Claychella is back celebrating the birth of everyone's favorite party photographer, Clayton Hauck at the spanking new Lincoln Hall. This party goes from noon to 2 am and as a result has acquired the title "Crunk-chella". This is arguably the most stacked party of local talent year in year out, and this will be no different with yours truly opening for Flosstradamus—11 hours before they go on, but still. Yeah, if you look to the very bottom of the flier in possibly the smallest font you'll see "Wil & Kat." I guess they didn't even have room for my full name, it's not like I'm hosting too, oh wait I am.

In addition to playing some awesome 50's garage rock cuts, I'll be handling the projected live twitter feed. So, just tweet @URChicago or #Claychella and whatever you tweet will go on the screen over the stage—come on people, help me make it weird. And for the first time here is the set times for tomorrow's onslaught of DJs. 

Lookbook - "True To Form"

On February 22nd I sat down with Minneapolis electro-due, Lookbook, while they were in town for the New Music Series at Chicago’s Schuba’s. Maggie Morrison (vocals) and Grant Cutler (guitar/production) discussed their album “Wild At Heart,” defining their sound and making memories in Chicago. To be honest this video exemplifies their quite yet quirky personas—most people in Schuba’s that were there to see them walked right past as they were eating dinner in Schuba's bar. If you missed the show check out our video or if you just want to relive Maggie’s booming voice.

I also picked up their freshly pressed marble-vinyl—that's right, marble—of "Wild At Heart." They're only pressing 500 copies and I got crispy number six. Even the cover is hand silk-screened, making me love Lookbook even more and their attention to detail. The album is great, and I highly recommend it for any vinyl enthusiasts who still believe wax is the fullest way to listen to music. 

The xx - Islands (Nosaj Thing remix) 

Daedelus - Order of the Golden Dawn

In late February this year, when Chicagoans are questioning why they're still living in this lightless city, Justin Staple and I went to Lincoln Hall—which is quickly becoming my new favorite Chicago venue—to catch up with Victorian DJ Daedelus and opener Nosaj Thing during the middle of their Magical Properties tour. Daedelus had amazing insights on what it means to dig for samples, fighting bullets with magic and why it's important to him to be accessible to fans. I can't stress how nice Daedelus was to talk to and how his persona makes much more sense when you think of everything he does, down to the way he moves his body, as art.  

 

Today Chicago-born indie-rock foursome Filigar premiered the first music video of eight to start building excitement for their next and fifth album release. The kick-off song, "One of The Regulars," directed by Alice Mathias and shot by BKC's Pete Mignin, reminds me a bit of Vampire Weekend, but with that midwestern sensibility. Filliagr is dropping the videos, which were shot all over the country and each by a different director, one week after the next. This first one sets the stage well for the journey this video series is going to take us on over the next eight weeks--not to mention just great classic Chicago shots. I'm pumped to see all the videos in their entirety, and even more excited to see the one Pete flew out of town to shoot. 

One of the many add-ons of sunny spring is that your ankles will once again feel the fresh breeze grazing by and they've earned a little bit of fashion more than white cotton. This spring I will be all about bright eccentric socks to pop on an otherwise classic American seer sucker and Top Siders. I came across Happy Socks out of Turkey, and knew this was the sock company I've been waiting for that can be the perfect match for shorts on the beach or peek-a-boo out from under a khaki suit when you cross you legs. Get excited about the change in season, because this spring fashion is going to be about fun and shaking off any memories of these low light days and the inability to expose skin. 

Lookbook - "Over and Over" Gigamesh Remix (Download)

Headlining tonight’s Amplify at Schubas is Minneapolis’ Lookbook. No, they are in no way affiliated with the fashion blog. They do however fit right along The xx and Beach House with Maggie Morrison’s voice—soft yet frequenting on malicious—and then the thundering drums of Grant Cutler that awakens your inner auditory canals on the right sound system. Lookbook has put out sleeper hit after hit—“True to Form” being the most remixed—so come out and catch them at a venue as intimate at Schubas while you still can.

Atlas Sound - Doctor (Download)

Arabian Antlers - Wolves Over Troubled Waters (Download)

The Mondo Boys are back and this time with their winter mixtape Continuous Monument. The last time we heard from this NY/LA sound collage collaborative it was their summer mix that brought one back to the California acid beaches of the 1960s. They return now with that same vintage vibe through a musical journey that leaves you feeling like you just watched a film. And is good medicine to keep you slightly sane through this final winter moon. Do I dare say its better than the summer mix?...Hard to say. I'm pretty sure the dude talking about wolves is from this Robert Redford album I have The Language and Music of Wolves. I think I'm going to dig that LP up and load some songs on to BK to soundtrack my next antique post. 

RACKLIST
01 JAVELIN – THE MERKIN JERK (TAKE 3) / ALAN WATTS: ZEN TALES
02 ARABIAN ANTLERS: WOLVES OVER TROUBLED WATERS (INTRO) / ONG-ART CHIRAPHAN: KIT TUENG THER (MISS YOU)
03 CHUCK WRIGHT: AT SEVENTEEN / PROF. HAROLD BOGGS & THE BOGGS SPECIALS: GOD’S L.S.D.
04 GOKÇEN KAYNATAN & ELEKTRONIKIERI: PENCERENIN PERDESINI
05 VOLCANO CHOIR: ISLAND, IS
06 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE: GRAZE
07 RADIOHEAD / BECK: HARRY PATCH, HARRY PARTCH
08-11 BECK / FIERY FURNACES: FRIEDBERGER FAMILY FEUD
12 THIRD WAVE: ELEANOR RIGBY / RONNIE PROPHET: ELEANOR RIGBY
13 ELO: TURN TO STONE / THE FOUR TOPS: I’LL TURN TO STONE
14 ADA: LUCKYCHARM / ERLEND ØYE: INTUITION / BORN RUFFIANS: FOXES MATE FOR LIFE
15 MIDLAKE: THEY CANNOT LET IT EXPAND
16 BORN RUFFIANS: FOXES MATE FOR LIFE
17 ES: ENNEN OLI HUONOMMIN
18 NAGISA NI TE: PREMONITION
19 HERE WE GO MAGIC: FANGELA / THE TURTLES: YOU SHOWED ME / BORN RUFFIANS: FOXES MATE FOR LIFE
20 SPOON: TROUBLE COMES RUNNING
21 ATLAS SOUND: DOCTOR
22 BILLY PRESTON: NOTHING FROM NOTHING
23 AIR: VENUS / THE KORGIS: EVERYBODY’S GOTTA LEARN SOMETIME
24 CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG: ME AND JANE DOE
25 RAY DAVIES: ALL NIGHT STAND / THE THOUGHTS: ALL NIGHT STAND
26 RICHARD SWIFT: LADY LUCK
27 FLEET FOXES: WHITE WINTER HYMNAL
28 ELLIOTT SMITH: BOTTLE UP AND EXPLODE
29 DR. DOG: SHADOW PEOPLE
30 SONNY AND THE SUNSETS: TOO YOUNG TO BURN
31 BEACH HOUSE: ZEBRA
32 ARABIAN ANTLERS: WOLVES OVER TROUBLED WATERS (REPRISE)

In the last year we’ve seen neckwear lose its corporate banker stigma and be adopted by everyone from indie-rockers to prep-rebels. Not to forget the astounding momentum of bow ties, from Chuck Bass to NFL players on bow tie crusades. Even with all this excitement behind neckwear very few companies are doing much more than the same silk stripes your dad wore. Midwestern based neckwear crafters Pierrepont Hicks answered tie aficionados’ call by creating a line of neck wear like you’ve never seen before, and is exactly what I’ve been waiting for.

Pierrepont owners/designers/husband and wife Mac and Kat McMillan created reversible bow ties and ties from hand chosen imported Scottish wool. All are woven together by an expert hand in New York’s historic garment district. And I haven’t even mentioned the spring cotton line! Kat “cut her teeth,” as she puts it, working in runway production for Ralph Lauren’s Black Label, and Mac comes from a successful real estate background, bringing their talents and passion together to make one of the most innovative accessory lines I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness. Pierrepont Hicks seem to know how much to push your comfort level by introducing you to patterns and materials that you might have never thought about wearing before, but is what every edgy sophisticated dresser has been looking for.

