cassidy Giddens, Savon Gipson, Ellen Grappe, MIzzani Grigsby, Lindsey Hagan, Adrianne Hampton, Katelyn Householder, Shelby Hunter, Jazzmine Jackson, John Jefferson, Drake Johnson, Korynthia Johnson, Zachary Johnson, Nathan Jones, Summer Jones, Alicia King, Lauren Lee, Samantha Lyons, Tiffany Mack, Caitlyn Malloy, Christopher Markham, Andria Mason, Ashley Mason, Tifphany McClinton, Rici McDonald, Claire McMillan, Samantha Metoyer, Najah Mitchell, Brittney Nicleso-Rayfus, Megan Osborn, Tara Pair, Tierry Perry, Christina Peterson, Kalyn Phillips, Hayden Pilcher, Sierra Prelow, Shelby Reddy, Grayson Roberts, Jalisa Roberts, Savonya Robinson, Madelyn Ruiz, Amanda Rushing, Breanna Samuel, Angelica Satcher, Shermaine Shorter, Jackiesha Simmons, Ciara Sipes, Richard Sloan, Kendria Smith, Jessica Sowers, Jamie Stewart, Somer Stratton, Lindsey Stroud, Khalil Sumlin, Destini Sweet, Hailey Thomas, Anne Tibbit, Katerina Vargas, Khamaria Vaughn, De’Andra Washington, Lakayla Whitaker, Gaylin White, Jamisa Williams, Lajayda Williams, Tre’Darius Williams, Kristy Wilson, India Wright;

Sibley – Madison Mouser;

Sieper – Emily George;

Simmesport – Lexi Gremillion, Elise Normand;

Simpson – Katelynn Martin;

Slidell – Terran Cole, Noah Glass, Tristan Johnson, Rachel Reed, Maci Walgamotte, Thomas Garner;

Sondheimer – Anna Marsh;

Springfield – Tyler Pigott;

Sterlington – Catherine Trichell;

Stonewall – Bessie Cable, Dawson Cranford, Emma Delafield, Emmy Hinds, Robert McAllen, Mackenzie Panther, Maguire Parker, Heather Schiller, Tehya McDonald, Chassidy Sutton;

Sugar Land, Texas – Jake Gore;

Sulphur – Andrew Stephens;

Sunset – Zachary Linville, Lauren Pope;

Tallahassee, Florida – Edward Clarke;

Tallulah – Anna Boney;

Taylor, Texas – Jake English;

Texarkana, Texas – Daphne Hammett, Kristin McDuffie, Jasmine Neal;

Thibodaux – Beth Olin, Cierra Winch

Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania – Brianna Morosco;

Tomball, Texas – Natalee Henry;

Toms River, New Jersey – Jacqueline Manza;

Toronto, Ontario – Rhea Verma;

Trout – Makayla King, Haley Lisenby, Kalee Mcguffee, Andrea Walters;

Troy, New York – Kasey Whitmore;

Tupelo, Mississippi – Bailey Griffin;

Ville Platte – Gabrielle Chapman, Nicholas Blood, Andrea Bradley;

Vinton – Shae Cramer, Toby Stanley, Alayna Zaunbrecher;

Violet – Callie Maschmeyer;

Vivian – Kaylee Scott, Chase Lewis;

Vossburg, Mississippi – Chequira Bonner;

Walker – Madison Arnold;

Walworth, New York – Devonne Seelig;

Washington – Kyeishia Evans, Catherine Stevens;

Waskom, Texas – Blakely Canfield, Zink Kiper, Laken Thompson;

Welsh – Autumn Hanks;

West Helena, Arkansas – Brittani Arana;

West Monroe – Abigail Beck, Austin Dodson, Brianna Fife, Kennedy Ford, Allison Freeman, Aubrey Gamble, Jasmyn Johnson, Eva Sanford, Madison Shidiskis, Melissa Taylor, Christopher Wynn;

Westwego – Tja’h Edwards;

Wilmington, Delaware – Amy Bourett;

Winnfield – Annalise Austin, Harli Austin, Rhonda Duff, Kara Grantadams, Rakeen Williams, Caroline Womack;

Winnsboro – A’Lexus Johnson;

Woodworth – Lexus Weston;

Youngsville – Devin Forestier, Devyn Shores, Sophia Toranto;

Zachary – Laney Davis;

Zwolle – Kierstyn Cartinez, Dayton Craig, Trenton Malmay, Ariana Martinez, Treveon Perry, Autumn Wyatt.

2 notes · View notes