Dynamic Duos of String Theory

Close family members and bandmate besties, this week we’re featuring our “Dynamic Duos” of String Theory. Being in a band is hard work and balancing the dynamics of everyone is a challenge, but when it’s done right, magic happens. For these Ernie Ball artists, the result has been very rewarding. Check out who made the list and learn about how each duo shared their rise to success.

Larkin Poe

Rebecca & Megan Lovell

Rebecca and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe make up a sister-act who are here to stay. The talented singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalists have created their own brand of Roots Rock ‘n’ Roll that’s gritty, soulful, and rooted in their southern heritage. Originally from Atlanta and now hailing in Nashville, they are descendants of creative genius, and famous artist Edgar Allan Poe (hence the name of their band). After only 2 years of playing together as Larkin Poe, the sisters earned themselves a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Venom & Faith. But the Lovell girls didn’t stop there, recently stepping into producer roles, Megan and Rebecca started their own record-label, Tricki-Woo Records and also recently released their latest album, Self Made Man which launched on June 12th. Make sure to keep up with this duo as Larkin Poe continue to push their music and message with powerfully rooted heritage in their beloved southern America.

At some point it literally comes down to sitting in a room with a guitar… if you want to get on stage, then do. If you want to practice, sometimes it’s going to be hard. Music is about a feeling and it’s about having fun.

Rebecca Lovell

Larkin Poe play Paradigm Regular Slinky and Regular Coated Slinky RPS electric guitar strings and Custom Singles for Megan’s lap steel to achieve their unmistakable sound.

Avenged Sevenfold

Synyster Gates & Zacky Vengeance

Ernie Ball artists Avenged Sevenfold were still attending high school in Huntington Beach, California when Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance formed their band in 1999. Avenged Sevenfold is now considered one of the most successful and accessible metalcore bands of the early 21st century. Both Synyster and Zacky have grown together from teenage troublemakers to a commercial success story. It didn’t take them long to make an impression with their aggressive hybrid of metal, hard rock, and punk-pop which garnered them a massive following of fans who if you ask, will tell you that A7X’s music relates perfectly to them. The duo even landed themselves gold and platinum status for their album, Hail to the King (2013) and a Grammy nomination for 2016’s The Stage.

The first time I ever picked up a guitar it was empowering, it was almost like a magical sword, pulling it from the stone and looking at it….at that moment my life was completely changed forever.

Synyster Gates

Avenged Sevenfold play Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom electric guitar strings.

Halestorm

LZZY Hale & Joe Hottinger

Elizabeth (LZZY) Halestorm and Josh Hottinger make up half of the hard-hitting success story that is Halestorm. Although the band also includes LZZY’s brother, Arejay Hale on the drums, there’s no denying that LZZY and Joe have their own special relationship and dynamic on and off the stage. Being one of the most successful female-fronted hard rock groups can come with a lot of pressure, but these purely talented hard rockers with piano-driven power ballads, exude positive energy which naturally gives them a well-deserved spot in the industry. In 2013, LZZY and Joe got to share the success of their Grammy win for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for their single, “Love Bites (So Do I)”.

I cite guitar playing and I cite this band with pushing me forward and giving me that North Star. It’s a feeling, it’s a thing that you carry with you, it’s a fire.

LZZY Hale

Halestorm play Ernie Ball Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom and Medium Gauge Custom Nickel Wound 13-56 electric strings, and Super Slinky bass and Power Slinky 5 bass strings.

311

Nick Hexum & Tim Mahoney

If you’re into 90’s nostalgia then you’ve probably heard of 311. Fusing reggae, hip-hop, funk, and metal in a rhythmic blend has carried them through the 2000s as veteran mainstays with a cult-fan base. Nick Hexum and Tim Mahoney are both featured in this episode and you can immediately get the sense that the two bandmates have developed an amazing relationship that spans over two decades. Nick and Tim have shared top charts, multiple awards, nonstop tours, and groundbreaking projects together along with original bassist and good friend, Pnut and they continue to tour and make music together to this day.

What is guitar playing? It’s creativity, it’s expression; it’s something that our lives would not feel complete without.

Tim Mahoney

311‘s achieves their OG unique sound using Ernie Ball strings. Tim on RPS Regular Slinkys and Nick on RPS Power Slinkys and Paradigm Power Slinkys.

Of Mice & Men

Phil Manansala & Alan Ashby

Over the course of nearly a decade, Phil Manansala and Alan Ashby from Of Mice & Men have risen to the top of the ranks hitting #1 on Billboard’s Rock and Independent Charts. Together, this dynamic duo along with other band members have racked up close to 5 million social media followers, which includes a disciple-like dedication of fans. Through the years the band has evolved their sound from defined metalcore to infusing their music with grunge and nu-metal as they shared the stage over the years with other Ernie Ball family members, Metallica and Slipknot, winning over new fans with each performance.

Guitar playing is kind of like therapy… you can go and not think about things for a while, and just feel. It’s pretty cool.

Phil Manansala

Of Mice & Men achieve their evolving tone with Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom, Cobalt Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinkys, Cobalt 7-string Skinny Top Heavy Bottom, and Custom 11-64 Cobalt electric guitar string sets.