A couple questions from a newbie & what to wear to a gig

[Zuzana]

At the risk of insulting anyone here (or anywhere else in the world for that matter), I have to agree with radioclash and phoist - wearing a band tee shirt to see said band falls firmly on the concert faux pas list.

At the risk of sounding ignorant, may I ask you - or anybody else - to elaborate more on this "unforgivable faux pas"? This is the first time I have ever heard such theory. In my parts of the world it is absolutely normal to wear the t-shirt of the band that is playing... And do Medusa t-shirts count as faux pas too, if they proudly display "The Pogues" sign (and thus are indistinguishable from "genuine" Pogues t-shirts for non-Medusans)?

[philipchevron]

Clothes are optional but preferred at Pogues shows.

[Eric V]

I wore my Medusa t-shirt.

The one with Medusan names or "My name is MacRua" one?

Absolutely. And I was the best dressed guy there.

[Eric V]

I just read a few post and feel like I have been schooled on how to be cool at a show. To that I say Haaaaa Haaaaa Haaaaaa!!!!!!! And I'll add a HAAAAAAAAAAAAA! for good measure. The word "poser" comes to mind. I have never used that word. Interesting thing about it is that it takes one to know one.

[sheva]

At the risk of insulting anyone here (or anywhere else in the world for that matter), I have to agree with radioclash and phoist - wearing a band tee shirt to see said band falls firmly on the concert faux pas list.

At the risk of sounding ignorant, may I ask you - or anybody else - to elaborate more on this "unforgivable faux pas"? This is the first time I have ever heard such theory. In my parts of the world it is absolutely normal to wear the t-shirt of the band that is playing... And do Medusa t-shirts count as faux pas too, if they proudly display "The Pogues" sign (and thus are indistinguishable from "genuine" Pogues t-shirts for non-Medusans)?

I didn't use the word "unforgivable" to describe that, Zuzana. And I do apologize if I've stepped on your toes on this one, something I'd rather not do. It just seems - well, tacky. Tourist-y. As if you've put on your official concert uniform.

I don't know. It's just my opinion, and when I saw the others who feel that way get criticised for it, I wanted to add my two cents. Maybe I should have kept those pennies in my pocket this time 'round. Maybe it's a regional thing, or a generational thing.

I will say this -- it's got nothing to do with being "cool" or a "poser". The latter has never been a part of my vocabulary; the former is something I've never really had to worry about.

[lexo]

At the risk of insulting anyone here (or anywhere else in the world for that matter), I have to agree with radioclash and phoist - wearing a band tee shirt to see said band falls firmly on the concert faux pas list. Buy a shirt at the show, of course (especially at a Pogues show, where there's plenty from which to choose and the price is actually reasonable). Wear it with pride thereafter, attracting envious stares and excited comments from onlookers. You may even make new friends (when I went to see Billy Bragg a couple of years back without a ticket, I got chatty with a guy outside who was wearing a Pogues shirt from the March '06 shows. Turns out he had a spare ticket). But no, don't wear a Pogues tee shirt to a Pogues show. And especially, don't, for heavens' sake don't, get to the show, buy your tee shirt, and then put it on right then and there. That's just unforgivable.

As for picking the right band shirt to show how cool you are - don't know about that. I generally wear non-band clothing to concerts but I did wear an old Smithereens shirt to the show last week, my favorite band (USA division!) and hardly the darlings of the indie crowd.

Besides, once the music starts no one will be looking at your shirt, and if you're at a GA venue it'll be soaked in beer three songs in.

beg to differ

it's just a bunch of indie hipster bullcrap

wear whatever you want and just go rock

and i love the smithereens & am seeing them next month in sellersville

and in honor of you guys with your t-shirt rules ... i'm gonna get a smithereens shirt & wear it

[Zuzana]

I didn't use the word "unforgivable" to describe that, Zuzana.

Nah, you used it to describe wearing a t-shirt you bought right at the show. I just took the liberty to compress two things into one. (As considering even the origins of the t-shirt seems as a sheer absurdity to me!)

And I do apologize if I've stepped on your toes on this one, something I'd rather not do. It just seems - well, tacky. Tourist-y. As if you've put on your official concert uniform.