When you buy a tie from Pierrepont Hicks, you not only receive a highly crafted neck accessory, but it also comes with a thank you note, and care in packaging that makes you feel like you’re opening a birthday gift from an old friend. It was details like this that led me to seek out the creators of this soon to be classic American company.

Originally, when I set out to talk to Kat and Mac I thought I would write a feature about them and include a fair share of quotes. But then as I talked to the two of them and Kat’s frequent passion for fashion and Mac’s intuitive vision for business were revealed, it became clear to me that I needed to publish the entire transcript. We talked about what it means to wear a bow tie today, getting laid off on their daughter’s due date and what to expect from their Spring 2010 line.

Boy Kings: When did you realize that the two of you wanted to make a neckwear company together?

Kat McMillan: I worked in production for Ralph Lauren’s Black Label and collection line, the women’s collections you see on the runway. I’ve worked at Elle magazine and a couple of Internet startups during the Internet boom in fashion and always had a creative side to me. I’ve always loved menswear and we just started playing around with fabrics. Pierrepont Hicks was sort of my baby to begin with, and seeing as it was men’s ties, Mac would chime in what he thinks, and then it just sort of took off.

When we were in Scotland, we designed his kilt for our wedding. We didn’t actually design the kilt, but we picked out the MacMillan tartan. There are four kinds of Scottish tartans and they’re normally filled with blues and greens, because those would help camouflage you in the forest. We went all around Scotland looking at fabrics and found beautiful blankets and amazing sheepskins. Mac likes to dress well, he’s very fashion-forward, so he was interested in it too, right away.

Mac McMillan: We didn’t start really get this going until last fall.

Kat: We started designing last summer and getting serious about it in September. (2009)

BK: It seems like after that one write-up in Valet everything sort of snowballed.

Kat: It really did. Valet contacted us and said, “We’re really digging your ties” and all of a sudden our Google Analytics jumped like 1000 hits, and we were scared! Like, “Holy cow, do we have enough time?”

BK: You guys have a great classic American vibe in everything from your blog to your ties. How would you describe you branding?

Kat: In the website you’ll see a little link called “Book.” There’re pictures in that of all the men in our lives, Mac’s brother, his dad, my uncle, my dad, godfathers, whatever. I’ve grown up hiking, fly-fishing and camping on the side, and for me, there’s a certain man who has a level of class—and I don’t want come as snobby, I don’t want you to rephrase this incorrectly—but there’s a level of class in someone. It’s someone who can go camping and build a fire and catch salmon, but at the same time dress it up, take it to Lincoln Center and go see an opera. It’s like what Mac has done, he’s worked in Alaska for years. There’s a spectrum he should encompass.

Mac: We don’t have a certain target market we’re going after. It’s whoever likes it—it ranges from the preppy to the hipster. Straight, gay, black, white, young, old—it’s been everybody.

We were in a store here in Minneapolis having a little trunk show, and I was there for three or four hours. People of all types were into our ties—one guy was a sixty-five year old lawyer and the next minute it was a twenty-five year old professional who liked it. My point is, we didn’t think about marketing it to this group or that group. We just make ties.

Kat: It’s the “thinking man’s tie,” I like to say. I think that the people who have purchased our ties so far are really smart people. I mean, I know that sounds kind of silly…

Mac: …It’s young people too.

BK: Why do you think bow ties, in particular, are coming back into popular fashion?

Kat: I think the bow tie pops on certain people, and bow tie people are forever a bow tie person. It’s their “thing.” I don’t think that bow ties have ever gone out of fashion, sure, it’s back in the spotlight a little bit, but I think bow ties have always been around for a certain person. They’re beautiful! The way you can tie a bow tie nice and tightly, which is what I like, or you can wear it loose and floppy and it’s more flamboyant. I think it’s more fun for men.

