Plenty of local bands can work up a groove, but few give you as much to look at as the Gold Web. The glam-rock quartet put out their self-titled debut album at the end of 2014, though the studio takes of their songs seem to be largely a formality—the Gold Web are meant to be seen onstage. All four members dress like it's Halloween every time they show their painted faces in one of Chicago's rock clubs, and like a troupe of Jim Henson creations, these guys don't make it entirely clear what they're supposed to be. You'll see an eagle with giant, glossy black wings playing guitar and singing lead, backed up by . . . an Egyptian god? A juggalo? A sentient disco ball? They play songs about friendship and Chicago pride and unmanned aerial vehicles, and even the song about drones is still kind of about friendship. The Gold Web's bugged-out, upbeat psych rock makes the perfect off-kilter animating force for their gonzo DIY spectacle.
— Sasha Geffen - Chicago Reader

I caught local rockers The Gold Web at The Arcade Emporium, 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave., on Sept. 29—and got way more then I expected.
Calling themselves "Chicago's Glam Monstrosity" and with inspiration from stadium-blasting icons like KISS, these guys come off like a napalm blast of optimism and joy, but with a twist. The first attention-grabber is the "look," with lead vocalist/guitarist KING FWK dressed in a massive raven get-up and the other members sporting clingy muscle shirts, tights, glitter, green lip gloss and what looked like a full body gold metallic Afros. The other band members sport names like ST. SNAKE, GOLDILOX and DR. WEED—I swear I don't make this stuff up—but the real punch line is the music, which is a smart, infectious mix of bubble-gum pop, hard disco and Brian Eno.

Shorn of the visual fizz, The Gold Web's music is laced with plenty of subtle charms despite the art-rock trappings. ( A bottomless echo permeates everything, with lots of "whooshing" in the mix and, for some reason, lots of bird-chirping on the song intros. ) "Drones," for all the hollow-sounding diaphanous production, is really a gooey confection while the title track from the upcoming EP, Freaks, is one big swirly hallucination. If "Freaks" is the equal of a really large sonic Tastee-Freeze cone, then "Summertine" is a catchy fleeting elliptical slice of heady rapture.

If The Gold Web didn't offer such a rich and varied palate in its music, the temptation would be to take them at face value. Let loose onstage that night, with the participation of an unfortunate piñata and with oversized balloons and clouds of confetti filling the air it was undeniable that this group offers something unique, joyful, and childlike. Just what The Gold Web's "something" is is clearly beyond me but I don't care. -

Vern Hester
2015-10-13 - Windy City Times

Sometimes I am not sure what to make of The Gold Web. I know I find myself singing "Chicago" to myself frequently, but maybe that is just me.

The band's latest single is called "Don't Clip My Wings" and can be heard here. It is taken from their self-titled debut ep. They are truly one of the wilder band's in the city right now. - The Deli

Fear not, stranger. The feather-coiffed and foliage-draped men of The Gold Web come in peace and would like to take you on a musical journey.

Saying that Chicago’s The Gold Web is hard to classify is like saying that the wind off of Lake Michigan has been a little chilly this winter. Take the above photo, for instance: in it, the band’s three garishly costumed members stand leering against a backdrop that looks like a nightmare rear-ended a community theater’s prop room. Cloaked in fake foliage, face paint, and feathers, frontman Max Perenchio beckons with an outstretched hand, pulling viewers in with a magnetic stare that raises more questions than it answers. Where are we going? Will we be safe once we get there? Will we ever want to leave?

Musically, things are a little clearer—and even more irresistible. Trafficking in a brand of off-kilter pop marked by burbling synths and rump-shaking beats, the band populates its SoundCloud page with songs that sound like a forced breeding experiment between an Animal Collective album and a Passion Pit cassette tape. “Stay Cool” is the clear standout: a product of the summer heat, the song’s slow-mo tempo and repeated urgings to “stay cool” make it the perfect jingle for an air-conditioning ad. It probably wouldn’t sound too shabby blasting from an open car window on Lake Shore Drive, either.

With their upcoming appearance at the Double Door, The Gold Web is bound to earn some converts to their gospel of warm-weather vibin’. At the very least, they’ll knock the boring right out of a mundane Thursday. Whether they’re grinning demons from the plane of elemental psychedelia or just three local guys who know their way around a killer hook, that’s a pretty admirable goal. - Groupon