No apologies needed, no toes have been stepped on (well, at least not mine – I checked them and no footprints are visible on them). It is not wearing band t-shirts what seems like an "official uniform" to me – it is creating silly rules about what is "cool" and what is a "faux pas". It’s enough that one is supposed to worry about what to wear to work – let’s not set dress codes even for concerts!

Can’t put it better than Lexo did:

wear whatever you want and just go rock

[sheva]

Fine, fine. I'm chalking this one up to a generational thing. I mean, indie hipster bullcrap??? Christ, I'm 50 fucking years old, I'm pretty much past that point. Wear whatever the fuck you want, I don't care.
I'll be at Sellersville too. Both shows. Maybe I'll wear a Pogues shirt.

[DzM]

Strangely, I've never been comfortable wearing a shirt of the band I'm seeing to one of their shows. Just makes me feel ... I dunno ... Out of sorts. Yet I have no problem whatever with other people doing.

Kinda like dancing at a club. I'm terrible at it and rarely do it due to self-consciousness. Yet I have no problem with (and greatly admir) the people that can do it.

[SonOfErin]

Wasn't this conversation in some movie? One "uncool" guy is going to a concert with his "cool" friends & he is wearing the bands shirt. They proceed to ridicule him for it & say "dont be THAT guy". I can't remember the movie though.......

[MacRua]

At the risk of insulting anyone here (or anywhere else in the world for that matter), I have to agree with radioclash and phoist - wearing a band tee shirt to see said band falls firmly on the concert faux pas list. Buy a shirt at the show, of course (especially at a Pogues show, where there's plenty from which to choose and the price is actually reasonable). Wear it with pride thereafter, attracting envious stares and excited comments from onlookers. You may even make new friends (when I went to see Billy Bragg a couple of years back without a ticket, I got chatty with a guy outside who was wearing a Pogues shirt from the March '06 shows. Turns out he had a spare ticket). But no, don't wear a Pogues tee shirt to a Pogues show. And especially, don't, for heavens' sake don't, get to the show, buy your tee shirt, and then put it on right then and there. That's just unforgivable.
<...>
It just seems - well, tacky. Tourist-y. As if you've put on your official concert uniform.

i never even thought about it before...
wear what ever you want and have a great time.

And an idea to buy and to put shirt on immediately looks even more natural than to do it beforehand at home.
At home you have a choice and can put on something else but at a gig you, carried away with atmosphere, excitement, example of other fans, do tend to buy piles of shite - CDs, posters, t-shirts, and apply them on the spot (t-shirts at least) to be a part of carnival. Though next day you may doubt your decision and even be surprised with what have been bought..

As for official concert uniform.. what about a lovely black t-shirt with glaring orange STAGE CREW across shoulders

[DownInTheGround]

Hehe wear an old stained tee shirt and if you end up on the floor so be. Save your nice Pogues related tee shirts till an oportunity when you can bore people with a story.

I wore a watch at the Manchester show and it nded up with somebody else's blood under the winder!!!!

[MacRua]

Hehe wear an old stained tee shirt and if you end up on the floor so be.

I can afford ending up on the floor in a brand new garment. Specially if I am granted with it for free.

Save your nice Pogues related tee shirts till an oportunity when you can bore people with a story.

Stained and well worn t-shirt is much better (and more speaking) illustration for any boring stories. It can refresh teller's memory and whet listeners' imagination. Or they will think you really spent time nodding off in a plush theater seat..

[Hometownhero]

I'm completely bemused by all this t-shirt etiquette being espoused on this thread

It leads me to wonder if this is a US thing? Over here, the rule (amongst regular gig goers, all genres) would be wear as little as the law will allow you to get away with, cos 2 songs in you're going to be so feckin hot & covered in beer that clothes become an uncomfortable impediment to serious drunken wobbling in time to the music

Shorts in November and a sleeveless t is par for the course....



& any new purchases are safely threaded through a belt for the duration

[Doktor Avalanche]

When I go to a show, I check out the shirts right away. I have been burned a couple times by going to the booth on the way out and finding the size I need and/or the design I want sold out. Sometimes (depending on how drunk I am), I forget altogether and hate myself the next day, so the merch stand is the first stop even before the bar.

If I decide to buy one, I put it on right there over whatever I'm wearing so I don't have to keep track of it during the show.

Three Pogues shirts in three years, all "broken in" at their respective gigs.