Announcing THE WORLD UNDERGROUND : A new series of films highlighting underground scenes of the world.

The World Underground - Episode 1 : CHINA from GONZO CHICAGO on Vimeo.

A short summary :

The World Underground.  A new series documenting hour long moments in time of the ever-changing underground scenes around the world.  An ever-evolving, community driven video history.  The first 3 episodes to focus on China, Montana, and Chicago, IL.  The bands, labels, people, and what's happening now.  Future locations to be announced.  To be edited by Echotone director Nathan Christ, with animation by Jenna Caravello.

You really need the full story :

How do you sum up a decade in a few paragraphs?  After spending years enveloped in the Green Bay punk rock scene, I moved to Chicago in 2007.  I started filming all of these phenomenal bands blowing away 50 kids in dirty warehouses or dark basements.  Paper Mice.  Lechuguillas.  Tiger Hatchery.  I did this for years on a mediocre point-and-shoot.  I wanted to try and capture how good this all really was.  I started a website called Gonzo Chicago.  It originally included just one sentence.  What this turned into, I didn't expect.  The community took hold of it.  After some push from people I trusted in Chicago, I hesitantly ran a crowdsourced fundraiser on this very site for new gear.  I didn't think it would work.  It was successful, and I raised $3,600 in 30 days, kept going, harder than ever.  What I captured was a tightly knit group of kids doing things exactly the way they wanted to.  Uncompromising, they released tapes, vinyl, toured through the traditional means.  Chicago was exploding with great things when I left.  Toupee, Heavy Times (RIP), RUNNING, Mayor Daley.  I've kept a keen eye on it.  The ever-changing landscape of this is a main reason I do what I do.

Things are changing.  Independent bands are playing stadiums, have songs in car commercials, winning artist of the year Grammy awards.  Ultra-famous comedians are self-releasing their own DVD's.  Even the good bands are releasing music via Adult Swim.   The wide swathe of the internet has made music and information immediately accessible.  Never before has music been so easy to find.  Police are pretending to be punk rock kids to bust house shows.  Many bands prefer the anonimity of underground shows, preferring to make a handful of kids go wild in a basement than to have a half filled room of people arms folded.  These shows will continue, because they have to.  I realize this is not a new concept, both what's happening, and me documenting it.  Many documentaries have and will continue to be done.

Gonzo Chicago grew, I started writing more, for both myself, and other sites like Brooklyn Vegan, and NYC's Impose Magazine.

Missoula took me by surprise when I moved here last September.  As much heart as Chicago, on a smaller scale.  Different tape and record labels.  Different locals, and a different stream of touring bands.  But the ideals are the same.  Do good work, treat people well, support the community.  I moved here as 2 seemingly legendary spaces, The Lab, and The BSMT, had recently closed.  Zoo City Apparel was just heating up as I strolled into town, hosting White Mystery, Thee Oh Sees.  It has since closed.  Ever since, the Ole Beck VFW, which was already doing a great job, was left to pick up the slack.  Bands like Magpies and King Elephant are blowing me away consistently.  Recently we re-launched the "BSMT" into what is now Missoula's only option for all-ages shows.  I am honored to be this deeply involved with these communities.
As it all grew, scene reports came in from around the world.  People letting me know what I knew existed.  This is happening everywhere.  Michale Coleman wrote me from Missouri and said he started filming DIY shows because of what he'd seen.  China, Montana, all over Europe, Japan, Australia.  Boise.  Myanmar.  China came on my radar after I interviewed Handsome Furs, fresh off a long tour in the PRC.  For over a year, I wondered how I could get there.  I dug around, eventually cleared my throat and e-mailed Josh Feola of China's Pangbianr.  He agreed to book shows in Beijing, and line me up with other regions such as Guangzhou.  For as massive as China and its underlying music scene is, it's understandably pocketed, yet growing rapidly.  It's constantly evolving, and I think grabbing this moment, any moment, is important.
I will spend September and October in the PRC, filming shows both naturally, and ones we set up, different regions, interviewing labels and bands.  China being the first episode, Missoula and Chicago are well on their way to being finished.  I will finish filming those by my own means upon my return.  I hope to release all three episodes in 2014, and continue on.  
I can no longer deny or downplay the potency of what I do.  I only move forward when communities deliver an undeniable push.  After Nathan Christ jumped on board to edit, and Josh Feola agreed to book shows in Beijing, I received funding a new camera free and clear.  I know that this is the right path.  This is extremely important to me, and many others, so I hope you'll join me.

What We Need

What are you going to use my $6,000 for?
Indiegogo's take-away estimate : $5,600
Travel will take a good bite out of this.  Between plane, train, VISA, and other assistance : $1,600
Post processing, video and sound editing.  Translation support.  Supporting the communities I'll be attending shows in for 2 months.  I'm honored to have Nathan Christ editing this project.  I have commissioned the wondrous Jenna Caravello to do animation.  $2,000.
Partial expenses.  This would be considered a no-budget documentary by proper standards.  With an upgraded camera, I believe even with limited resources, I can still tell a good story.  However, while I can live and eat cheaply in China for 2 months, this is only covering a partial amount of the full cost.  Hard drives.  Sound.  The costs are immense.  Already being in debt, I must defray some of the costs of this.  $1,500.
Perk fulfillment and printing costs : $500
I'm not a huge fan of Paypal, outside of the extra fees they take.  It's on as an option, but if you'd like to send me payment in a different method, feel free to contact me.
I doubt everyone will be into this idea.  Will I have fun doing this?  Absolutely.  This is not a vacation, and I take what I do seriously.  After working 60 hours a week to stay afloat, I realize I am simply unable to fund this myself, and it must be done.

Local goods you get for donating!

Vintage hand-scribed smarmy postcards from Montana.
Delicious local tea from Montana Tea and Spice Trading coupled with honey from the amazing Arlee Apiaries.

DVD copies of the spectacular Austin documentary ECHOTONE :

A hand-picked tape and record collection from some of the best labels in Chicago and Montana : TEEN RIVER, Caffeinated Recordings, Lillerne Tapes, Solid Melts, Moniker Records, Missoula's AL HADID, and more...

Designer t-shirts from Josh Scholl's SKIM MILK :

Beautiful art prints.  Your choice on if you'd like landscape, or live music.

...and more.  All donors will be thanked on the website.  That list should be intense to look back on as we go along.

The Impact

The impact?   In a perfect world, the global community will get involved in this, and in 10 years, maybe I will have 50 episodes done that we can all look back on.  All those closed spaces, broken up bands.  From an archival standpoint, it's already there.  Terabytes from Chicago.  Montana.  Boise.  I can no longer deny the potency of what I do.  I only move forward when communities push me forward.   Since the beginning, it has all grown ten-fold.  After receiving an e-mail from someone telling me I was the cause of them having "the best shared musical experiences of their lives", I knew I must continue, and grow this.  That's exactly what I'm after.  The point was always, and will remain to get what I think is good to people who may not have found it otherwise. 

 

I understand not everyone will be into this.   I'd like to think been entrusted to do what I do for a reason.  My number one concern is uncompromising discretion and tact, as I take these communities as seriously as you do.

 

This is not to shine a light on a dark corner of what's happening.  Those who come for the spectacle of it all never stick around.  This is not an authoratative stance on the matter, quite the opposite.  What you see is what you get, what's happening now, and I guarantee you it'll be something exciting.  I'm extremely excited at what's been filmed even before the recent camera got funded.  You'll love it. 

 

I hope you'll join me in this.  All I can picture is Matthew Lillard in "Hackers" right now.  I can't do it without you. 

 

Thank you for your time.

 

http://theworldunderground.com

Listen to Acid Mothers Temple play a surprise set in Missoula, Montana.

Spontaneity still exists, and sometimes Acid Mothers Temple play a random show at the Ole Beck VFW in Missoula, Montana.  They jumped onto an already great bill of Stacian, Samantha Glass, J. Sherri, and Skin Flowers.

Watch the first annual Chicago Sonic Coalition.

Chicago Sonic Coalition : 2012 from GONZO CHICAGO on Vimeo.

It wasn't my idea.  Friends in Milwaukee have hosted multiple versions of their "All Messed Up".  They told me to "contact the scribes" from Cleveland's "Lottery League".  The idea seemed simple enough : Rally together a shitload of local musicians, throw a party and put all of their names in a hat.  Draw random bands.  Further rules vary by province.  No trading members.  Play a cover.  If you drew a bunch of drummers, well, you'll have to deal with that.  You are in no way obligated to play the instrument you normally play.

In the end, nearly 100 said they were in.  A few weeks later, we had 72 names to draw.  17 bands were formed. I knew they weren't all going to make it.  Life happens.  Bands crumbled, understandably.  Some painful dropouts, like Dave Reminick from Paper Mice and Kevin from Mannequin Men.  Kyle from Cacaw.  Al Scorch was drawn with Magic Ian, and sadly, it didn't happen.  I expected this.

Those who wrote music were invited to play a multistage show at my favorite basement in the city.  9 bands performed.  The energy and vibe in the room was something I haven't seen in a long time, and something I have not seen since. It brought the community together.  Though logistically a mess, it ran extremely smooth.  Some of the footage is so shitty because I was running around trying to make sure everything was taken care of, all the while being fed shots of whiskey.

The spectacular Whitney Allen made one of my favorite flyers in existence.  Knowing all of these musicians and what they've done, I had an idea of what they may be capable of, and the challenges faced in doing this project.  It's what got me so excited.  Would it be a disaster?  Surely, it could have been, but I'm happy to report it wasn't.  The high point, for me, was watching Bill Satek (Mines), John Carroll (Paper Mice), and Andrew Martinec (Bad Drugs).  They were called "Alien Shit", and are 2nd to last in this video.  There were many who could and did pull off something different.  However, this....it sounded exactly how I'd hoped it would sound.  Bill laughed after they were done and yelled "It's our first show!"  You wouldn't have known.

The whole night was a testament to the burgeoning Chicago underground scene.  The talent and people. Treasure Town couldn't host it, which saddened me.  How could we cram so many people, so much gear, into a basement?  I reached out to my favorite place, and begged them to take it on.  They agreed, and it actually made the damn thing even better.  An upstairs and downstairs stage.  At the height of it all, I'd turn my camera off.  Looking around seeing everyone in the room packed together, smiling.  It was one of the best nights I can remember.  Missoula just hosted one, and shared the exact same experience.  You can do it, too, and you should.

Tonight : Our first show in Missoula. White Mystery, Magpies, and more...

Tonight in Missoula, Montana, we begin what will hopefully end up being a decently lengthy series of shows.  Chicago's White Mystery, Organs from NYC, and Missoula's excellent Magpies, BOYS.  Thanks to Hana Mt. for the flyer!

April also will see us hosting two shows by another Chicago favorite, THE FUNS.  Info below.  With the closing of Zoo City Apparel, and the options for all-ages dwindling, we're honored to help the Z.A.C.C. "bsmt" take off once again, and to host 3 all-ages shows.  The others will be hosted at our favorite, seemingly unstoppable bar, the VFW post 209.  If you watched the Treefort video below, it's true, the folks at the VFW209 in Montana have made a spectacular resurgence effort, and are killing it!  If you're around, or have friends in the area, let 'em know!

April 21st @ THE Z.A.C.C. "BSMT"! :
THE FUNS, CRIMINAL CODE, KING ELEPHANT, NEEDLECRAFT

April 22nd @ Ole Beck VFW!
THE FUNS, BAD NAKED, I HATE YOUR GIRLFRIEND, BUDDY JACKSON

If you're around, hope to see you there.  All the best.

A 37 minute case for Treefort Music Festival 2013.

Treefort Music Festival 2013 from GONZO CHICAGO on Vimeo. 

I knew nothing about Boise, Idaho. When Missoula based BOYS told me I could tag along to their show at the second annual Treefort Music Festival, I happily agreed.  Impose Magazine jumped on board.  What I didn't remember was that I was heading to the very same festival that caught my eye, through that very site, in 2012. One comment to that article is that more people got off their asses to go to shows in Boise after this festival. I can only see that happening again after this particular weekend. To say it was one of the best festivals I have been to lately is an understatement. Over 200 bands, a dozen venues. Boise, Idaho became a haven for any type of music you could ever want to see. The small venues sealed the deal. It's not a new concept, however, I can assure you that the energy felt here was thicker than what I've felt in a while. It reminded me of the most potent warehouse shows in Chicago. The large main stage, notorious energy killers, even had the vibe of Chicago's smaller street fests like Do-Division. Sure, what we saw in Boise exists many places, but there was a rabid passion for a shared musical experience that made all the difference.

We stayed in a house that has DIY shows. Boise's Ditch Tiger calls it home. A living room and a strong ethic to make things happen in exactly the way you want. The right way. The comfortable way. The fun way. Treefort Music Festival engulfed Boise entirely. The El Korah Shriners palace, from what I understand, had never hosted a rock show. Over the weekend, they had some of the best. Built to Spill, Quasi, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Foxygen. The shriners held down the door and shilled spectacular $5 trucker hats. I bought one.

It was a golden opportunity to see a slew of bands I'd never heard of. For it's second year, it all went extremely smooth. They lost a main act with the cancellation of Animal Collective. The lineup shifted. In four days of wrecking myself running from venue to venue, only one band started late. Lines moved as quickly as they could. The security was nice. The staff was overly accommodating, and I didn't hear one remotely negative thing the whole weekend, despite brisk temperatures for the main stage. You have to give it to Eric Gilbert and crew for having the guts to put on a festival with a large main stage in March. It could have been a disaster, but it wasn't. The whole thing is a testament to Boise, Idaho, really. A collective of people who want to do it right. Embedding myself in Missoula, Montana for a year, I'm seeing sides of the country I never would have before. Not just tour runoff from Portland and Seattle, but whole new communities that could and do exist everywhere.

Many bands I talked to were having the time of their life. Deathfix, in particular, seemed really happy hanging out with everybody. Talking freely to many of past endeavors of Fugazi, Medications, and Faraquet. I have a bit of video I should have put in here. I could have edited it for months, but I just want you to see this.

I could talk all day about the acts, how much fun everyone had, the love shown for playing to a crowd that's really excited to be in the moment. As always, I'd rather show you. I think this video captures the spirit of it all. Bands, this festival should be in your thoughts when booking your spring 2014 tours. If the second year was this good, it's surely something to keep on your radar for years to come.

'Cast' in order of appearance:
Dan Deacon
BOYS
The Walkmen
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
The Thermals
White Lung
Quasi
YACHT
Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!
Deep Sea Diver
Youth Lagoon
Digital Leather
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
Built To Spill
Foxygen
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Japanther
Finn Riggins
Little Ruckus
TEENS
Camper Van Beethoven
Naomi Punk
w/ Ditch Tiger, The Pharmacy

Thanks :
BOYS
Eric Gilbert
Matt Dalley
Neil Fridd
Emily Kempf
Treefort Staff (and their 300 volunteers)
Impose
Ditch
Dan Deacon
Albert Schatz

Rest in peace, Roger Ebert.

May you be dancing on the red carpet above.  June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013

Watch : TAR reunite at the 2012 PRF BBQ.

TAR - PRF BBQ 2012 from GONZO CHICAGO on Vimeo.

Ah, the PRF BBQ.  Doing things the right way can be a bit more difficult, but it's always worth the effort.  This group of people, they live by that rule.  This year's rendition of the fabled festival brought a mess of good things to a warehouse in Ravenswood.  Kegs of really good beer for donation.  Donated sausages from Hot Doug's.  More bands than your legs would allow you to stand and watch.  All of the proceeds went to charity.  People flew in from all over the place, and for good reason.  This was TAR's first show in 17 years.  These are the first few songs.

A Night in Missoula : 3 live recordings.

The Plurals

Three live recordings from a November night at the Ole Beck VFW Hall.  Lansing, Michigan's The Plurals, I Hate Your Girlfriend, and a new song by Magpies.

Turning a VFW hall into a music space is not a new idea.  However, when this particular VFW is helping to fill a void in all-ages venues, it's all the more important.  The fabled "BSMT" and "The Lab" having closed within the last year, Missoula kids did what any healthy music scene does : they kept going, found new spaces, kept booking shows.  However, the cycle continues, and the all-ages crowd got another blow this week.

Zoo City Apparel, a space that just hosted Thee Oh Sees and White Mystery, sadly announced a few days ago they will be ceasing all-ages shows.  ZCA is a clothing collective churning out the awesome "406" (check the White Mystery poster) line of clothing, which will remain in production with the help of another company who just purchased their clothing line.  The racks were put away, a fresh stage built. A short-lived, wholly DIY minded space that could have existed anywhere, holding donation, BYOB shows.  It's a monumental effort to keep an all ages space like this going, and they deserve to be applauded for selflessly making it happen in the first place.  Having seen quite a few shows there, including one last night, we're sad to see it go.

Sioux City Pete and the Beggars

Thankfully, the Ole Beck can and does host all-ages shows, and instead of slowing down, seem to be going full bore since we arrived in September.  I can only imagine this will grow exponentially with ZCA's closing.  They've done what many before them have, but also turned it into one of Missoula's most enjoyable places to see music.  It works, due to the people involved.  Endlessly hospitable.  The "most forgiving bartenders" as labeled by Kate Whittle.  Classically, the bands serve your drinks.  The shows, on average, $2-5.  The acts?  Great locals mixed with stellar touring bands like The Plurals, Sioux City Pete and the Beggars, and close neighbors Sam Platts & the Kootenai Three.  We just booked White Mystery April 10th, with a show by The Funs to follow.


BOYS

Missoula's scene is impressive for its size.  The ability to seek out noise, yet be able to drive 10 minutes to obscenely gorgeous scenery, has twisted my brain.  Shortly after moving here, one of our favorite locals, Magpies, took us on a short trek to Helena.  On Friday, we head back, this time alongside I Hate Your Girlfriend, old-school Missoula band VTO as well as Magpies.  Helena's independent scene basically consists of one venue. Jester's   Missoula bands make the trek more often than you'd think, the last time being just months ago.  Touring acts coming through are a stream of locals from a whole other area.  Different from what we're used to, it's great to watch.  I can only imagine how things will heat up as this mild winter comes to an end.  Missoula bands like King Elephant, Skin Flowers, Buddy Jackson, BOYS, and Shahs keep us heading out.

So much more to come from both sides of the country.  Stay tuned.


Sam Platts & the Kootenai Three


King Elephant

Listen : Bomb Banks - Beauty is the Beast

Jenna Caravello

When you go to shows obsessively, seek out noise, you watch a lot of bands grow.  You get to enjoy when a familiar potent live moment comes to those uninitiated.  The energy and volume making people physically react, even if they don't want to.  For well over the last year, a band called Bomb Banks has been terrorizing Chicago's cramped basements and unique all-ages spaces.  More than once making everyone uncomfortable, making them yell and scream back, impatiently shift, or start a circle pit.  However, there's no schtick here.  Just energy.

Together, a consistently entertaining three piece that's constantly evolving after dozens of shows, yet you could probably count the times they've played a "normal venue" on one hand.  They'd like to play your all ages show, please

Not People is out now on cassette via Love Lion. If you're in Chicago on Wednesday, RSVP to their Empty Bottle show for free entrance and spend that money supporting a great local tape label.

10 of our favorite photos we took in 2012.

2012 was intense.  A heavy year for Chicago, and many other places.  The windy city saw two of it's best DIY spaces shut their doors, others open, and the cycle continues.  We are a resilient bunch.  Bands we loved last year continued to grow and prove that the Chicago underground is still alive and will remain so.  As we type this from Missoula, Montana, this article by Kate Whittle, our new friend in the northwest, hits close to home.  We can already see the sprouts being planted for 2013.  We're eager to return to our windy city we call home in the summer, but there's work to be done here.  There's a lot up our sleeve for the new year, and we couldn't be more excited.  Missoula has a lot in common with Chicago, and it's been amazing to document, explore, and dig into.

Chicago was on fire when we left, and we hope you're taking advantage of it.  Get into the basement.  Even though we're out of town, we're keeping a watchful eye on it all, so watch our social media for the more gnarly shows you should attend in 2013.  Acts like The Funs, Heavy Times, Toupee, The Hecks, ONO, countless others playing their hearts to dust in cramped basements and dark spaces.  We'll have another year in review for 2012 in January.  Footage of the Sonic Coalition.  There's a ton of great things coming soon.  While you wait, here are 10 of our favorite moments we captured as the year flew by.  Thanks for the kind words and support.  It means a lot.  Onward!  


April Camlin, with her alter ego, Glucuous. Mortville. Part of a benefit for C.A.K.E.



A "Brain Frame" production.  The amazing Lyra Hill holding the hand of Tyson Tortensen.



Columba Fasciata at the final "Enemy" show.



Ian Williams, before Battles played Bottom Lounge.



Kevin J. Frank, Jay Ryan and crew channel Fugazi as a performance labeled "Instrument".  This was during the spectacular yearly PRF BBQ.



ONO.  Permanent Records.  Record Store Day 2012.




Impossible basement crowdsurfing at Situations.  The first ever "Chicago Sonic Coalition".   More info 



Running.  Record Store Day 2012.  Take 10 minutes and listen to the audio equivalent of getting away with murder.



Snacks : the best party you probably never went to.  Like Running, this is true punk rock in 2012.  Their drummer (who also hits things for an equally impressive band that shares members called Close Hits) is currently in school in another state, but when he comes back, this happens.  Keep an eye out.



Thee Oh Sees in our new temporary residence, Missoula, Montana.  This is a DIY-minded arts and clothing collective called "Zoo City Apparel".  Stay tuned.