It’s remiss to simply call Benji Hughes a “friend” of BCNC. He’s more than an inspiration to the young men of BCNC as a great Charlotte songwriter who “made it” and a captivating, Prince-like live performer. Benji is also the biological father of BCNC’s Eric Deines. Estranged from Benji while still in his mother’s womb, Eric could often be found lurking in the shadows at the back of the crowd at Benji’s Snug Harbor shows. Instead of hating the man who abandon him, Eric turned the disassociation and not belonging he would always feel into art (just like his pops).  Once, young Eric mustered the courage to ask his father to play a house show he was organizing for Sam Buck Rosen. It was an earnest, loving request to which Benji replied through his shades: “The Hughes don’t open for nobody.” He then turned his back to Eric, facing nothing special. As a “fuck you to the old man,” Eric would often sneak up behind Benji for a yank on his ponytail. And before Benj’ could swing around, Eric would be off into the night, crying his eyes out but strangely, momentarily avenged.