SLUG Style: Shelby & Joe Maddock

Rock ‘n’ roll brings the best minds together in harmony. And sometimes, it’s a match made in heaven. Case in point: Shelby and Joe Maddock of The Plastic Cherries. The couple has been making music together for years, fusing Shelby’s vintage flair and Joe’s headbanging glam. So it comes as no surprise that we’re featuring the pair as this month’s SLUG Style! Keep on rocking!

Every month, SLUG Style features a distinct member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUG Style is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.

What are your stylistic influences? This could be a band, decade, fictional character — anything.

Shelby: The color blue, my grandma and aunties in the ‘90s, animal print and dramatic shapes from the ‘80s, sparkles, low cuts, leather and lace from the ‘70s. I think every decade really has something unique to offer as inspiration. I love shopping secondhand and finding those special vintage pieces that represent my favorite parts of each era. Maximalism and minimalism both interest me, so I’m not really committed to one or the other. Comfort and utility are important to me. [I’m] always aiming for something easy but also fun and maybe a little unexpected to wear. On stage I like to make myself look like a superhero or supervillain, depending on the night.

Joe: David Bowie, T. Rex and the early ‘70s glam movement has been a big influence on us for a while. When we wear makeup on stage, [it’s] definitely a nod to that music. Lately I’ll wear a cross on stage, with a Gibson SG — I feel like there’s a little Black Sabbath wink happening. RIP Ozzy.

What are your interests or hobbies? What is the hobby or interest that you have that no one would realize to ask you about?

Shelby: I started my first garden this year and got pretty nerdy about it. I love drawing. I was always more of a visual artist until Joe and I started collaborating. I started doing stage makeup for our shows and have since gotten really into makeup artistry. Cooking, sewing and reading books are all fun.

Joe: I’m pretty fascinated by tarot and esoteric stuff like that. I keep a Thoth deck on our living room table and try to do a reading every morning. 

Are you always “on” or would someone see you at the grocery store, for example, with fewer elements of your style?

Shelby: A huge part of “style” to me is figuring out how to meet the energy and constraints of the day. Most of the time I just want to be comfortable, but I love collecting clothes and try to only keep things around that inspire me and that I love to wear, even the comfy stuff. So, my style definitely still shines through even on days when I’m feeling more low-key.

Joe: I’m pretty casual and minimalist most days, honestly. I like monochrome outfits, Canadian tuxedos — simple, but intentional, I guess. If I’m feeling a little outrageous, I have this coat of many colors I love to wear.

What’s it like being bandmates and musical collaborators who are also happily married?

Shelby: Really fun! Joe inspires me and pushes me creatively all the time. And [he] is also just so great to be around. We have a sweet thing.

Joe: Cute question! The band feels like a pretty natural extension of our relationship at this point, I’d say. I like how us being a couple gives the band an extra personal dimension. It’s part of our love story, and I really like the idea of people connecting to that.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would those be? 

Shelby: Brave, perceptive, sleepy.

Joe: Hmm… Open-minded. Whimsical. Scruffy-looking.

How has your personal style evolved over time?

Shelby: My style wasn’t very coherent until my mid-20s. I got really into vintage clothes and thrifting when we lived in Portland. The quality and longevity of my clothes immediately improved, and I could actually afford even my more elaborate statement pieces. Studying art and learning about the cultural context of fashion and art movements has impacted my style. I like being able to reference things from the past that I’m inspired by. Comfort is king to me now, and I haven’t always felt that way.

Joe: When I was a kid, I aspired to [wear] the thrift store looks I saw at local shows in Sacramento. Not sure if I ever really pulled them off. My hair was always chaotic — I didn’t learn it was curly until I got older! I guess a natural sense of self just evolves over time. That’s interesting to think about. We got into some fresh thrift store looks when we lived in Portland. Learned a lot during that time. I guess rings and piercings are part of my style now, and that’s a pretty recent development.

Do you influence each other’s style, and if so how? Do you ever plan matching or coordinating looks for shows?

Shelby: Joe always inspires me to be a little more devil-may-care and embrace the undone. Keeps things from feeling too stiff. We love dressing to a theme, but we have a lot of stagewear that just kind of goes together at this point so it makes things easy.

Joe: We’ll end up matching almost subconsciously! I’m definitely inspired by Shelby’s approach to style. She treats it like an art form, which of course it is. There’s something really holistic about that. Everything has expressive potential. 

What else do The Plastic Cherries have in store for 2026?

Shelby: Working on some new songs and a tour of the Southwest in January! 

Joe: We’ve been rehearsing songs for our third album, and it’s interesting to see the directions that emerge. We’re feeling drawn toward more raw, heavy sounds as a band. There will be a lot of variety, though. One of our new songs is like prog disco. Shelby also wrote this really catchy one that’s like if The Cars did a diss track.

If you could give a piece of advice to your younger selves, what would it be?

Shelby: Bet on yourself. Notice small beauties as much as you can. Take your time. You’re gonna be okay. 

Joe: Hard to say. I guess I would tell younger me that every season of life teaches what it’s supposed to. Did I know that then? Maybe older me should come back and tell me that now. 

Read past SLUG Style features:
SLUG Style: Adaline Rae
SLUG Style: Litzi Estrada