Gonzo Chicago: documenting the local music community

WE'RE SUPPORTING

If you were cast out on a lonely island with only five things to bring along in order to help you survive – which items or tools would you take with you? I bet Amanda from DuckTapeBandit would choose a huge stack of duct tape roles. Not only is duct tape useful, apparently, you can also make fashion, purses, necklaces, hair clips and flowers from it (to name just a few). Who would’ve thought that duct tape makes a great material for such an amazing collection of versatile art? Read more

WE'RE THINKING

I found this beeeaaauuutiful Taylor guitar on consignment at a local mom n’ pop guitar store. As soon as I played it, I knew it was the one. It has a really warm sound, especially as Taylors go: great built-in electronics, easy action, and it’s just so purty.

WE'RE TRAVELLING TO

The Hatton hotel epitomises Melbourne cool. Those who value design, location, and luxury will find The Hatton the perfect Melbourne base. Read more

WE'RE READING

DJ Spooky — That Subliminal Kid — is just about the deepest crate digger around, trawling the barrels of long-lost record stores for choice vinyl to spin in his wickedly dubby sets. He gave us the inside word last week on his eight favourite songs right now via our sister website, My Secret Playlist. This is what he had to say about Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s Panic in Babylon: ‘If there’s anything that the twenty-first century has told us, it’s that dub is the real original hip-hop. Lee Scratch even had to make it clear in 1965 by adding “Scratch” to his middle name. Take that, Grandmaster Flash!’ Read the rest of DJ Spooky’s Secret Playlist.

WE'RE LISTENING TO

These heady times call for heady music, something spaced-out, trance-y, weird, and devilishly ecstatic to distract us from reality. Chicago’s Cave heeds this call for musical escapism, channeling Hawkwind, Kraftwerk, funk, and tribal frenzy into their mothership-beaconing groove.

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WE'RE WEARING

They may be incredibly eccentric, but these ten inch platforms are physical proof that it is actually possible to create somewhat aesthetically pleasing heels out of elephant faeces. UK-based artist INSA designed the shoes as part of a recent art exhibit at Tate Britain which features the individual work of various artists responding to Chris Ofili’s controversial The Holy Mary elephant dung painting made fifteen years ago.