The City Magazine August 2023

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Born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She began her nursing career in 2008 as a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Immediately upon graduation, she pursued her degree as a Registered Nurse while working in the Emergency Room. Yvonne’s passion for nursing evolved into her pursuing her Master’s Degree in Nursing in 2019 from The University of Texas at El Paso. She has been a Family Nurse Practitioner for four years. She has been part of Dr. Agullo’s elite team since 2017, and assists with a multitude of cosmetic facial and body treatments. Through her 15 years of medical experience, she has developed in-depth knowledge and clinical competence to render a wide scope of patient care. She enjoys spending time with her family, and thrives on making people feel better about themselves and more comfortable in their own skin.

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Victoria Olivia

Motivational Speaker & Realtor

I am Victoria Olivia, and I am one of the most sought-after realtors in El Paso, TX. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, family means everything to me. I was born in Casper, Wyoming, and raised in El Paso. I am proud to have made my roots in the Sun City.

My story is one of courage and determination, and it has inspired people all over the world to discover their own untapped talents and infinite potential. I have a passion for helping people, and as the Founder and CEO of Queen Up Now, I have developed events, workbooks, and

a course that have transformed countless lives and altered the trajectory of businesses throughout my amazing community.

Through my life focused on positivity, I have found my passion and purpose for helping others. Beyond my work in real estate, I am a motivational speaker, and I believe in equipping women with the encouragement and empowerment tools they need to succeed. I am grateful for the reach that social media has given me, allowing me to connect with an audience far beyond just El Paso.

I am committed to helping people discover their own power, and to helping women unlock their potential for success and step into their greatness!

-Victoria Olivia

August 2023

EL PASO/LAS CRUCES magazine

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nce upon a time, I was a girl in Rock and Roll. I was living in Washington, D.C. while going to graduate school and writing for a live music website that later led to a gig as the lead news writer at Rolling Stone. I covered music festivals, concerts, and lots of shows in between that made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

I’m still the luckiest girl in the world.

My interest in writing about music stems from the incredible support of the local music scene right here in El Paso. I remember sitting atop the bar at Tricky Falls, Jim Ward’s super cool venue on South El Paso street, watching bands on tour soundcheck and later learning about their lives. I was hooked.

Fast forward 10 years, and the music scene in El Paso continues to explode.

One of the people I met back in the day was Greg Gonzalez of Cigarettes After Sex, who has taken the music industry by storm. Interviewing Greg and writing his cover story was special to me not only because I’m a massive fan of his songwriting (try listening to “Pistol” without feeling like you’ve been punched in the stomach), and also because we’re both alums of Eastwood High School and UTEP. Despite Greg’s massive success -- Taylor Swift is one of his biggest fans -- he remains grounded and grateful, which he credits his upbringing in El Paso with. This October, he’ll be taking the stage at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center to play at home while on world tour with Cigarettes After Sex -- get your tix while you can!

While I’ll always be a Rock and Roll girl, I definitely have a soft spot for Hip Hop (and a thesis).

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop as a genre, and the impact in such

a short period of time is remarkable. How different would our society and culture be were it not for Hip Hop? Luckily, we don’t have to imagine that and have the privilege of celebrating the many contributions of Hip Hop. Stephanie has a fascinating editorial on The All Elements Exhibition that showcased the local Hip Hop scene from break dancing to rap battles. Rob Santos, who you’ll also read about in our rap university editorial (yep, it’s a thing!) is using his talents to bolster the local and global Hip Hop industry, while also dispelling stigma, and I cannot wait for you to learn more about him (and maybe enroll in one of his courses!).

Whereas it’s important to honor legacy and accomplishments, we also need to support new initiatives.

El Paso’s first ever Rock and Roll camp for girls took place this summer over the course of two weeks where campers participated in music lessons, created bands, and learned about different aspects of the music industry. Many of the friends who helped introduce me to the music industry were the masterminds behind this camp, which gave young musicians the opportunity to learn from locals who have been (or still are) part of the music industry. I had the privilege of leading a workshop on music journalism, media literacy, and self confidence that I hope was as fun for the campers as it was exhilarating for me. The bands played their original songs at the Plaza Classic Film Festival, and I’m sure it won’t be long until they’re headlining world tours just like Greg Gonzalez.

Shakespeare wrote that “If music be the food of love, play on.”

Let us play.

Erin COULEHAN

Senior Editor

Megan MEHL

Jade Rachelle CARRASCO

Veronica NEVAREZ

Sergio OLIVAS

Amber LANAHAN

Stephanie AMERENA

Contributors

Claudia FLORES

Anthony ECHETEBU

How to‘Beat’ Heartbreak The Lust Frontier a

| By: MEGAN MEHL, Professional Matchmaker |

isten to any love song, and you understand that breakups are the WORST. Going through them in adulthood always takes me back to my first-ever breakup in high school and my shattered little ego. I remember dramatically driving around for hours feeling sorry for myself and listening to mix CDs that my friends had made me, likely out of a growing concern for my wellbeing. As an adult, breakups are infinitely more complicated, especially if you share a home, kids, pets, and a LIFE with this person. They still sting just as much as that very first twinge of teenage lovesickness, but now the collateral damage is enough to knock anyone right off their feet. If you’re going through this now, my heart goes out to you. While I unfortunately can’t burn you a breakup mix CD to get you through (RIP Limewire), these are my best tips for gracefully navigating your newfound singledom with some songs to sing to along the way.

Talk to your ex. As tough as it is, the cold turkey method is the only method, at least for a while. It’s not about the other person, it’s about giving yourself time to reflect and heal. If it’s not possible to cut communication (the only good excuses here are shared custody of kids or pets, in my opinion), do what you can to give both people plenty of space and a chance to move on. Be honest with yourself and your ex about the boundaries that you need.

Song: “I Will Survive”

by Gloria Gaynor

Hold in your emotions. You will likely feel a wide range of BIG, conflicting, and sometimes irrational feelings. Allow yourself to feel all of them – they are all valid! If you try to zip them all inside and move on without acknowledging them, it WILL bite you in the butt (I speak from personal experience). Give yourself time to feel crappy and be patient! It won’t last forever. Cry, confide in your friends and loved ones, journal, and see a therapist. Allow yourself to be observant and indulgent now to avoid exploding baggage later.

Song: “Since U Been Gone”

Start dating again right away. This can be very tempting but dating too soon is like putting a Band-Aid on a battle wound. I mostly see people do this either because they are seeking external validation or because they want to make their ex jealous. It’s NOT fair to the new person to use them as a prop or pawn just so that you can avoid working through something. You’re an adult – being single for a while won’t kill you.

Song: “Dancing

With Myself”

by Billy Idol

Try to get back with your ex after listening to too much Taylor Swift. You’ve been warned.

Song: “No Scrubs” by TLC

Close off your heart for good. Depending on how serious the relationship was, heartache can feel like something you’d never want to go through again. But if you’ve been in love, you know that it’s well worth the risk of getting hurt. This is an experience to learn from, and there’s no reason you can’t make

Understand that this is a lesson you needed to learn in some way. Think of it as a path correction. While it might feel very much like a giant step backwards and it may seem daunting to “start over again,” in reality this actually brings you one step closer to the relationship you want.

Song: “Needed Me” by Rihanna

Take responsibility for your part in the breakup. I’m sorry, sweetheart, but it’s partly your fault too… even if it was staying too long or ignoring red flags. A victim mentality will not do you any favors. The sooner you can shift out of playing the victim, the sooner you can move on!

Song: “Don’t Be So Hard” by The Audition

Take care of yourself! Take bubble baths. Eat ice cream. Take walks. Get lots of sleep. Nourish your body. Try not to indulge in self-sabotage tendencies like binge eating, starving yourself, stalking your ex on Instagram, or drinking yourself into a stupor. If you catch yourself doing these things, ask yourself why. Is it a cry for attention? An attempt to numb the real emotions? The desire to feel in control of something? Try your best to stay present in your experience and be KIND to yourself.

Song: “Victoria’s Secret”

by Sonata Artica

Find clarity. I may or may not be taking a page from my high school self here, but hear me out. Indulge the pettiness that you will inevitably feel at some point, and make a list of things you dislike about your ex. From the way they chew with their mouth open to their overbearing mom, have at it! I’m not one to encourage mean-spiritedness, but getting some of the silly pet peeves off your chest WILL make you feel better. Then, start to list the big-picture things that weren’t quite right in the relationship: maybe you didn’t think they treated you with respect or you didn’t have the same values or long-term vision. This will help you get to the root of why this person ultimately wasn’t the best match for you, and that is where you can start to find acceptance. Do not EVER show this list to anyone, it’s only for you. It will come in handy for the alsoinevitable weak moments when you can’t remember why you broke up… trust me.

Find a way to pass the time (and distract yourself). TIME IS THE ONLY CURE FOR A BREAKUP. Read that again. What are the things in life that bring you the most joy? What are some things you’ve always wanted to do? What does this breakup make possible in your life? Channeling your energy into fulfilling and fun things is the best way to fill what may temporarily feel like a hole in your life. Pick up some new hobbies. Make some new friends. Make it your mission to have a great attitude and a damn good time.

Song: “Get Free” by The

Vines

Be a better you. Once you have a little distance and perspective, look back at your relationship history and take note of the patterns. Consider the traumas that have shaped your relationship behavior, how you’ve shown up with your partners, and how you might choose to do things differently in the future. Work on the things that you aren’t proud of, both in relationships and in other parts of your life. Think about the things that you’re seeking in a partner and make sure you’re embodying those same things before you start dating again.

Song: “I’m Out” by Ciara

Remind yourself that this is all temporary. You are going to be just fine, I promise.

