Randy McQuay is a Highway Man. From 1-95 to Hwy 117, and roadside gigs scattered all in-between, his husky, blues-laden vocals bring out the harmonica in all of us. Randy visited with the Sonic Byways recording mojo at the Art Factory, mixing words, music, and a whole lot of "Mmm, mmm, mmm's." It was a supremely soulful session of Sonic Byways. Now that you're kind of obsessed: RandyMcQuay.com.

Randy McQuay is a Highway Man. From 1-95 to Hwy 117, and roadside gigs scattered all in-between, his husky, blues-laden vocals bring out the harmonica in all of us. Randy visited with the Sonic Byways recording mojo at the Art Factory, mixing words, music, and a whole lot of "Mmm, mmm, mmm's." It was a supremely soulful session of Sonic Byways. Now that you're kind of obsessed: RandyMcQuay.com.

Photo Credit: Tom Sapp

I pull into Tony's Guitars on Wrightsville Avenue, mid-Wilmington, NC, where Justin Fox presides over rows upon rows of beautiful, semi-precious battle axes. By night, however, the axes come down, and Justin makes indelible impressions around the region, across many musical genres. On this particular night, he overwhelms his audience of one (and her unworthy sound equipment) with his signature, microphone-melting vocals. 

Sonic Byways has never captured such music in its natural habitat. 

Hang on tight.  For more Justin, check out Medusa Stone, and Reverbnation- Justin Cody Fox. 

Photo Credit: Tom Sapp

I pull into Tony's Guitars on Wrightsville Avenue, mid-Wilmington, NC, where Justin Fox presides over rows upon rows of beautiful, semi-precious battle axes. By night, however, the axes come down, and Justin makes indelible impressions around the region, across many musical genres. On this particular night, he overwhelms his audience of one (and her unworthy sound equipment) with his signature, microphone-melting vocals. 

Sonic Byways has never captured such music in its natural habitat. 

Hang on tight.  For more Justin, check out Medusa Stone, and Reverbnation- Justin Cody Fox.

Keith Richards on the wall. Tom Waits over the drum set. Rotating circles of red and green light illuminating the next guitar riff. The gods of rock and roll, ambiance, and general all-around cool smile down benevolently upon Loose Jets and their sound studio--and they're nodding their heads in approval. If you, too, want to be a rock star, Loose Jets just might need an apprentice. Friend 'em on Facebook, buy their EP, check out their youtube. 

And above all? Turn it up

Keith Richards on the wall. Tom Waits over the drum set. Rotating circles of red and green light illuminating the next guitar riff. The gods of rock and roll, ambiance, and general all-around cool smile down benevolently upon Loose Jets and their sound studio--and they're nodding their heads in approval. If you, too, want to be a rock star, Loose Jets just might need an apprentice. Friend 'em on Facebook, buy their EP, check out their youtube. 

And above all? Turn it up

Keith Richards on the wall. Tom Waits over the drum set. Rotating circles of red and green light illuminating the next guitar riff. The gods of rock and roll, ambiance, and general all-around cool smile down benevolently upon Loose Jets and their sound studio--and they're nodding their heads in approval. If you, too, want to be a rock star, Loose Jets just might need an apprentice. Friend 'em on Facebook, buy their EP, check out their youtube. 

And above all? Turn it up

Sonic Byways commemorates its first Wilmington, NC field trip. The home studio has gone mobile--much like The Who, minus the tour bus and the groupies, and stuff. Huka Entertainment and Progressive Music brought Jackie Greene, a Sonic Byways favorite, to Wilmington, so I grabbed my mixer and a couple of mics and Jackie and I laid down some audio. Sitting cross-legged at twilight in the courtyard of the Brooklyn Arts Center, we discovered we were kinda-sorta hometown neighbors. Greene waxed enticing on the endangered state cursive handwriting, the joys of the typewriter, and what happens when you live your life, as oppose to tweet about it.  

Sonic Byways commemorates its first Wilmington, NC field trip. The home studio has gone mobile--much like The Who, minus the tour bus and the groupies, and stuff. Huka Entertainment and Progressive Music brought Jackie Greene, a Sonic Byways favorite, to Wilmington, so I grabbed my mixer and a couple of mics and Jackie and I laid down some audio. Sitting cross-legged at twilight in the courtyard of the Brooklyn Arts Center, we discovered we were kinda-sorta hometown neighbors. Greene waxed enticing on the endangered state cursive handwriting, the joys of the typewriter, and what happens when you live your life, as oppose to tweet about it.

Lukas Nelson goes for a three-block ride in RedRide, Jamie's convertible, and joins Sonic Byways at Aspen Public Radio, after-hours.Talk leads to Empire Strikes Back, Nelson Family Reunions,and why Yoda kicks ass, while music leads to an in-studio performance that kind of makes Jamie swoon.