I have a hard time gettin' the guys to dress up very much.

But I do think our live show could use some work in that area.

RobbieReverb
The music is what I pay for. Slacktone, the Mermen, and Pollo
Del Mar don't wear costumes, and I'd rather see them than just about
anybody. Command of their instruments makes them look professional,
not what kind of shirt they wear. IMHO the music makes the show.

Bob

Actually Bob what makes them professionals is the "Command of their instruments," and that people pay to see and hear them. What makes a show is the way they present themselves on stage. Music is available in many other forms besides live now days. If a person only cares about the music I commend them, but of those that aren't musicians, many come to see a production with music, i.e., a show.

As a thought, how many people would pay to see old or young men playing surf music in their underwear? Sure there would be some, and it certainly would be a show, and in fact it might be a time when a person would really rather just hear the music.
it's just a thought
Joel

I don't think there is a qualitative difference between bands that wear matching clothes and those that don't. Each band has to be taken on it's own individual merits.

Joel wrote:

But I'm not going to pay big dollars to watch a group of players in trashy cloths making so-so music.

I would ask why pay big dollars to see people play so-so music in nice clothes?

maybe the lack of attendance is because the band looks like some of the punks down the street.

I would argue that plenty of bands look like the punks down the street and play very well for their style of music and audience.

I agree with Joel that it adds an extra dimension to an already enjoyable band to have some kind of a visual presentation too. But the band has to be good or nothing will help it, short of half dressed go-go dancers, which by the way, I'm working on as we speak. Back to the point, there are all kinds of bands and all kinds of audiences and one can only speak for oneself, as Joel did. But I would say that Joel is in the minority of the live music going demographic.

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

I'm gonna take the middle ground and say that I don't really care one way or the other, because I don't find the clothes important in the least. (Actually, maybe that means I'm leaning toward no stagewear, hmm.) Anyways, when I go to a show, especially if I haven't seen the band before, I'm going to see how the band sounds live, not looks live, because I enjoyed listening to their music on a CD, not their photo on the jewel case.
From my--admittedly limited--experience with live surf shows, I think that surf sounds better in a live setting, so I want to hear that at a show. I think it's that extra live "umph" that makes a show a show, which is aided much more by things like musicianship and general stage presence than apparel. Well dressed or no, it comes down to how well you play the music and how well you deliver them goods to the audience.

I understand the need and desire to be comfortable on stage, and I agree wholeheartedly with Wannes when he says every outfit is in fact chosen for the show that day. (I don't think anyone has randomly shown up to a club with all their gear and bandmates it tow to suddenly find that you were expected to play) I remember back in the my old days of punk rock, picking out very specifically what tee shirt I wanted to wear, and which torn jeans I wanted to wear - the torn ones, or the REALLY torn ones. So Wannes is absolutely right on that point.

I will say, however, that I do think there is much to be said for some sort of cohesion in band clothing. Again, using Ferenc and the boys in Pollo as an example, I think they'd look goddamn foolish if Ferenc did indeed wear a proper business suit onstage while Jono wore jeans and a t-shirt, Jeremy sported the Los Straitjackets look of a lucha libre mask and all black, while Jeff went with the Satan's Pilgrims "white pants, black cape" look.

As most of you know, I'm in a band that does indeed to a certain amount of uniform attire, and I can explain from my point of view and line of reasoning why we did it. Basically (to toss in the seasonal tie-in) it started out as a Halloween costume. We decided we'd wear all matching costumes, consisting of black shirts and pants with skinny turquoise ties, long black capes, and glow-in-the-dark hockey masks. We played a show at a small venue in Santa Cruz, and the look went over HUGELY. So we decided that we'd try that look again at a larger show, and don't you know - we got many compliments again. But in addition to the way others percieved us, we began to realize that we got a bit more "up" for shows as well. Kind of like when an athelete puts on a uniform, it's part of a pre-game ritual that tells them through force of habit that they are about to go out and compete. Much in the same way, we were unified and ready to take the stage by wearing our matching outfits. It sounds a little silly almost, but I find that I feel somewhat out of place playing onstage in my street clothes. In some ways, there's a bit of a difference between happy go lucky Bill that you'd meet at a bar or at a cafe, and "Lava Rat Bill" who wields his Mosrite and fills your ears with Surf mayhem.

Call me crazy. It's late, and I've had a long day.

~B~

DannySnyder
In a sense a band is like a team. I don't care how blase people pretend to be, there is always some element of competition within every band, every musician in fact.

I didn't realize. . . So who's winning?

Hmmm... Pollo has been getting mentioned a lot in this thread, maybe we should consult a fashion advisor. Personally, I am not opposed to band uniforms, I think the Mach IV were amongst the nattiest dressers around with our blue tuxs. Pollo tried various things early on (the striped Hang Tens were my fave), but it just wasn't us. I think we all have a strong non-conformist gene.
I have seen lots of bands with nice clothes and crappy music, and lots of bands with crappy clothes and crappy music. If you can't deliver musically, the best tailor around won't help you. I also think that if you are going to were unis, you should take it to the next level of creativity above matching bowling or Hawaiian shirts.
--ferenc

Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio

JakeDobner
If it is really warm outside I feel you have to suck it up for your set.

Says the guy from Seattle.

The Thunderchiefs do allot of the striped t-shirts, white jeans
Or Mike and I have been painting monster shirts ala Roth/Jeffries/mouse etc... And we ware them in the summer.

The heat and humidity in Austin is not conducive to suites in the summer.
Even in side.

We get to put on out jackets and ties when it finally cools down below 80 at 10 o’clock a night. That happens for about a week in January.

The Thunderchiefs

PolloGuitar
I also think that if you are going to were unis, you should take it to the next level of creativity above matching bowling or Hawaiian shirts.
--ferenc

The Penetrators think it is cool!
http://www.penetrators.com/photofriends.html

Fender Bass, Small Firearms

Trace

PolloGuitar
I also think that if you are going to were unis, you should take it to the next level of creativity above matching bowling or Hawaiian shirts.
--ferenc

The Penetrators think it is cool!
http://www.penetrators.com/photofriends.html

Hi Trace,
Welcome to SG101- I haven't seen you post before.
I checked the link above, and the only bowling shirts were on The Woodies. The Penetrators, on the other hand, set the bar for third wave style-- gold lamé jackets, red turtlenecks with blazers, racing stripe jackets, the summer shorts. You guys just blew everyone away, and not just with the clothes. The comic books, the S3, the mission reports- all the products of a band with a very focused visual concept. (The music was great too!)
My hats off to the Penetrators,
--Ferenc

Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio