On Tuesday, February 24th, the ugly hug will be hosting our next showcase at the Burlington in Chicago with Instrument, Gerfety and Copies. This showcase is a part of the Burlington’s “bring a buddy” series; 2 entries for 1 $10 ticket. Doors are at 8PM with music starting at 9PM. All proceeds made from ugly hug merch will be donated to OCAD, who provide mutual aid funding for those effected by ICE and deportation.

Ahead of this showcase, we are highlighting the work of each of our featured artists. Check out their work and read more about them below.

Gerfety rock. But like it hasn’t been said before. Made up of Dominic Folino, Grant Goode and Tommy Russell, Gerfety released their first full-length album titled Fight Songs late last year. Their greatest strength as songwriters is crafting something that feels timeless and familiar. Something that has been a part of your life for some time — like that old, fraying rug that has made every move with you; one that both ties the room together nicely, but also has been collecting your weight in crumbs and nail clippings for years now. Fight Songs is as much an impressive collection as it is an inherited practice, something Gerfety has shown through the way these songs breathe and combust amongst found sounds, oddly timed jokes and sugar-rotted melodies that’ll last you all day.

You released your debut LP Fight Song at the end of last year. What has it been like for you three since its rollout? Looking back at the release, how do you approach these songs?

It’s been mostly the same. The songs are out. It was something that needed to finally get out there since we’ve been playing these songs for the greater half of two years. In that regard it’s allowed for us to find different ways of playing them I guess. Whatever it takes to translate the feeling. 

As you guys developed as the band from your early bandcamp release days to a full album, what did you find yourselves leaning on? Whether that be your sound, the songwriting, the process? What did you bring out of each other in that time?

Just practicing as much as possible. Being in that room the three of us and seeing everything through completely. Sometimes it never ends, sometimes we lose the plot completely, which is where we tend to thrive. We all believe in each-other.

Tommy, you said that Grant and Dominic help bring your songs to be rock songs. Do you initially approach your songs as something that can be jammed out on stage? Or do you have faith in the other two to help you bring it there?

I think oftentimes, when i’m writing a song, i have them in mind. I can hear them in my head. Sometimes it’s not the case, I mean sometimes I’m writing a song just for the sake of the ritual. But as we continue to develop as a band I think there’s certain things that I know they’ll like or won’t like. Those two birds are any songwriters dream. I’m lucky. 

Can you explain the f@%k track? Did it influence the way you played in and interacted with the studio space?

That was just a fun idea our friend Korgan came up with. We wanted to preserve the sound of the room being lived in. We wanted all the positive and negative space to have something to anchor onto and the solution to that was the F@%k track. I think it was certainly fun but certainly the most mindless thing about the record. So, no it didn’t really influence much. We tried to just let things be natural and fun.

What’s in the future for Gerfety? 

Nothing good (smiling purple devil emoji)

Instrument, formally known as Peace Monsters, is the expansive project of AJ and Lu Bond, who, just as a duo, are able to craft avenues to reach our most inflicted and inherited dialogues. As their time as Peace Monsters, their guitars bruised, and the drums kept the heart pounding with uncontrollable pressure, as the two greeted the ghosts of both this world and beyond as one; our true selves and those we fear to become. But since moving to Chicago from Oklahoma, Instrument still happen to be embedded in this world, but relinquish their control over what’s expected, and rather head towards what really matters. Instrument is a new start for the duo as they look to embrace their changing environments.

This project was formally known as Peace Monsters up to your last release, The Heater, back in 2024. What brought out the need to change the project’s name? Do you feel that the new change will come with new territory to explore in the music?

A.j.- I think both of us view it more as the beginning of a new project rather than a name change per se. Since moving to Chicago my playing style has transformed, the dynamic between us has transformed, we play different instruments and approach songwriting in an entirely new way than before. So Peace Monsters just started to feel sort of limiting because of that. 

Lu- Yeah when we would play shows or practice, it didn’t really feel like a Peace Monsters show or Peace Monsters practice. It felt like something new was happening, so we ended up shifting into ‘Instrument’ and the name change was sort of the final piece.

You two have created a space in your sound that you describe as “the feeling of total separation from one’s environment”. What around you do you find yourselves reacting to? 

A.j. – haha, yeah I wrote that description years ago when we were still living in Oklahoma and were rolling out the Heater EP. I was feeling pretty cynical at that time and connected to a lot of harsh worldviews because of that. I’m not so inclined towards that statement anymore but I do think that space still exists in our music somewhere.

Lu – I would say our environment has changed so drastically that the sentiment isn’t as present as it used to be. It’s sort of a good example for the name change, because of how much we’ve changed individually since moving to Chicago, playing music together felt different. It felt like we were playing in a different band.

What sort of things do you gravitate towards while crafting your sound? Do you try to appeal to emotions that you feel or certain practices that have led to success in the past? How do you harness that into this ever evolving project? 

A.j. – To me art and music is just a big effort towards articulating myself. I find it really important that the songs we write reflect the way I’m feeling as accurately as possible – I want it to be like a mirror. So when we’re playing or writing or whatever it feels like Lu and I are just shining lights against each other and finding interesting reflections to portray to others. 

Lu – When we play music I always have an image, and when I’m crafting or writing what we end up playing, I usually build a scene surrounding the song. It’s not really something like a plot or anything. I don’t know. I’m mostly trying to put together the music that I love in a way that supports what A.j. is doing. It’s not really something I think about a lot. I just like playing drums and using it as a way to express that scene or idea that I have surrounding the song.

You recently wrapped up a midwest-to-eastcoast tour last month. How was your time on the road? 

A.j. – It was like a dream. It was our first time on the road together and it got me really excited about the songs again. I got really sick the first day though so the shows during that period felt feverish.

Lu – It was truly awesome. Um, we did get into a car accident but everything kinda worked out. I’m actually surprised how well it went considering it was a glorified albeit very well planned road trip. I’m scared of driving. Bodegas in New York are really cool, they should be everywhere.

Anything coming up in the future for Instrument?

Lu – Yes

A.j. – Yeah, we’re wrapping up our debut EP pretty soon. That’ll come out in a couple months probably. And our friend Eli is putting us on a tape comp for the Pop Show in Durham so you can hear us there if you can get your hands on one. We’ve got lots of gigs coming up in Chicago too!

Quietly released amidst the disheartening end of summer days, the debut EP from Copies, titled plays the game, felt like a huge statement in its own little world . As a duo, David and Austin have been playing together in various other projects over the years, such as the NC blood-boiler, Tractor Beam. But from the gun, David’s teeth grinding guitar riffs only feel at home amongst Austin’s ferocious drumming, a collaboration that brands the skin as chaotic melodies clot the bleeding of each track. For how brief it may be, plays the game is loud, thrashing, and emotionally blending, as Copies stand their ground, in a rather dying world as a defiant and exciting voice to be reckoned with.

You can purchase tickets for this show HERE.