To Todd, Dan, Steve, Amber, and the rest of my Thursday Dungeons and Dragons group, I would like to offer my sincere apologies for my behavior over the last few sessions. The passage of time, and our culture’s ready availability for mood-stabilizing pharmaceuticals, has led me to realize that my ...
Welcome to Kill Your Idols. This is my third year as The Cluster’s entertainment editor, and I’ve never bothered to indulge myself with a regular column before (if you don’t count failed Reviewing Movies I’ve Never Seen, which I co-authored from time to time), and I decided it was high time ...
The Front Bottoms are one of the most interesting new bands I’ve come across in a long time. The New Jersey duo, composed of singer/guitarist Brian Sella and Matt Uychich recently released their self-titled debut album, an absolutely mind-blowing blend of pop, rock, and old fashioned punk spirit. ...
Downtown Macon has opened up its heart and shown the world how hard work and creativity makes a restaurant successful. This week I explored the back alleys of downtown to find the hidden treasures that await in a little restaurant (located at 574 Mulberry Street) called Tokyo Alley. Atmosphere The ...
Reviewing results from World Beard and Mustache Championships, I can’t help but wonder why I wasn’t gifted with such talents. Instead of combing one of those monsters I was stuck on this Earth as a columnist. What horseshit. In more perfect (read: bearded) world, I’d make an unspeakable amount ...
Very rarely do books adapted into films end up pleasing the majority of people, especially when those films force one to think about those forbidden topics that society tries to bury and pretends no longer exist. This summer’s The Help has done just that. The book, written by Kathryn Sockett, was ...
I’m exhausted, sitting on itchy carpet in the basement of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta. To my left is a wild-eyed youth in four-inch platform boots; to my right is a mountain of a man wearing a kilt, a cycling t-shirt, and a handlebar mustache. My feet hurt, I’m covered in glitter, ...
Yeezy and Jay are back, and they’re as brash, blunt, and bold as ever. On Watch the Throne, their first full-fledged collaborative effort, the duo embarks on a darkly lyrical tête-à-tête, picking apart the urban myth of street sovereignty. Albeit loosely, the album’s tracks weave together fragments ...
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="376" caption="Fun."][/caption] After bringing in hit artists ranging from The Format to 3Oh!3 to Gym Class Heroes, Bearstock has become one of Quadworks’ most ambitious and well-recieved projects, leaving the organization wondering what they can possibly ...
In the Northwest side of Macon, at 1693 Bass Road, a charming Italian restaurant named Mirko’s Pasta serves up self-proclaimed authentic Italian dishes to those who wish to experience Italy through their taste buds. I must profess, having visited Mirko’s previously gave me high hopes for my ...
Summer is usually the prime time for new music. As with blockbuster movies, bands and record labels like to wait until peak times to put out a sure-fire hit. But unfortunately for you, I haven’t been reviewing music for The Cluster this summer, and you’ve been missing out on my sage wisdom. But ...
Greetings Mercerians, new and old! Welcome to Macon! With a new year upon us, now is a time for discovery— local discovery. Whether you’ve been an undergrad for seven days or seven years, everyone can find something new in this ever-changing city. For starters, don’t be scared of Downtown. Only ...
When I critique a restaurant, I take into account much more than meal quality. Every aspect must have consideration. Seating arrangements, for instance, and how much light enters an establishment can ruin a perfect meal. When I dine I usually go with many of my friends. My friends and I are loud ...
Okay, nerds. I’ve spent all our time together telling you what not to like, but now that it’s all coming to an end, I’m going to tell you what to like. Some of the greatest television shows are cancelled because not enough people watch them, which is really upsetting but unsurprising since we ...
It seems like without thinking about it, I’ve got a theme going with this column. It has served me well so far, but it is time to finish this arc. In my previous entries, I’ve outlined how musicians aren’t getting compensated for the music that they are making and how record labels aren’t ...
The Mercer Players outdid themselves with their most recent performance, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. The musical's two-week run kept audiences packing out the theater and rolling in the aisles as the Players revealed everything you ever wanted to know about love and marriage but were afraid ...
Boulder, Colorado-based band 3OH!3 is known for their intense electronic sound and catchy, fun lyrics. Before the duo of Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte took the stage at Bearstock this year, I sat down to ask them a few questions about Mercer, their music and their upcoming work. Read on below. Eric ...
The night before Bearstock, Macon was threatened by a tornado warning that could have ruined the day. But we were lucky, and the storm passed over Macon with little commotion, leaving the day free for Mercer’s annual musical festival. This year featured a lineup similar to previous years, with rappers ...
4/5 Bear Claws Augusta natives Robert Payne and Chase Kleist are part of the indie/alternative/hip-hop group Ace and Zaz. Chase is Ace and Robert is Zaz. After being part of several musical groups in high school, including Smells Like New and Non-Shalant (Acoustic), Kleist and Payne created this project ...
So, we all know Bearstock is coming up this Saturday, and we all know that it’s going to be completely awesome, as it is every year. But some people don’t know that this year will be a little different than the past few festials, so your pals at The Cluster have prepared this guide to the festivities. ...
Solutions by The State News