Song: “So What” by Pink

By:

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HIP HOP

STEPHANIE AMERENA photography by: SERGIO OLIVAS |

Once inside, accompanied by a variety of different voices and lyrics, were nostalgic arcade video games along the walls that acted as the background screens for a variety of vendors selling merchandise and/or art of their own. The tables were strategically placed so there was no issue making it to the dancefloor, which was partially covered in cardboard.

A newcomer to the Hip Hop scene might be confused at first, until they witness an array of break dancers coming on and off the dancefloor. Male and female dancers taking turns trying to indent a bigger dance signature into the cardboard than the last.

After a few rounds of dancing and record scratching, the host and lead organizer Rob “Nice” Santos comes up on stage to give recognition to every artist and sponsor contributing to the “All Elements Exhibition” and to thank everyone there to celebrate fifty years of Hip Hop.

About a year ago, when he was sitting back and relaxing, the realization popped into his head that there hasn’t been an event in El Paso that had not only emcees, but also showcased DJs, break dancers, and graffiti artists all in the same night. There had been

events with one or two of these elements, but not an integral event that celebrates all these elements together.

“Hip Hop culture really happens when these elements are together within the community,” he said.

Santos described the process with the visual of him driving the car while the other sponsors and collaborators are in the back seats, providing him the directions to where he can pick everyone else up to join the ride.

Reaching out to El Paso’s artistic group leaders, he called on Sound Mind SOULutions to get the rappers; Desert Eagle Production for the break dancers; Kalavera Culture Shop to find the graffiti artists and donated paints for the live art. There were even companies like Tesla who reached out to Santos to not only sponsor the event, but to be a part of the “All Elements Exhibition” by providing test drives of their latest electric cars.

To ensure everyone had the opportunity to experience this event, Santos took the time and effort to write a grant, and was able to receive funding from the El Paso Museum and Cultural Affairs Division. With those funds, the event was free for the public.

What made the event so unique was how interactive it was with the audience who made their way there on a Thursday night.

Almost like a Hip Hop convention, Santos organized a panel that gave the artists the chance to talk with the people who came out to see them. Not stopping with that, there was also constant crowd engagement between performances of Venomous Verses, MC Vera, Tres Sabores and others. Giving the next performer time to set up, Santos distributed prizes like one-of-a-kind graffiti paints, stickers, gift cards, and Tesla donated notebooks to create future art with.

With the success of the “All Elements Exhibition,” it not only made an impact on the fans of Hip Hop attending, but also on artists and performers as well.

Coming all the way from just outside of Boston to perform with one of the main headliners Termonology, was DJ Deadeye. DJ Deadeye has been producing since 1997 and performing live shows since 2003. While he has been to El Paso before (and knows how good of a fan base there is here), he had never seen something like the “All Elements Exhibition” before.

“[This event] gives off an authentic and organic vibe. Super Hip Hop, nothing is forced,” also adding, “You wouldn’t think El Paso has a thriving Hip Hop scene but shows like this tell you otherwise.”

Near the end of the night, Santos was nothing but smiles for the adrenaline still going through his system.

Despite building this event under the idea that Hip Hop has its original elements, he learned that each of the elements is more diverse and complex than anticipated.

An example of this was seeing that within breakdancing there are: pop-locking, b-boying, b-girling, and other versions of dance that are incorporated in unique ways. For future events, he wants to tap into those gray areas and little niches of the main elements to let them all shine. Another aspect of those events that Sanots wants to change is the location by infiltrating venues where Hip Hop is not normally welcomed.

When asked how he felt about the exhibition, through a big grin Santos said, “This is an example of what can happen when people gather under the flag of Hip Hop. It is all love and unity. Hip Hop is a creative art and should not be seen as something violent. These different elements have techniques to them, and the artists are intellectuals at their craft. It came from the streets, but that doesn’t mean it is not a science and it is not an art. And that is what we showed here tonight.”

Inside El Paso’s First Rock and Roll Camp for Girls

Rock and Roll camps for girls first found their legs as a non-profit program in Portland, Oregon. The camp offers girls from ages as young as eight up to eighteen years of age the opportunity to learn and play many well-known instruments utilized within the industry. In addition to learning their respective instrument of choice, these young girls come together to form a band, create music, and later perform for an audience. As Rock and Roll camps for girls became more established, many other cities began to adopt the project and introduce these camps to their citizens.

El Paso’s You Rock! Girls camp is now one of over 40 U.S. camps established as Rock and Roll girls camps continue to grow globally.

| Words and photos by: AMBER LANAHAN |

For You Rock! co-founder Jim Ward and his team, introducing a Rock and Roll camp for girls to the El Paso area was already a concept being brainstormed more than four years before its inception. During a tribute celebration of late friend, Austin Girls Rock camp volunteer, Esme Barrera, the soonto-be You Rock! team would come to a consensus and start working to turn their musical brainchild into a reality.

Working with many businesses and musical minds within the community, Ward and the You Rock! team would gather the tools necessary to have El Paso’s first and only Rock and Roll Girls Camp come to fruition. However, as the camp was beginning to open up its first year, the project was

grounded. As that was the year that many found themselves retreating indoors to avoid a rapidly growing pandemic in 2020.

It would take three years before Ward and the You Rock! team would come back to reopen the project and become the musical guides to many of El Paso’s female youth on July 10th, 2023.

Like its predecessors, El Paso’s You Rock! Girls Camp works to open the music industry door to young women and femaleidentifying individuals between the ages of ten to eighteen. The program utilizes a group of respected mentors, many of whom are women who’ve worked within the diverse fields of the music industry. From

picking up their first musical instrument to understanding the inner workings of musical journalism, these young women are granted the opportunity to take an early glimpse into careers that one typically might have difficulty obtaining access to even in adulthood.

The camp’s desire to provide a diverse selection of camp workshops is best explained by Ward, “These workshops will be inspired and led by not just by musicians, but by those who have worked in the music field or by those who’ve found inspiration in music. One of the things we want to show are all of the other opportunities outside of being in a band. You don’t just have to be a musician. You could be a tour manager, a lighting designer, a journalist, or a video maker. All of these things are led

El Paso’s First Rock and Roll Camp for Girls

by people passionate about music without necessarily being the ones playing music.”

This awareness of these vast interests in the realm of music allows campers to avoid feeling pigeonholed into a specific role while also expanding their knowledge of an array of subjects for an industry they might hope to get into.

That said, the camp and You Rock! Team is deeply aware of the importance of their camper’s technical skill and their empathy for their community.

Campers are given the chance to intersect their studies with volunteer opportunities during camp workshops and lectures. With a desire to assist campers in becoming active community members, The You Rock! Team involves campers in a variety of volunteer

opportunities with acts such as working at a local food bank or aiding a neighbor with a difficult task. These acts of service allow campers to experience the world outside of their norm while gaining an appreciation and understanding of community efforts.

“There’s enough negative stuff in the world,” says Ward, “I think the least we could do is give these kids a couple of weeks of positive ideas.”

The two-week program came to a close Friday, July 21st, at the El Paso Plaza Classic Film Festival. The event was an excellent opportunity for the young female campers to display the culmination of what they’d come to learn at camp.

Opening the performance was the youngest members of the camp, The Astronauts, with “I wanna be an Astronaut.” This song served as a great opener to the group’s performance as its lyrics spoke of hopeful aspirations for bigger and brighter as one reaches for the stars.

Following the Astronauts, Dennim took to the stage adorned in vibrant pinks, singing of societal struggles that many of us face, and wishing to experience a change for the betterment of the world and those within it.

Maintaining the flow of social commentary started by Dennim, Statik Girls was next to perform.

With an electric presence as soon as they stepped into the light, Statik Girls utilized the space provided by the stage to engage the crowd as they sang about the pressures of what is expected of a woman and the patriarchal assumed factors of a woman’s self-worth.

Myriads was the fourth and final band of the camp to take the stage. An edgy contrast to the indie style of Statik Girls, Myriads had the crowd’s attention as they sang about a subject that has stood the test of time, heartbreak.

Despite the seemingly familiar subject matter, the song’s lyrics speak of the storyteller’s journey as they look back to their relationship and how they work to recover from the pain.

El Paso’s girls’ rock band, Acid Wave, closed out the show.

Performing a collection of their songs, such as “Summer Moon” and “Honey Dripping Eyes,” the band stood tall as seniors in the industry for the campers they mentored over two weeks.

While it was amazing to bear witness to the hard work of the campers and their mentors, the sight that genuinely warmed the heart of this audience member was the immense amount of support displayed by the campers as they cheered and flashed signs for their musical companions and mentors as they performed on stage.

El Paso’s You Rock! Girls Camp’s first year has proven to be a great success as both campers and mentors built everlasting bonds. The efforts of Ward and the You Rock! The team has officially carved out a space within the community for young girls and female-identifying to pursue their musical aspirations.

Profiles

Locally-owned businesses are the cornerstones of our community and economy, keeping El Paso strong while adapting to the ever-changing technological and consumer landscape. This month, we’re thrilled to be livin’ la vida local with business owners who continue to showcase and represent the very best of El Paso.

Heidy Seoenz

504 W San Antonio Ave, Ste. C, El Paso, TX 79901 (915) 316-9263

Seoenz.com

What do you specialize in?

I specialize in short-term rentals, while also being an Airbnb expert and Airbnb coach -- a one stop shop for all airbnb needs. Other specialties include staging and design, remodel, cleaning and maintenance. I’m also President of the El Paso Short Term Rental Alliance.

How did you get started in this industry?

We own a 14-unit apartment complex, and decided to remodel every unit one at a time. I enjoyed the process, and as I finished remodeling the first unit, I decided to put it on Airbnb. We’ve been hosting since 2017.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

Readers should turn to me for their needs if they are considering investing in real estate and looking for active income. Also, we currently offer management services, if they have rental properties that they would like to make more cash flow.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is the flexibility to manage my own schedule because of the financial freedom that scaling to 40 Airbnbs has given me. I aspire to inspire others to reach that goal to become financially independent.

Why do you serve El Paso?

Born and raised in El Paso, I have always known the huge potential that El Paso has. I want to be able to help my community thrive. El Paso is my home and I’m proud to be an ambassador for it.

What do you specialize in?

Saratoga Homes specializes in building quality homes for hardworking El Paso families.

How did you get started in this industry?

Saratoga Homes was founded in 1983 by C. David Bombach who served during the Vietnam War. After this Mr. Bombach was eager to share what had been instilled in him with the El Paso community.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

Saratoga Homes is the only El Paso builder that has been awarded the prestigious “Keystone Award” by Home of Texas in recognition of our building practices, ethics, and commitment to our homeowners.

What is the best part of your job?

The Saratoga Homes family lives for those timeless moments in which a family accepts delivery of their Brand-New Home; there is nothing quite like it.

Why do you serve El Paso?

We continue to honor the legacy of C. David Bombach in each and every home we build; we are not discouraged by economic downturns as we continue to deliver on the promise of making the American Dream. Saratoga

What do you specialize in?

Mamacita’s offers organically-sourced ingredients, as well as heart-crafted cocktails, cuisine, and coffee, while Circa 1963 proudly serves award-winning cocktails and wood-fire pizza with stunning rooftop views.

How did you get started in this industry?

During El Paso’s Downtown revitalization, we had an opportunity to connect both regional and visiting patrons to a “New Authentic El Paso” by curating an experience that offered art, rich flavors, crafted cocktails, traditional culture, modern offerings and all things local.

325 N. Kansas (915) 532-5200

circa1963

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

Our outlets provide an escape through our intentionally eclectic atmospheres: Mamacita’s makes you feel right at home, and Circa 1963 transports you with our skyline views.

What is the best part of your job?

We love creating memorable experiences for our guests that keep them coming back for more.

Why do you serve El Paso?

We wanted to introduce a new taste to El Paso that has not been seen or experienced before.

Photographed by: SERGIO OLIVAS

Shears to You by Melissa Private Hair Studio 5778 N. Mesa, Suite 106 (915) 346-4838

5778 N. Mesa, Suite 106 (915) 346-4838

What do you specialize in?

I specialize in all haircuts/ hair types long, short, straight , curly and wavy hair. All chemical services from color, highlights and all trends Ombre/balayage etc.

How did you get started in this industry?

I started practicing way before I was certified with friends and family. I started at Tri-state Cosmetology School in 2004 and got licensed in 2005. Been in service since.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

With my experience I can express my art through my clients’ vision. I help them express through their hair. I give them all my undivided attention so they can leave my studio beautified with such Delight.

What is the best part of your job?

Being behind the chair and starting the transformation process is the best part, not to mention seeing every client’s end results and also having great conversations and building a relationship with them.

Why do you serve El Paso?

I was born and raised in El Paso. I always loved the Sun City. The people are so welcoming. It’s a great place with Very extraordinary Culture. This is why I serve my community.

Shears to You by Melissa Private Hair Studio

Pacifica Homes Inc.

12660 Tierra Clara Rd.

El Paso, Texas 79938

915-740-9399

What do you specialize in?

Pacifica Homes has been a tract builder for the better part of 20 years, but I have found that the semi-custom, custom homes market brings more challenging ideas to the El Paso buyer. The quality of our homes remains the same in either market that we target.

How did you get started in this industry?

Pacifica Homes has been in the business of making dreams come true for more than 20 years. I started selling homes at an early age and during that time I learned that I had an interest in building.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

When building your dream home, you never want to leave anything to chance. Instead, you look for the builder that can best serve your needs, and we at Pacifica Homes believe we can make your home buying dream come true.

What is the best part of your job?

I would have to say that achieving the buyer’s dream and seeing how we have made that first time, or 2nd time buyer happy with their purchase from start to close is satisfaction that any builder would realize.

Why do you serve El Paso?

I have been a resident of El Paso for more than 50 years and seeing my communities grow and know that I have been a part of that growth is especially rewarding. Pacifica Homes serves El Paso because we love the community and are committed to making home building dreams come true.

What do you specialize in?

Life Insurance, Auto Insurance, Home Insurance, Specialty and Commercial Insurance

How did you get started in this industry?

Driven by a passion to help people specially when experiencing a life changing event and the desire to provide guidance and peace of mind when the unexpected happens.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

My agency stands out for its authentic connection with customers. We genuinely care and want our customers to be protected and prepared.

1421 N Lee Treviño Dr. B2-A El Paso, TX 79936 (915) 255-2070

Lcordero@farmersagent.com

What is the best part of your job?

Working alongside remarkable individuals (my team) and the fact that every day I have the opportunity to help people in my community and families all over Texas by providing them with coverage plans that best suit their needs so they don’t have to worry about an unforeseen event.

Why do you serve El Paso?

Born and raised in El Paso. My roots are here, I know the community, the culture, the dynamics, the lifestyle, the traditions and I absolutely love it all. Se habla español.

Laura Cordero Agency

Expert HVAC and Refrigeration

7241 Stiles Drive (915) 598-1732

ExpertHVACandRefrigeration.com

What do you specialize in?

Residential, commercial and industrial heating, cooling and ventilation. Low temp refrigeration and commercial kitchen equipment service and installation. Refrigerated air conversions/replacements.

How did you get started in this industry?

My father started Expert in 1981. He retired in 2010, which is when I took over operations.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

Expert HVAC and Refrigeration is a high quality and high customer service oriented company. Highly rated on Google, A+ rated with the BBB and voted Best of El Paso and Best of the Border 2022.

What is the best part of your job?

Dealing hands on with my customers. Getting to meet them, see their needs and ultimately provide a service that brings them comfort.

Why do you serve El Paso?

I was born and raised here in El Paso. I love the people and the culture. I want Expert to be a positive example of what a service based company should be.

Tirso Galindo Realtor

12247 Rojas Dr. El Paso, TX 79936

915-479-7769

tirsogalindo.clearviewep.com

What do you specialize in?

My specialty is providing high quality customer service throughout the process of buying or selling Residential and Land Real Estate in the areas of El Paso and all across Texas.

How did you get started in this industry?

After my military service I went through different job roles in the hopes to find my passion. I soon discovered that Real Estate filled that passion, and so I became a Realtor.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

Clients need someone they can trust, but most importantly someone who can connect with them on a personal level, and who is competent, honest, and loyal.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is when my clients are happy and satisfied with the purchase or sale of their home, and knowing I help someone else other than myself.

Why do you serve El Paso?

I serve El Paso because I love this city! I was given many opportunities to become successful and I love nothing more than to contribute my services to my fellow El Pasoans.

SR HEALTHCARE

Dr. Hernandez, DC

SR Healthcare

1200 Golden Key Circle #331

SR-Healthcare.com

What do you specialize in?

I specialize in Chiropractic procedures.

How did you get started in this industry?

I’ve always had a deep desire to help people and my community.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

Anyone who comes to SR Healthcare will get attentive and personalized care in an environment that is conducive to healing and growth.

What is the best part of your job?

I enjoy building strong and lasting relationships with my patients and community.

Why do you serve El Paso?

El Paso is my hometown that has provided so much for my development and growth, and I want to be able to return the many blessings that I have received while growing up and living in El Paso.

DR. SAM HERNANDEZ CHIROPRACTOR

What do you specialize in?

While we are trained in various methods of cut and coloring our main focus is to customize cuts and color for our clients lifestyle. Most of our clients enjoy our signature low maintenance balayage.

How did you get started in this industry?

My interest in the salon environment started at my grandfather’s barber shop as a kid but my decision to open my salon came from a need for a salon where stylists could be supported and build a career.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

We are for the person who is looking to build a long term relationship with a stylist you can trust to guide you in the right direction and recommend the highest quality products.

What is the best part of your job?

As a stylist, that would be the clients. As a salon owner, it’s the stylists. I guess I’m a people person!

Why do you serve El Paso?

It would be easy to move to L.A. or Denver and jump into a thriving hair scene but I chose to stay and build opportunities for the stylists here. We need to stop losing talent to the big cities.

Nicholas Reyes Hair Salon

5860 N. Mesa, Ste.,105

El Paso, TX 79912

nicholasreyeshair.com

Profiles

Celebrations of love, success, milestones, and every other occasion deserve to be feted in style to create memories that will last a lifetime. To achieve the perfect party or event, we’ve rounded-up some of the city’s leading party pros and experts that’ll encourage guests to RSVP ASAP.

What do you specialize in?

Grace Gardens Event Center is a private venue situated on 14 acres in the upper valley of El Paso, Texas. We offer four stunning on-site facilities and four outdoor areas that offer breathtaking views of the sunsets and Franklin Mountains. We have the capacity to host any small intimate event or any large special event.

How did you get started in this industry?

Grace Gardens is privately and locally owned and has been serving Southwest Texas and New Mexico since the summer of 2007. We first began with a tent and party rental company in 2000 and expanded to building Grace Gardens in 2006. Our goal was to create a unique and beautiful indoor/outdoor venue that would cater to both small intimate gatherings and large special events.

Grace Gardens Event Center

6709 Westside Drive, El Paso, TX 79932 elpasogracegardens.com (915) 877-2745

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

We have become one of West Texas’ premier and preferred event venues. We understand that every event is unique, which is why we work closely with our clients to create custom packages that meet their specific needs.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is to be part of a special moment in someone’s life, and to know that we can offer exceptional and satisfactory service that creates lifetime memories.

Why do you serve El Paso?

El Paso is growing rapidly and continues to develop into a large border city, nonetheless it remains a small community where home, family, and traditions are a priority. El Paso is our home and we are proud to offer this border community a familyowned destination venue.

