Rollin’ with my homies

Rock music is one of those things that always shared a special relationship with fashion. Rock fashion has even been a driving force in rebellion as with the punk movement in the late ‘70s. And part of a rock band’s appeal is the way they look. Bands stand out not only through their musical talents but also through their style and fashion sense, which is daring, sometimes provocative and unique. And we have our own stylish rock icons to prove it. There are a number of unique local bands that rock and Chicosci is one of them. Having formed in 1999, the release of their second album 2002’s Method of Breathing catapulted them to nationwide success. Followed by several accolades for songwriting, with both guitarists receiving Guitarist of the Year nods at the NU Rock awards in 2002, their musical talent coupled with a razor-sharp style, experimental hairdos, red gloves and attitude has definitely ingrained the band’s image on the mental retina of anyone who’s seen them. The band consists of Miggy Chavez on vocals, Mong Alcaraz on guitar, Carlos Calderon on bass, Jose Salvador on drums, Sonny Baquisal on guitar, and Eugene Esquivas on percussion.

Style can make or break a band. These lads, dressing to their own tastes without a care for the general stock placed on looking macho, are definitely a set apart from their contemporaries. When the question of defining style came up, Miggy said, "Style is something you express in the way you dress, walk and perform." Mong added, "It’s instinct."

"Music and fashion go hand in hand. It’s that attitude you can express through your fashion sense," said Miggy. There are certain things that stand out about their style, certain things that have become synonymous with the group, like Miggy’s red gloves and tattoos, Calde’s oh-so-shoreditch hairdo and Cindy Crawford-esque beauty mark, and Mong’s laid-back vintage casual wear (a huge reinvention from the earlier hip-hop dreadlock look).

The night of the shoot we had a varied collection of fedoras, suits, and false eye- lashes. Yes, false eyelashes. Not your typical choices but, then again, our models were hardly typical. The dim-lit basement location and Clockwork Orange theme seemed to highlight the mysterious quality of the four members. We can’t help but turn our heads when Miggy, Sonny, Mong, and Calde walk in. Bands are fashion pioneers, inspiring trends, launching the hippest new forms of street fashion and adding their own flavor to the ever-evolving idea of cool. Their risks and attitudes relay a message of individualism, and local bands like Chicosci are making that message heard on the home front. Even if Chicosci’s brand of heavy rock doesn’t suit your taste, the whole band experience is a loud, crazy and stylish one.