Menswear is fascinating to me because it’s so simple and yet so complex. You have so many fun things you can do and the bow tie is the perfect example of that. That one piece can change your entire outfit based on the certain way you wear it. Except Brad on Rachel Zoe, he definitely helped bring it back.

BK: You’re right; there are those people who just wear bow ties every day of their life. Take the 1950’s architects for example.

Kat: That’s interesting you said that, we’re working on something right now that’s top secret that has to do with architects and bow ties. I remember reading a quote by Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair, and he said that he wears bow ties when he’s hung-over as it takes the attention away from his face [laughs]. So, that says something about the people that wear bow ties; they’re fun and smart and exocentric and clever and interesting. I mean, when I see someone in a bow tie I’m immediately drawn to them.

BK: Do you want to focus solely on neckwear or are there other pieces that you’d like to expand into?

Mac: We’re so new we’re going to stick to neckwear for now. Maybe, we’d branch out to ascots and pocket squares…maybe. That’s all down the line. Right now we’re just riding the wave and having fun.

Kat: I love ties so much, and so does Mac. And the two-tone is so much fun to experiment with. We’re doing one that’s in-between winter and spring and we’re getting the samples next week. We actually used blue and white checks cotton shirting fabric for the tailpiece. I love it because if you wear it with a blue and white shirt it clashes, but it goes together. I love all things that clash, I think they look really good.

BK: Tell me more about your spring line. What’s inspiring you for it and what can we look forward to?

Kat: Bright colors, very bright colors. We’re not afraid of pink and we think men should wear pink, don’t you? It’s like the Nantucket reds…the I-don’t-give-a-fuck reds. I don’t want to give away too much, but very bright colors and a lot of cotton.

Mac: I don’t think there’s any silk.

Kat: There might be one, but that’s in between. It’s different but we hope people like it. Oh, and some plaids.

BK: Is there anything about Pierrepont Hicks that people don’t know that you wish they did?

Kat: I know Mac will agree...Our pricing.

Mac: We’re under that $100+ price. We decided before we started we did not want to be in that range. But not that we’re cheap, $75-80 is a lot of money.

Kat: We’re still a luxury brand, but we want it to be affordable. It’s hard to make sure you’re branded that way, because a lot of people just go on price. And price does not mean something is wonderfully made and is going to last you a long time. We check all of our ties by hand and we’re very hands on with this process. That’s important.

To purchase Pierrepont Hicks ties and bow ties visit PierrepontHicks.com or check out their tumblr to know more about the Pierrepont Hicks "Man Defined." 

Roots Manuva vs The Barkays - Too hot to witness (Make It Funky edit) by James DB

Katherine and I are back at The Burlington and this time the Box Social is getting funky. Yeah Right! will be guest DJing with all vinyl--keep it classy--and I'll be playing some deep funk cuts to celebrate all the sun shine we've been having in Chicago the past few days. I saw one guy driving around with his top down. 

 

Many of us wondered if with the death of DJ AM, if Travis Barker would ever perform with another DJ having had so much success with AM. Well, today Kanye West tour DJ A-Trak and Barker told MTV.com that they will be playing two shows at Los Angeles' Roxy Theater and a larger South by Southwest performance. Oh, ya and maybe play some saunas. Travis Barker and A-Trak had this to say about the two coming together:  

"I had met A-Trak last year at Coachella, but I had seen a set of his at Avalon in Los Angeles maybe four years ago, with AM," Barker told MTV News. "He was a guy who I always wanted to work with in some way. So I gave him a call."

"When Travis hollered, I was definitely flattered. We started by jamming once, back in the fall, just came over to the studio, and we did, like, one hour of jamming, which we thought was maybe a half an hour," A-Trak added. "I just started playing records and scratching, and he was playing on top, and it went really, really naturally. It was very fluid. And we stopped and looked at the watch, and it was like, 'Oh, we've been playing for an hour and didn't even realize it.' And I think that solidified for both of us in our minds that we could do this pretty easily."

We'll see what this DMC champion and Barker come up with, but pretty sure it's going to be more than any of us expect.