Photographed by: JAVIER JIMENEZ PHOTOGRAPHY

EG Rentals Party & Events

What do you specialize in?

EG Rentals specializes in event rentals and customer service. We rent chairs, tables, linen, canopies, tents, etc. We work hard to excel in every single customer’s events.

How did you get started in this industry?

We started with only 4 rectangle tables and 24 chairs and have grown ever since meeting every customer’s event requirements.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

Our main focus in our event rental business is customer satisfaction. Consistent communication through the whole process. Starts from receiving the call and ending with picking up the equipment.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of the job is seeing the smiles on our customers’ faces, knowing their event will be a success because of our service. Having a great communicative team facilitates everything on daily basis.

Why do you serve El Paso?

We serve El Paso because it is our home town and is the city that will definitely have events every weekend. Live the EG Rentals experience.

What do you specialize in?

I specialize in stress free event planning. Organizing and executing various types of events, ranging from small gatherings such as birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers .

How did you get started in this industry?

I’ve always had a passion for event decorating and I wanted to bring something new to the community by sharing my creativity and unique minimalist style. My cotton candy cart was my foot in the door.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

Cloud Nine Event Studio is a blank canvas & has a variety of packages with endless possibilities to bring anyone’s small intimate gathering to life .

Cloud Nine Event Studio

1000 Diesel Drive Suite C. (915) 691-6313

cloudnineeptx.my.canva.site

What is the best part of your job?

Successfully executing my clients vision and seeing all their closest friends and family gathering together joyfully celebrating their event at my space.

Why do you serve El Paso?

El Paso is a growing community with so much potential that I feel it deserves a beautiful space for family and friends to gather and celebrate any special occasion.

starglamperssleepovers.com

(915) 400-1047

What do you specialize in?

We provide luxury sleepovers, picnics, pamper parties and glamping events for a variety of age groups. Giving families a stress-free experience they will never forget.

How did you get started in this industry?

During the height of the pandemic parents were struggling to provide a safe way to host guests of all ages. So we decided to bring the ultimate party experience right to their homes.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

We are experienced/licensed/insured and use the highest methods of sanitation including professionally laundered linens. We offer a variety of budget friendly options, to fit YOUR needs.

What is the best part of your job?

The words “this is the best party ever!” Lots of moms are brought to tears, because we have made their vision come alive, many return for their next party. We do the hard stuff, so you don’t have to.

Why do you serve El Paso?

Star Glampers was born here because home is where the STAR is. El Pasoans are about family, and we absolutely love our community. Our family is honored to help you celebrate all of life’s occasions.

What do you specialize in?

Music and Film. In my 35 plus years of playing professionally, I’ve experienced the growing adoration, love and respect for the musical arts in El Paso. Our city’s love for the arts continues into film, dance and the visual arts, and I’m grateful to experience this from my 25 plus years of film-making.

How did you get started in this industry?

I come from a musical family. I’ve been playing music since I was two years old and have been playing professionally since I was 18 years old.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs?

I represent professional music groups, especially in Jazz, that work great for any event or venue requiring live music for background or featured purposes.

What is the best part of your job?

With many musical genres planted in the Southwest, it’s great to see the appreciation of live events and the growth of studios and media, as well as top-notch educators helping young students learn and embrace music in their lives. The best partof my job is playing great music and making our listeners happy!

Billy Townes

Shade Records and Films

BillyTownes.com

Photographed by: SERGIO OLIVAS

What do you specialize in?

Event planning. Creating totally customized events and bringing our client’s vision to life, with a savvy twist of course.

How did you get started in this industry?

Three years ago, the lightbulb went off. The fun doesn’t start when the party does, it should be from start to finish. At Stay Savvy, we aim to turn any event into a customized, epic experience.

Why should readers turn to you for their needs? Our venue is a blank canvas which means endless possibilities! Whether your vibe is modern, traditional, kid-friendly, you name it - no event is ever the same! Make your experience a savvy one.

What is the best part of your job?

There is something rewarding about the design process from transforming a blank canvas into our client’s vision. Sometimes I surprise myself, and it just proves I’m making a difference in this space.

Why do you serve El Paso?

I am El Paso born and raised! We have a huge sense of community and family and like so many other moms, everything I do is for my kids. I strive to bring new, fresh ideas to the Sun City. Go Miners!

CIGARETTES AFTER SEX At Home with

| By: ERIN COULEHAN photography by: EBRU YILDIZ |

The trajectory of a local musician turned global phenomenon may not have been written in the stars of West Texas, but was inspired by them.

Cigarettes After Sex is an indie rock band formed by Gonzalez in El Paso that has become a global success and source of pride for the Borderland. The band’s namesake evokes the intimacy of the music’s emotional subject matter: at times breathy and cathartic, and other times smoldering and restless. The band’s catalog has sold more than 4 million records, amassing 4 billion Spotify streams, more than 17 million monthly listeners, and over 800 million streams on YouTube. Famous fans of the band include Taylor Swift, Kylie Jenner, David Lynch, Lana Del Rey, and more, with the music featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Killing Eve,” as well as fashion ads for Ralph Lauren and Gucci.

Whereas the band is understatedly chic, the El Paso native remains undoubtedly proud of his roots in “El Chuco.”

“I was in El Paso until I was 30, and it really shaped everything about me,” he tells me over Zoom from Miami in between rehearsals for Cigarettes After Sex’s global tour. “I’ve been away from El Paso for the last 10 years, but often think about how peaceful the city is and feel like I took a lot of that from it.”

Gonzalez is an Eastwood High School graduate who played in the jazz band and later studied music and philosophy at UTEP. The band was created in 2008 after Gonzalez wrote a uniquely personal collection of songs that he says felt almost like memoirs. From there, the three-piece band was formed and has ascended to massive success while on an emotional journey of self discovery that’s taken Cigarettes After Sex around the world.

Long before performing under stadium lights at high school football games or selling out cities on a worldwide tour, he

cut his teeth as a performer at home in his family’s living room.

“As far back as I can remember, music has always been a big deal to me,” he says.

Gonzalez picked up his first acoustic nylon string guitar at around 10-years old and wrote his first song, an instrumental called “The Ocean.”

“I remember playing it in the living room at my parents’ house for them, my aunts and uncles, and my cousins,” he says. “I remember vividly, sitting in a chair and performing that song for what felt like a huge group of people.”

He recalls performing to the audience of family members then making a mistake, acknowledging it with a comical “oops.”

“The whole room burst into laughter and I got a huge reaction from that. I think that was part of what I enjoyed about it, too: causing a reaction and creating really good energy in a room felt like something special.”

Cigarettes After Sex will be playing UTEP’s Don Haskins Special Event Center in October as part of its 2023

world tour; a special stop at home during a trip around the world.

“It’s really breathtaking to be able to go back home and play the Don Haskins Center. It’s staggering to me to be playing there. Growing up as a kid in El Paso, the kind of shows that were going through there to play were legendary and filled the arena with people,” says Gonzalez, who is now among the musicians playing big shows at massive venues who inspired him during his childhood, which also included a love of film.

His dad worked for a video distribution company, which meant that Gonzalez had access to stacks upon stacks of classic and modern movies on VHS.

Some of Gonzalez’s early influences include the “The Last Picture Show,” a movie released in 1971 about a pair of teenage boys who come of age in a bleak region of North Texas as they seek to escape a dead-end town.

Cigarettes After Sex’s catalog draws on similar motifs of film noir and an endangered sense of romance that complement the narrative quality of Gonzalez’s lyrics.

“The songs are often about love triangles and romance, in Southwestern Texas, and in black and white,” says Gonzalez. “I think I might have been a director, but I took to music and tried to make little movies out of songs.”

Cigarettes After Sex released its first new music in more than two years at the end of 2022, a single called “Pistol” that features Gonzalez’s characteristic style while also introducing a subtle increase in tempo, like the thump-thump-thump of a beating heart.

The song is as romantic as it is transportive, with its driving rhythm intersected by stark yet dreamy guitars, swirling synths, and lyrics inked in the ache of a broken heart.

While some songs are drowned out and turn to background noise as we navigate our place in the world, other songs disrupt whatever you were doing with a demand to be

heard, simultaneously pulling on heartstrings and stirring memories.

“Pistol” is a song like that.

The songs open with a few gentle keys before the percussion picks up, creating a sense of motion almost like riding with the windows rolled down on a road trip. From there, Gonzalez’s gentle vocals are juxtaposed by rough-and-tumble image of guns being shot out in West Texas:

“Give me the pistol, aim it high

I’m out in the desert shooting at the sky

Guess I really miss you

And I don’t know what else to do”

For listeners familiar with the deserts of Red Sands in far East El Paso, the experience of being out in the desert alone with your thoughts is relatable; for listeners from outside of El Paso, the description might seem exotic. But the sudden emptiness that follows a breakup like an unflattering shadow is universal, and one can understand how shooting a pistol at a sky full of stars might create a distraction, albeit temporary.

A shot at the stars feels better than a shot in the dark.

Gonzalez wrote the song about a breakup that occurred in Los Angeles but was unable to articulate until he was back in El Paso.

“I didn’t use imagery from that breakup,” Gonzalez explains, “but rather used the emotions from that breakup in the song. I was definitely coming from a really heartbroken place, but for some reason didn’t want to write about it directly; maybe that experience was a little too brutal to get into at the time.”

Instead, Gonzalez accessed the emotions while being inspired by the imagery of home.

“I pictured El Paso’s backdrop for ‘Pistol,’ and I remember driving at night on the east side, going farther east to the desert. The feeling of being in the desert at night and how it felt out there -- there’s a certain feeling of El Paso at night that you don’t get anywhere

else,” he says. “I just thought about being out there and being heartbroken. Just driving aimlessly trying to get somebody out of your head.”

