Power-pop progenitors? O.G. DIYers? The last college-rock survivors? No label adequately captures the four-decade journey of Zion, Ill.’s Shoes, who have released their first new studio material in 17 years. Perhaps the most astonishing thing about Shoes is that this ethic and attitude prevails despite a collection of music-biz bumps and bruises that could rival Charlie Brown in terms of sheer career futility. In some ways, they’re the Forrest Gumps of rock. Shoes essentially presaged punk’s DIY movement by recording its first, early-’70s albums in the living room before garnering enough critical acclaim to merit a major-label contract. Shoes will be guest editing magnentmagazine.com all week. Read our new feature on the band.
Klebe: I view music gear as art. It pleasures me to no end just standing back and admiring the beauty of my guitars, amps, preamps, equalizers, compressors, microphones and stomp boxes, almost as much as actually using them. All my senses are stimulated. Pictured here are my two most recent art purchases.
First is a Gretsch Spectra Sonic guitar. Its body contours and pick-guard design are simply brilliant. I knew that I had struck gold when I first plugged it into my Matchless amp. Not only is it great to look at, but its sound is downright ballsy and very unique among my arsenal of guitars. Hell, even Mitt Romney would look cool with one of these slung around his neck … Well, maybe not
The second work of art is my Victoria VIC 105 amplifier. The amp is built inside an actual U.S. Army .50-caliber ammunition can. The clear front panel reveals all of its red-hot, glowing innards. Just a fraction of the size of a typical amp head, it’s also a glorious tone monster when driven through my Marshall speaker bottom. But even if it sounded like shit, I’d still find a place for it on my fireplace mantel.
Talk about form and function; these are it.
Another photo after the jump.
