Luke McGarry (left) with his bro Joe lead double lives as Pop Noir/Fantastic Heat Brothers

Right now, Luke McGarry is the poster child for success in the world of rock-n-roll cartoons. Literally.

In 2012, the artist and co-founder of OC-bred indie band Pop Noir become the guiding artistic hand behind the artwork for some of Goldenvoice's biggest events, including this year's FYF and the pre-Coachella concert posters, all of which you've seen plastered just about everywhere, including your favorite local music blog. Turns out his distinct artistic vision is being recognized by the world at large.

McGarry, 25, was recently nominated in the Advertising Illustration Division of the annual NCS Reuben Awards for his distinctive poster work for the West Coast concert promoter as well as his work with venues like The Echo and a client list as prestigious as the New York Observer, Bloomberg Businessweek aaaannnnd....the Weekly! You may remember NOIRtorious, weekly comic the vocalist penned with his twin brother and bandmate, Joe. Then there was this gay blowjob comic strip he drew for last year's Sex Issue--we always make sure to give him the most highbrow assignments. McGarry has also recently been named one of the Outstanding Cartoonists of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society.

See Also: Yellow Red Sparks' Josh Hanson Wins International Songwriting Competition

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Andrew Youssef

Marilyn Manson and Alice Cooper interviewed outside the Revolver Golden Gods Awards Ceremony

Golden Gods Awards
Club Nokia
May 2, 2013
The Fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards show celebrating the heavy metal and hard rock community had some unplanned extra heaviness with the untimely passing of legendary Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman. At the opening of this star filled extravaganza, heavy metal DJ Jose Mangin dedicated the show to the memory of Hanneman. Rather than turning into a mournful remembrance service, the show kicked it into a higher gear making it more like a rowdy Irish wake.

Fittingly, one of Slayer's co-conspirators in the thrash genre, Anthrax opened the show with a destructive version of "Caught In A Mosh" that had guitarist Scott Ian doing Godzilla like leg stomps across the stage. Special guests would appear throughout the evening and the first showing was mind blowing. Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown from Pantera joined Anthrax onstage for a head crushing version of "This Love". I can't remember the last time both Anselmo and Brown shared the stage together and it was especially touching since they too have suffered from losing a band member with guitarist Dimebag Darrell's tragic passing in 2004.

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The rest of the world is finding out what Orange County has known for years...that Josh Hanson of Yellow Red Sparks can write a damn good song! The singer took top honors in the annual International Songwriting Competition (ISC) for "Monsters With Misdemeanors" off the indie folk/rock band's self-titled debut album. Lyrics were assessed on the basis of creativity, originality, melody, arrangement and overall likeability. In announcing that Hanson had won the Grand Prize, the competition described the song as "both chilling and tender, squarely leaving you on a heartfelt emotional ledge."

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Shannon Nehls / OC Weekly

Beneath The Buried

OC Music Awards Showcase: Night 3

The Slide Bar Rock-N-Roll Cafe
January 22, 2013

The OC Music Awards Showcase continued it's excursion on the quest to find OC's best live band for night three at the Slidebar Rock-N-Roll Cafe in downtown Fullerton. To test the nominated bands originality, stage presence, crowd participation and overall appeal where a few of the elite members of the OC Music Awards Academy which is comprised of music journalists, radio personalities, booking agents and industry professionals who help support our local music scene. Starting at 8 p.m., the showcase featured and interesting array of bands including Anna Vexa, Snakebit Drifters, Fiction Reform, Beneath the Buried and Death Hymn Number 9 who all brought their own eclectic crowds and energy to the Slide Bar stage.

See Also:

*OC Music Awards: Night 2 Puts Singer-Songwriters On a Frosty Pedestal
*OC Music Awards Showcase: Night 1-Detroit Bar-January 8, 2013
*Coachella "Leaks," Confirmations and Rumors

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Photo by Christine Taylor

Jesse Sykes

By Ben Westhoff

Each week in our print editions and every day on our blogs, the 13 Voice Media Group papers feature some of the best music writing in the country. That's why we're excited to announce the winners of our first VMG music writing awards.

The honor goes to the authors of one blog post and one print piece; eligible were any of our freelance scribes.


The envelope please...
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