Emotional vulnerability is part of Gonzalez’s repertoire as a songwriter that has one reason Cigarettes After Sex is so successful.

“It’s always felt really exciting and really necessary because I consider myself more of a shy person,” says Gonzalez. “It’s always been hard for me to express direct feelings -- especially romantically. The exciting thing about it is it’s almost like therapy, and a way to get these feelings out.”

Gonzalez is looking forward to the rest of his band’s 2023 world tour and is grateful for the opportunity to play abroad, as well as at home.

August 2023

“It feels so special to us to travel around the world and write about love, write about romance, write about sexuality and nostalgia,” says Gonzalez. “El Paso is where I found the fondness for all this stuff; found the way that I want to write about it and want to talk about it.”

Fans of the band are anticipating seeing the band perform live and are eager for new music. For now, they wait somewhere between an inhale of excitement and exhale of satisfaction, with memory, nostalgia, and desire lingering like a sillage of smoke that remains from Cigarettes After Sex.

| By: JADE RACHELLE CARRASCO |

The of Life O Pie

ne Sunday night, in the midst of July, I sat at my desk pressed against the four walls of my bedroom. My phone was silent, as it had been for months, but my thoughts were loud. The only one keeping me company was my reflection from the mirror, directly across my 5’7 frame.

As I stared into the looking glass, there was someone with imperfect skin, a body that didn’t abide by society’s standards, and a heart that constantly argued with my mind. I spent years obsessing over achieving a thigh gap, accomplishing the perfect skincare routine, and seeking validation. When I learned how to let go of what was out of my control, curiosity from my past surprised my now, 25-year-old adulthood. The past, collecting dust bunnies in the cupboards of my closet, were my freshman year of college’s jeans. One foot after another as they cupped my ankles, were the farthest they would go, until finally giving up. Back into the closet they will go, and instead of crying, I embraced the inevitable, yet infallible rendezvous of my younger self

meeting who I am now through my old, blue jeans. The Pie Sisters’ song called “Rain” softly echoed throughout my bedroom:

“I’m not the same person I was years ago / A few months ago, let alone last week, but I guess that’s the point / I’m not supposed to be the old me, because that past me didn’t have the peace that I have now / Honestly, I wouldn’t trade that to be depressed or fit into my old high school jeans.”

Realizing that I wasn’t actually alone, but accompanied by other women, who have dearly ignited a grand epiphany of self-love, serendipity, and glory in our own unique wit and treasures.

The Pie Sisters was created and founded by vocalist and guitarist Jasmine Lasala, vocalist Jessamine Lasala, vocalist Joanna Casillas, and vocalist/main acoustic Jezreel Lasala.

The four sisters have created a life of enchantment, glorious aim, and beauty from what is held in their significant hearts.

Originating in September of 2019, The Pie Sisters bless the Borderland with light, uplifting instrumental and lyrical stamina. Jasmine and Jessamine are born and raised in El Paso, Texas, while Jezreel was born in the Philippines, and Joanna born in Houston, Texas. Each sister now resides in El Paso, Texas, where they have embarked on a musical journey.

“Because there is such a significant age difference between us, Jezreel and I grew up with a lot more of a prominent childhood memory,” says Joanna. “Jezreel and I are a lot closer in age. Growing up together, there was always more of an unspoken expectation of going into education, and the medical field.

However, we had the opportunity to grow up with more Filipinos (here in El Paso) who went through the same cultural expectation. That’s what really raised us up into finding our own individuality. Our childhood consisted of making funny videos, sleepovers, and being raised within a very tight-knit Filipino family. The Filipino community we grew up with helped us establish who we are and where we started from, that encouraged us to find our paths.”

When it came to the ‘Arts’, that was seen as more of a hobby, rather than a primary career.” Jezreel adds.

Jasmine and Jessamine describe their childhoods with a slight difference in upbringing thanks to their older sisters.

“In the pursuit of the arts, or music in general, my older sisters (Joanna and Jezreel) paved the way for us. Knowing that I have their support makes it much easier to pursue music.” Jasmine says.

The marvelous story of The Pie Sisters takes its roots from their nicknames, given by their parents during their adolescence. “Pie” represents a grand definition that imprints a harmonic tribute to El Paso, Texas. Due to their immense amount of kindness and cosmic tranquility since birth, “Pie” transformed into more than just a three-letter word.

Jasmine known as “Honey Pie;” Jessamine ``Apple Pie;” Joanna “Cutie Pie;” and Jezreel “Sweetie Pie.”

Around six years old, each partook in family gatherings karaoke, holiday parties, elementary school talent shows, national anthems, and choir. Jasmine, Jezreel, Joanna, and Jessamine reminisce fondly on the first time they each began practicing and picking up the microphone.

Their mother and father encouraged The Pie Sisters to express themselves vocally, and never hindered their natural aptitudes.

“The earliest memory of when I started singing was at six years old. I only really did talent shows because everyone expected me to. We all went to the same middle school and the choir teacher was the same one for all my sisters. High School is when I started to genuinely enjoy and gain the confidence in my singing, “Jessamine explains.

Jezreel recalls her earliest memory of discovering her talent, noting that she was cognizant of her vocal gift from when she was a child.

“There is a photo of me as a young girl, standing on the coffee table, with a toy microphone in my hand. Joanna and I began to perform in talent shows. We were asked to sing the national anthem a couple of times, which all came from being in choir. There’s a difference between realizing that we can sing and what we wanted to do with it. Not only as artists, but as sisters,” she says.

The Pie Sisters began their musical exploration together through church. Described by Jessamine as a “transition” and a “cultural shock” at first as they began to land gigs throughout El Paso.

“We took a photo together on the couch in Joanna’s first home. Everyone, including our family commented ‘finally,’” says Jezreel. “We had a lot of people, who we grew up with, that encouraged us to do something with our voices. They wanted us to do something with our music, since growing up in the church. It wasn’t until the end of 2019 that Jasmine and Jessamine were at an age where we could finally do it. It’s like God made us wait a million years for Him to say ‘okay, you can do music together now.’”

In January of 2021, The Pie Sisters performed their first gig together at the 1st Avenue Artisan Market located in downtown El Paso. Though it was a big change in the environment, they were born for the opportunities awaiting their prosperous rising.

“Growing up in the church, there was a lot of gospel influence. The genre is there within that realm, but the genre roots from the church. Eventually as we got older and had more freedom, we ventured into more musical artists.”

Joanna Casillas says.

The band is inspired by soul, R&B, neo-funk, and pop artists such as Lizzy McAlpine, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Brooke Ligertwood, JoJo, and Allen Stone, but their primary motivation is closer to home.

They praise their father, also known as “Pop-Pie” as their biggest inspiration.

“Our father taught us everything we know and is the reason for everything we do as artists. Both our parents, reminding us that everything we do is for God, and we should give Him all the credit for all the good that has come from Pie,” says Jasmine.

The success of The Pie Sisters has led to gigs and performances in El Paso and beyond.

The band says some of the most memorable and honorable shows include Viva Big Bend in Alpine, Texas, the Filipino Festival in San Antonio Texas in 2022 and West Covina, California in 2021. In addition, Alfresco Friday in 2022, Chalk the Block in October of 2022, Love Buzz in May of 2023, Cool Canyon Nights in 2022 and 2023, and Rock N’ Roar at the El Paso Zoo in 2023. The Pie Sisters will be performing for the second time at the Chip and Joanna Gaines 20th anniversary ‘Silobration’ in Waco, Texas in October of 2023.

Through sisterhood, Joanna, Jasmine, Jezreel, and Jessamine, send a message that captivates listeners with every chorus, verse, and melody. It is not just a message, but written in the stars, that influences the beauty we all share from within. Their first single ‘Rain” was released in 2023, stems from their “Writing on a Whim” Instagram posts, where followers can submit ideas for various topics, that strengthens the unconditional love from the Pie Sisters.

“When you’re feeling insecure, it’s easy to feel sorry for yourself, and feed that insecurity. It’s easy to continue down that spiral of comparison. To look at all the things I’m not, instead of appreciating what I am,” Jasmine explains of “Rain.”

“We sometimes seek validation from someone else when we feel insecure. It’s a very protective and instinctual thing, depending on the culture or environment you grew up in. We get to a point where we realize we don’t need that validation. The whole song is about truly being honest and diving into the deep parts of our heart, where it hurts for a bit. It’s our brokenness that can shape us into beautiful human beings. There is a light in the music video that resembles hope.” ‘Rain’ celebrates self-discovery and empowerment. That we are in fact, enough, just as we are,” adds Jezreel.

For those wanting to start their own band, Jessamine encourages young women to embody their boundless bravery and fearlessness.

“Being a woman in this industry is hard,” she says. “Be confident, own it, step out of your comfort zone. Believe in yourself and your ability. That alone can take you so far.”

NOWOPEN!CALLFORAN APPOINTMENT

Nancy Laster CEO & Owner, CultureSpan Marketing

What led you to advertising?

Advertising was a tough business for women to break into in the 80s. After eight years of experience in Dallas and El Paso, I eventually found an advertising agency willing to give me a chance – if I brought in six accounts. I told them if I could get six accounts then I would open my own agency. So that’s what I did.

What advice would you give to someone building a business in El Paso today?

Find a point of differentiation for yourself. Define what makes you different from your competitors. Next, put together a business plan. Research the market, set realistic goals for yourself, start small and don’t bite off more than you can chew.

What makes El Paso a great place to start a business?

There’s so much potential in this market and El Paso is primed for growth. Major growth. So, be creative and find your niche within all this growth opportunity.

What trends do you see shaping the future of advertising in El Paso?

