Has The Unwritten Law Of Concerts Been Abolished?
October 26, 2008 by Scott
What unwritten law? The unwritten law that you don’t wear the T-shirt of the band you’re going to watch to the show. Perhaps it’s more of a live show rule of etiquette, but a while back it was thought of as cheesy to wear a T-shirt of the band that you were going to see. I mean you are already showing your support by going to see the band whether there is one or more bands on the bill, right? It really hadn’t dawned on me in a long time until last weekends Trivium/ATR show when I heard some chick behind me talking about it and then it got even more interesting. Sometimes you see bands come out and maybe one of the guys is in his own bands T-shirt, but lately I’ve noticed it more and more. Not one member…but all of them. Maybe it’s a way to get fans to buy the T-shirts (which is totally understandable) or maybe it’s been a long run on tour and they ran out of clean laundry and had to resort to cannibalizing their own merch, who knows?
I can understand that if you get to a concert and buy a T-shirt early and put it on because you don’t want to run out to your car, so you throw it on. I usually slip it over/through my belt if I buy early. Where did this rule ever come from anyway? Who started it and do you think it’s corny to wear a T-shirt of the same band you’re going to see? I don’t know why I really refrain from doing this. I guess maybe I do find it corny and don’t want to be that guy. Rules are made to be broken and maybe this is a stupid one…but at least I’ve never worn those nü-metal, sleeping-bag pants with all the cool zippers, buckles and shit that start out tight at the top and then by the time you get to the feet you can’t even see your cool nü-metal boots that go up to your knees and make you 3 inches taller.
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I never liked this rule. When traveling to a concert you could identify other concert goers by their shirts.
Yeah I have warn a band tee of the band i was seeing a few times, but i prefer to where a different band tee. I guess it all depends on ur wardrobe at the time. As for those stupid pants (especially the ones with the bondage straps) and boots idk who decided those were metal.
I think its definitely corny when a band wears there own tee-shirt i can understand what u said up there about a band not having clean laundry, but sometimes in interviews or photos u see a band with their own shirts which i think is really dumb.
I don’t think there is a rule, but I have seen enough first-show kids do it that it makes it seem like a newbie thing to do.
I like to use my t-shirt choice to display my varying taste in music. It is also an opportunity to give props to your favorite local bands.
One time I wore a Sarah McLachlin shirt before tearing it up in the pit. Surprise!
I think Trivium are just full of themselves.
Bands should not wear their own shirts. Fans shouldn’t wear their shirts to the shows. I don’t know why this all started, but that’s how it is. Even the kids who slip on their just bought shirts at the show look like douchebags.
i’ll have to be honest , i usually just go in a crappy shirt and then head out to buy the shirt (if i am going to buy one) otherwise i’ll just wear my bodom shirt
I usually wear my Hulkamania shirt and tear it off in the pit!