Businesses like ours don’t have to be everything to everybody. Now, and in the future, marketers and advertisers will focus on one specialty. Whether it’s digital strategies, content creation, video production, or graphic arts. They’ll embrace those verticals and will be the go-to person for those services.

What are your tips for longevity in business?

To update your products and offerings so they don’t get stale. Seek out new opportunities where you may not currently be doing business. Also, don’t give up. Don’t let setbacks get in your way. As big as they may seem, they’re not insurmountable.

As soon as the clock strikes 8pm, the sign-up sheet for the Barbed Wire Open Mic Night is opened, and after ten minutes half of the list is already filled. Many people are eager to perform, but only 20 make the cut each night. Even though the musicians only get two to three songs, and the comedians and poets only get five to seven minutes, they use each manage to their advantage to polish their chosen skill set.

Anyone lucky enough to walk into Open Mic Night will be met with an array of unique individuals in their natural environment.

Scanning across the room, they can see the Whataburger uniformed comedian reviewing his jokes on ripped spiral notebook paper; the poet calming their nerves with a dark beer and their rainbow

Between Us

printed fan; and the musician with his shirt opened down to the last two buttons tuning his guitar while winking at the bartenders.

While every performer displays their unique personality, each one enters the venue greeting each other, old friends or new, with a handshake, first bump, or hug to go with words of encouragement to see their new material that is genuinely reciprocated.

With the performers waiting for the clock to reach 9 pm, little do they know that the process for every Open Mic Night begins as early as 6 pm with event coordinator and host Richie Marrufo, arriving at the venue and setting up the lights and fine tuning the audio for the performers. Despite spending all day teaching, he always ensures each Open Mic Night runs smoothly.

a stage for artists since 2007.

Growing from academic roots, the BWOMS would become a part of BorderSenses, a non-profit and self-funded organization located in El Paso. The BWOMS has only thrived since then. So much so that December 13th has been officially deemed the “Barbed Wire Open Mic Series’’ day by the City of El Paso after seeing the contributions made as a cultural institution; one of which is tapping into the music vein of El Paso and helping it thrive.

Being active in the music scene himself for over a decade, Marrufo sees music as the foundation for all open mics since it provides many avenues to gain practical experience

BWOMS Project Director Richie D. Marrufo Mystery

Richie D. Marrufo has been running the Barbed Wire Open Mic Series (BWOMS) since 2012, but the series itself has been providing

in front of crowds, as well as feedback and provides opportunities for networking. The series allows talent to meet not only with other performers for collaboration, but also local music studios for recruitment.

While being a great place to start, the Open Mic Nights are not just for beginners.

Marrufo explained that everyone is welcomed to perform, from local artists to grammy winners who want to get lost in the purity of the performance. Some notable

names that cut their chops at the BWOMS are Feline Fox and Stan Z, to name a couple. Witnessing the success and growth of the performers is one of Marrufo’s favorite things about the BWOMS.

However, from Marrufo’s perspective on that stage, he sees that a majority of El Paso are missing out on these events.

“There is a gap that needs to be bridged and we are building that bridge one plank at a time,” he said.

One of the main ways he is building that bridge is with the creation of his weekly podcast on the BWOMS’s YouTube channel, @BarbedWireOpenMic. With the addition of interviews from the performers, along with the highlights of previous open mic nights, Marrufo hopes this expansion across social media platforms will push BWOMS into the community spotlight to prove that the raw underground entertainment scene is prospering in El Paso.

Singer Pau takes in a moment

Singer Henry Thang at Mona Bar

While growth and exposure would be the goal for any successful event series, Marrufo ultimately wants to build a legacy for the BWOMS that can exist beyond himself that will last for generations after he is gone. On most nights, when he is setting-up the equipment alone and then packing it up after everyone has gone home, this looks like a far-off dream.

However, the first glimmer of this dream becoming reality came in the form of Fernando Antonio Montejano. He had only arrived in El Paso in May but had already been inspired to volunteer for BWOMS as its official photographer and co-host.

The photos that Montejano gives the artists can be used as promotional materials and/or for sentimental reasons. When asked, he expressed that BWOMS is one of the best places for storytellers and musicians.

“This is the place to test yourself. New or old performers alike. Try something and find that bravery to improve yourself and be inspired by those around you doing the same,” said Montejano.

An established hip hop group that regularly performs is Venomous Verses who consist of lyrical poets Tha Luck and Capital C. After their latest performance to promote their appearance at the All Elements Exhibition, Capital C and Tha Luck conveyed how the BWOMS provides a culture that encourages everyone to come together and accept the growth of art.

And, like it did for them when they first started, the BWOMS helps new artists shake off those first-time jitters.

On the other side of the music spectrum the high school music teacher by day and musical performer by night, Aztec Caves. As someone who has been performing at the BWOMS since 2015 he said, “Richie has developed a lovely and healthy environment for people to come out and express themselves; be it through a passionate hobby or someone who has dedicated their whole life to music. It’s very welcoming.”

At last call, after the last performer takes their bow and the audience closes their tabs, Marrufo thanks everyone for coming out and supporting the artists before packing up the equipment until the next time. Through tired eyes at 2am, it is clear to see that the BWOMS goes out of their way night after night so people can feel heard.

Downtown style in a desert city.

Welcome to Hotel Indigo, located in the heart of downtown El Paso. Our boutique hotel offers our guests a comfortable home away from home. Our 5th floor has an amazing heated pool & rooftop bar, Circa 1963. Mamacitas, our cafe on the 1st floor, provides exquisite food, drinks & service.

MUSICAL SENSATIONS AT THE STATE LINE

| Words and photos by: VERONICA NEVAREZ |

The feel-good times of sunshine, food, and fun in tandem with exciting musical acts, both local and national, mark a long-standing, weekly local go-to known as The State Line Music Series.

Many already know that the famed restaurant serves up some of the best barbeque around, but many locals and newcomers alike may not have realized that this summer signaled the return of the popular concert series after being halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The good news: It’s back, and bigger and better than ever!

Veronica Nevarez, Glenn Garza and Billy Townes

Glenn introduces Billy Townes.

Drew Fish

Dirty River Boys, photo provided by The State Line

Musical Sensations at The State Line

Located at 1222 Sunland Park Drive and equipped with its own liquor store, The Side Door Liquor Store, The State Line is housed in a quintessential Spanish-style building complete with patio courtyard and a large live music stage. The interior of the restaurant is known for its quirky Texasstyle motif, including the hokey banter that loops over the bathroom speakers, presumably, by an ‘ole cowboy who cleverly informs of the correct usage of various words from the dictionary. The place is fun and the food is always tasty -- the music series that’s become a local staple is just the icing on the cake!

The State Line concert series takes place every Thursday evening beginning in April, and admission is always free of charge. There are two full bars available on the relaxing patio for convenience, although the inside bar staff is always happy to oblige, and food can be easily enjoyed from the outdoor patio, so that you don’t miss a beat!

This leads us to the music.

Live acts typically range from country to country rock, while occasionally sprinkled with jazz, rock and other genres throughout the 20-week run.

This year’s notable acts have included the likes of Sundance Head, a national country artist and the winner of NBC’s “The Voice” in 2011, and a prior Top 13 contestant on ABC’s “American Idol.” Not only did he capture the hearts of Americans on “The Voice” stage, but also the show’s country superstar and celebrity judge, Blake Shelton, invited him along on his own “Doing It To Country Songs” 2017 tour. The artist has also opened for the Zac Brown Band, recorded with the likes of ZZ Top, and hit the Texas Music charts with three Number 1 songs throughout his career.

Then there’s the Mikele Buck Band that graced The State Line stage in the early

weeks of the 2023 music series. The 39year old, West Virginia native, Mikele Buck, another top contender on Season 15 of “The Voice,” won over the attention of Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson when both stars turned their chairs to his performance of “She Used to Be Mine” by Brooks and Dunn, and where, eventually, the country singer joined Team Kelly. The State Line performance was also a hit with El Pasoans and made for a night of memorable melodies by the talented Nashville recording artist and singer/songwriter.

While country music typically defines the music series, locals have had the pleasure of enjoying other genres, too.

For example, local jazz pianist, keyboardist

Paso in 1971 and ultimately made the Sun City his home. He founded his own record label, Shade Records, in 1997, and has become a nationally-recognized jazz artist and one of our city’s true local favorites.

As a performer at this year’s music series, Townes says, “I’ve known for years that The State Line Music Series has been a great go-to event for music lovers, especially on El Paso’s west side. This summer was an honor for my group to give The State Line Music Series an injection of some funky, cool jazz! We had a blast performing, as The State Line restaurant was very welcoming with their incredible hospitality and professionalism for staging these events. I look forward to performing (and eating) at The State line Music Series in the future!”

On top of this sizzling music, The State Line Music Series also benefits our local Special Olympics Texas athletes.

As one of their regular hosts of the event, Glenn Garza, also known as Dubba G, of 95.5 FM KLAQ, of which the station is a major sponsor, has experienced the success of this music series first-hand.

“I’ve been hosting The State Line Music Series for years and have spent hundreds of evenings on that beautiful patio. It’s almost like home when I go there for shows or even just to have dinner,” he says. “While the emphasis is typically on bands that bridge the gap between rock and country, I have seen straight-up rock bands perform, as well as jazz and blues acts. It’s always a very cool blend of things and an awesome way to spend an evening, which here in El Paso are almost always perfect weather-wise ... with the three B’s–bands, beer and barbeque. You can’t beat the ‘price’ either!”

These are just a few of the many incredible acts enjoyed at The State Line Music Series this year, and are indicative of the top quality acts that lie ahead.

“Come out and enjoy some legendary barbeque and free live music at the best outdoor venue in El Paso,” says Bobbi Rettig, Catering Manager and Event Coordinator at The State Line.

A tip for next year’s series: Get there early to score the best seats and tables, whether by the stage or the closest bar, and prepare to enjoy some mouth-watering barbeque, or any of their other amazing dishes, along with a tasty beverage or two, and of course, the sensational sounds that El Paso’s favorite place on the county line is known to “drum up!”

‘For the Sake

of Hip Hop ’

The Inspiration Behind Pendulum Ink Academy

| By: ERIN COULEHAN photos courtesy of: ROBERTO SANTOS |

Humans have been drawn to storytelling for millennia, using the spoken word to connect generations before social media, disseminate Homeric legend to inspire future heroes, entertain audiences in Elizabethan theaters from royalty to the poor, and to cry out for social reform.

Not much has changed in mankind’s observations of ambition from when Shakespeare’s Prince Hamlet exclaimed “What a piece of work is man!” to Childish Gambino’s 2018 “This is America” in which he raps “Look how I’m geekin’ out (hey) /I’m so fitted (I’m so fitted, woo) / I’m on Gucci (I’m

on Gucci) /I’m so pretty (yeah, yeah) / I’m gon’ get it (ayy, I’m gon’ get it) / Watch me move.”

Modern societies value poetry and performance, which today often takes the form of Hip Hop music, whether in underground rap ciphers or the Ivory Tower of Academia.

El Pasoan Roberto “Rob Nice” Santos is using his acumen and experience as an English professor to join forces with Grammy-award winning songwriter Mickey Factz, and champion battle rap emcee Chilla, and Jeff Walker of Rhymecology to launch Pendulum Ink Academy, a rap

lyricism school. The mission of Pendulum Ink Academy is to provide aspiring Hip Hop lyricists with knowledge necessary to succeed in the music industry via education.

His background in English Literature and Creative Writing led him to founding Rap Seminar, a business that celebrates Hip Hop culture through lyrical analysis and showcases the technical use of literary devices to provide erudition on the sophisticated components of rap songs.

“I put my academic background into play by analyzing lyrics for artists and putting

that data into charts,” he explains. “I read for metaphors, similes, allusions, all of the literary techniques that they’re using -- and it’s something that hasn’t been done before.”

Whereas professional athletes have statistics based on their performance, point average per game, etc., Santos is applying the same methodology to draw attention to rap as a literary skill.

“To prove this, I have to provide data not only to the rappers to show that they’re music is not only lyrical -- but also literary -- and also proving to the public that rap is more than what you hear on the radio,” says Santos. “Regardless of what the content is, there is still a level of literary skill involved in the lyrical skill.”

This year is the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop as a genre, which is being celebrated for its cultural impact that continues to make its way around the globe.

According to the Nielsen Soundscan’s yearend music industry report, Hip Hop became the top musical genre in the United States in 2018 and continues to maintain the largest overall market share of all music genres in the U.S. at 27.6 percent.

Santos helped create Pendulum Ink Academy’s curriculum and academic framework, which uses scholarly approaches with an emphasis on writing, performing, and understanding the music industry that include courses on Creative Writing, Content Creation, Battle Rap 101, Criminology in Hip Hop, Hip Hop According to Finance, and more.

“We’re getting into the literary techniques, Shakespeare, iambic pentameter, and the imagery,” says Santos. “We not only teach rappers the lyrical skills that the experts use through our lexicon of elite rap techniques, but we also teach classes on business, Hip Hop and mental health, and on Hip Hop and the law.”

Additionally, students learn from successful emcee professors who provide expertise and mentorships.

“Once a month we have a legendary rap teacher, like Method Man from the Wu Tang Clan, Professor Method Man,” says Santos. “Having access to these expert rappers is really beneficial to our students. We’re not only providing students a chance to learn from the best, but we’re also providing veteran artists a chance to pass on their knowledge.”

Pendulum Ink offers flexible online coursework designed for students whose ability range from novice to advanced, with students given the opportunity to perform for industry professionals like record label owners and music executives who do sync licensing for commercial use.

“It’s been a real privilege and honor to be able to do this and provide an academic framework for people to learn the culture,

‘For the Sake of Hip Hop’

business, and skills of rap that’s gone international,” says Santos. “We have students in India, the Middle East, and Mexico City, and all over time zones in the United States.”

The popularity and lucrativeness of being in Hip Hop is not only allowing Santos to teach students and the broader public, but is also giving him an opportunity to enjoy his passion.

“I used to use Hip Hop in the classroom in my creative writing, literature, and composition classes to get students interested in writing,” he says. “But what I love about what I’m doing now is that I’m using Hip Hop for the sake of Hip Hop.”

The work that Santos and his colleagues at Pendulum Ink Academy are doing echoes both Shakespeare and Childish Gambino. Man is not only a piece of work, but part of a larger system that creates works of art -- now watch him move the future of elite rap forward.

‘For the Sake of Hip Hop’

MARIACHI FEMENIL FLORES

MEXICANAS Bloom Along the Border

| By: CLAUDIA FLORES |

he fight to confront stereotypes is a tough one, but a group of 14 local women are doing it in their own musical style while inspiring people around the community and the country.

Formed in 2001, Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas has broken barriers in a maledominated industry through gaining international recognition by playing at events such as Dior’s Cruise 2024 fashion show and playing next to legends Juan Gabriel, Aida Cuevas, and Shaila Dúrcal among others.

While some of the members were introduced to the genre through family members, for others it was a discovery that led them to join the group.

“I wanted to play an instrument, but my mom said ‘no’ because I was too irresponsible, so when I went to middle school, I was like ‘I’m going into music,’” Third violinist, Kimberly Paez, said. “I wanted to do orchestra, but I didn’t know anybody there and I switched to mariachi. I stayed there through middle school and high school, and then Lilly found me -- now I’m here.”

Lilly Sánchez is the director of the all-woman mariachi band and has helped the group flourish while also dispelling stigma.

“I grew up listening to mariachi and I hated it because my family is very bougie and they think mariachi is for poor people. They made it seem like music, in general, is not something you do to survive,” Sánchez said. “I was a voice student and did everything but mariachi until I got recruited in college. I think I always had it in me, the passion for music just grabbed me and I’ve never felt that connection to another genre until I found mariachi.”

Although it is not certain where the mariachi genre was born, it’s said that Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit are among the origins of mariachi music. According to Sánchez, guitarist and director of the group for the past 20 years, as well as some of the members, this is the music their grandparents listened to, which led them to grow a fond passion for the genre.

Although mariachi has a specific musical repertoire, where classics of the genre include songs such as “Me Gustas Mucho” by Rocío Dúrcal and “El Mariachi Loco”

Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas

by Pedro Fernández, Mariachi Flores Mexicanas makes space

to explore other musical genres such as rock and cumbias to put their audience on their feet.

“We love to do cumbias, we’ve done country music, jazz pieces like ‘Autumn Leaves’ by Eva Cassidy and we try to put on different things to give something new to the crowd,” Sánchez said. “We’re not doing that right now, but we want to go back to that. Consistency is hard work, so when an opportunity comes along, we have to prepare to present it.”

Looking for talent is a matter of trial and error, since according to Sánchez, “It takes a strong and willed person” to be part of the ensemble.

“I am very strict and my standards are high. You can’t just come here and play your instrument: if you’re here, you need to play, sing, dance and do it all,” Sánchez said. “I am tough on them, and if I’m tough it is because I see the potential. I’ve been doing this for 22 years and I’ve learned that when I’m too soft, nothing gets done.”

Sánchez recruits new members through auditions, school presentations, or scouting at local mariachi festivals.

“Most of the girls were in music classes in school, so through music teachers, I discovered some of the girls here,” Sánchez said. “It’s also through word of mouth and people who approach us during events.”

While nowadays most mariachi groups are mixed — female and male singers and

musicians— the genre is dominated by primarily male artists. According to members of the Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas, the machismo surrounding the genre has been a struggle but never insurmountable

“A few years back, I remember there was an instance with another trumpet player from another mariachi we were playing with at a concert. We all had to learn the music and songs, since we were practicing, and as we played through, he told us, ‘Don’t play that part, that is just us. The men are going to play that part,’” said trumpet player, Agatha Orona. “Consequently, we learned it and we played it with Juan Gabriel.”

In a genre where the stigma over female groups remains prominent, having an all-female mariachi group close to the border makes meaningful progress toward inclusivity.

Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas

“Living on the border, we have the quickest access to Mexico and having an all-female group just shows that we are not just equal, but sometimes even better because we work harder and it shows that we can do it,” said second violinist, Yesenia Rodriguez.

In a group where most of the members are mothers, women with college degrees, or on their path to achieving them, showing the power of women’s voices to the youth is part of the legacy of the all-female mariachi group.

“We have a voice and it is important to show that to the younger girls who might want to join mariachi, especially with all this machismo around,” said guitarron player, Isabel Benitez. “I’m sure that there’s no woman who hasn’t achieved something because of the men who thought we weren’t good enough, and it is important to shine a light on that.”

Mariachi Femenil Flores Mexicanas

Venomous Versus V Keeping Your Words Ahead of You

enomous Versus, the Hip Hop duo is composed of lyrical poets Capital C and MC Tha Luck. Both born, raised, and inspired by their home of El Paso; Capital C is from the Lower Valley while Tha Luck is from Central El Paso.

The year: 2015. The place: their high school math class.

| By: STEPHANIE AMERENA photos courtesy of: VENOMOUS VERSUS |

It was here that they first met and started spitting freestyle rhymes back and forth over their desks. One day, they looked at each other and agreed “This could be something,” says Capital C.

It was not long till they saw how they fill both halves of the creative mindset when it came to making their music.

Tha Luck begins with listening to a beat and different rhythms. Meanwhile, Capital C composing the lyrics to ensure there is substance and vitality. Once the pieces are ready, they start ironing out the lyrics while also tailoring the beat, and vice versa.

“Doing this ties everything together as far as how you want to say something,” says Tha Luck.

“We write after our lives and being able to do this together and combine that to make music is an art we take after,” Capital C adds.

Like any starting artist, finding your voice takes time. And like many, the duo hammered out the nerves at the Barbed Wire Open Mic Nights.

“Listening to feedback from the open mics and other shows gave us the confidence that we were doing alright. It’s good inspiration,” Tha Luck reflects.

After a year, they were ready to commit to their lyrics and unique sound to become an official group. This would be the beginning of Venomous Versus.

“It is a lot of hard work, but if that’s what it takes to represent El Paso, then we will do our best. Rep our lives and the city we love,” said Capital C.

Compared to the early days of the group, where they would fine tune their skills at open mics or at family backyard parties, big events like the El Paso Rock N’ Roar Music Festival and the All Elements Exhibition hosted by Rap Seminar had them feeling like they were in their natural environment -- despite how nerve wracking it was. Venomous Versus expressed the experience as the crowd was there to see them perform, dance to their songs, and keep the energy high.

Their dedication doesn’t stop at the end of their set.

At the All Elements Exhibition, with a flight booked at 5 am, the members still stayed until the end of the event to not only learn from big stars like Termonology and Bocafloja, but to also follow the theme of the Exhibition by reaching out to other forms of artists for future collaborations.

Maintaining the momentum, Venomous Versus is still working hard and reaching out for their next performance.They are not only growing through their live performances, but have now begun a partnership with Beacon Hills Recording Studios -- the same studio that produced local artists like Khalid.

On May 10th Venomous Versus sent out a press release about their first album V.V.-EP on all major streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, IHeartRadio, Pandora, and more.

From the first listen of their music, the songs showcase their unique blend of classic Hip Hop sounds and literary lyrics. Between the chorus of the songs, the soon-to-be fans are sure to understand the stories being told within the words while also feeling the emotions behind the beat.

When asked what advice they would give to upcoming artists that look up to them, as well as any others trying to find their way into the industry, Capital C said, “Keep working hard. Stay committed. Stay consistent. And keep your words ahead of you.”

He further explained what he meant by “keeping your words ahead of you” is that:

“You need to think of what your next move is going to be. You can’t just say something, do it, then stop altogether. You gotta keep going onto the next move or you get nowhere.”

P

| By: VERONICA NEVAREZ |

Our summer high temps have hit record proportions, much the same way that Pissing Razors has transcended local fandom by epic proportions with a huge worldwide following. The El Paso band officially got their start 29 years ago with a sound that’s fondly come to be known as “Texas groove metal.” The band is made up of vocalist, Joe Razor; guitarist, Matt Lynch; bassist, Geo Razor; and drummer/co-founder, Eddy Razor. The band was originally started by Eddy Razor and his brother, Danny Razor. Eddy played bass during those early days, while Danny took the reins as the band’s drummer.

The two brothers, in fact, were not only aspiring musicians at the time, they were also hungry for venues in town that would allow bands like theirs to showcase their music in an environment conducive to musicians who wrote and performed their own music. Although there were a few known rock venues back then, the most popular being Sasos and Scorpios (ring a bell, anyone?), these places leaned heavily on bands that performed

cover music. That’s when the Pissing Razors’ brothers stepped up. Frustrated by the lack of love and support for original acts, they sold their cars, motorcycles, equipment, and whatever else they could spare, in the aim of opening their own rock club.

Their new bar, “The Attic,” was located in Downtown El Paso on Texas Street and quickly became El Paso’s answer to legendary clubs like New York City’s CBGB and The Whiskey in Los Angeles. They shattered the existing barrier between original acts and suitable venues and crowds, and openly welcomed non-local, original bands traveling from coast to coast, all while showing El Paso bands the love and support they deserved.

Pissing Razors released two compilation CDs back then, “710 Texas” (The Attic address) and “Past Due” (a reference to El Paso being past due on giving support and exposure to local bands), which showcased local bands with no other way to get their music out, mostly due to a sheer lack of funds needed to book recording studio time. The featured

music by those other bands was recorded in Pissing Razors’ own studio and the releases were the first of their kind in El Paso.

The Attic’s overnight success opened other clubs’ eyes, forcing them to embrace and encourage freedom of expression for both bands and crowds alike. The belief was that The Attic, eventually, closed its doors due to the newer, more competitive entertainment world it helped to create. Yet, Pissing Razors lived on and began to show others around the world just how it’s done.

Their first album, “Pissing Razors,” was produced by Andy Sneap, who produced albums by Judas Priest, Testament, Dream Theater, and Megadeth. Their second album, “Cast Down the Plague,” was photographed by famous American rock photographer, Neil Zlozower, while their seventh and most recent album, “Eulogy Death March,” was produced by Sterling Winfield, who produced albums by Pantera and HellYeah. Impressively, the band has toured with the likes of Testament, Cannibal Corpse, D.R.I.,

Fear Factory, Skinlab, Pro-Pain, Vision of Disorder, Six Feet Under, and Hatebreed.

The success of Pissing Razors’ albums in El Paso catapulted the band to a level of worldwide appeal where fans, collectively known as “Razor Nation,” come from all walks of life, and span the gamut of young and old listeners alike. Naturally, the band’s growing popularity did not come without its challenges. The band’s name itself became an obstacle with respect to airplay on public radio stations, where FCC regulations prevent the use of language that is deemed offense, specifically the use of slang terms to describe certain bodily functions.

Yet, Glenn Garza, also known as Dubba G, from 95.5 FM KLAQ, managed to get the band played on Q Connected, a show he developed to help bring attention to local bands.

He got around the FCC by referring to the band simply as “P. Razors,” a term Joe

Razor fondly credits him with coining and familiarizing El Paso fans with. The on-air personality recalls, “At the time, these guys didn’t understand the rules of radio, which are often unclear. But they built such a strong brand, in just a few short years, that a name change became unthinkable. I think it was a matter of respect and pride – they were like ‘we’re not going to change our name just because this guy won’t say it.’ That was the bravado and the brag adagio of these guys in the beginning … but they stuck to their guns and now, it’s a well-established brand known worldwide.”

The band indeed stuck to its guns and as we say, the rest is history. Joe says of the band’s name challenges, “We were not going to be denied, we were who we were, we came from Texas … it might have hurt us. There were certain venues that couldn’t use our name. So, I think a lot of our music went by the wayside because of that. Eventually, someone from a record label took a chance.”

The band was contacted to do a show in El Paso for an interested record label executive from German-based label, F.A.D. Records, a former subsidiary of Noise Records, which managed huge 80’s bands like Foreigner and Celtic Cross. The band finally signed a five-option deal in September of 1997 and recorded their first album at the world renowned Sonic Ranch studios the following October. The album was released in January of 1998 and just one month later, Pissing Razors embarked on a European tour, playing 72 shows with New York City based metal band, Pro-Pain.

The band recently returned from their “Vengeance is Ours Tour 2023,” which appropriately kicked off in El Paso, followed by several other Texas cities, and culminated at the famous Milwaukee Metal Fest, marking their fourth appearance at the popular festival. Although the band has traveled the world a number of times, every member continues to call El Paso home,

which speaks volumes for the local love and support that they inherently give back.

As far as the band’s trajectory, Geo Razor says, “This last tour actually reminded us how good this really is. We’d kind of forgotten how many people actually appreciate it. So doing this tour, we woke up again and said, we got to give this a hundred percent again. People still love it, we still love it, we still have the capability to do it, so let’s get out there and do it.” When asked about what’s on the horizon, Joe Razor says, “After this last tour, we recorded some of the live shows, so we’re looking forward to putting together a live record based on this last tour. There are some talks of another tour … sometime next year, so for now it’s putting out a single and working on the live record.” Undoubtedly, Pissing Razors are still going stronger than ever, while Razor Nation “stays tuned” right here in the borderland and beyond.

Guests enjoyed a poolside evening at Circa 1963 inside Hotel Indigo in celebration of the July issue, showcasing El Paso’s leading medical and healthcare professionals that featured Dr. Alison Days on the cover.

| Photos by: SERGIO OLIVAS |

The Paso del Norte

Center of Hope

celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a masquerade gala held at the Starlight Event Center. Guests enjoyed the 360-degree view of El Paso’s landscape, dancing, and masquerade magic while raising awareness of the organization’s efforts to combat human trafficking.

| Photos by: TONY ECHETUBU |

EL PASO CENTER FOR DIABETES

Mike and Adrian bring over 15 years of experience in small business to the El Paso community. From turning a fondness for eating wings to running four successful Shack Wings & Brew restaurants, these brothers are building a brand and legacy in El Paso. Their mantra was to find a solution no matter what the challenge. As a board member of the El Paso Center for Diabetes, Mike brings his dedication and passion to help El Pasoans get on board with knowing their risks of diabetes. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Mike and Adrian knew that as a Hispanic community people were more at risk of getting diabetes. Growing up, his family needed more resources to know how to prevent or recognize the symptoms of diabetes. Still, like most El Pasoans, his family never really took the disease seriously.

Being part of the El Paso Center for Diabetes Board has allowed them to leverage the brand recognition of their company to help promote programs such as sponsoring the golfing event that helped raise money for the Center’s Diabetes Kids Camp and promoting their current Signs and Symptoms risk test campaign. Each day, these brothers are making an impact on their community. Diabetes runs in their family, and they are using the voice of their business to help echo the work of the Center for Diabetes. Take the risk test today at www.diabetesnowwhat.org.

If you would like more information, please contact the El Paso Center for Diabetes at (915) 532-6280 or agrijalva@epdiabetes.org

Photo provided by The Shack Wings & Brew

MIKE ADRIAN