Band attire??

[Willie Poole]

I watched the Grasscals a few nights ago on a show as guests of The Pressleys on RFD-TV....All of the Pressleys were dressed in nice looking suits and The Grasscals came on stage looking like they were wearing clothes that they had traveled in for months and never changed....In the past I have never really cared, and still don`t, what a band looked like but it was such a contrast between them and the others that it really caught my eye....I know some bands in the past wore suits and I`m sure they cost a pretty penny.....My band members do dress alike, usually black jeans and matching shirts, red, orange or white....BUT, I have seen some bands that just don`t look nice with tennis shoes with holes in them and jeans with the knees split open.....However I don`t grade the bands on what they look like, I grade them on their music, how they sound but I am wondering if some of them would sell more CD`s if they were dressed nicely and would get booked on more festivals if they at least dressed alike? Any opinions on this?

Willie

[Markus]

Perhaps it's seen as inauthentic to dress up for TV, in their opinion.

I would think for TV and daytime/festival type appearances you'd want to look halfway presentable. Club gigs, night shows ... I guess I don't really care as much.

I see TV as `reaching out' to a new audience - and thus it's odd to force your appearance on them right from the start.

[300win]

It varies I guess, but at Doyle Lawson's festival in Denton, North Carolina, I've seen both, high dressers and blue jeans. I guess Doyle don't care, and he is a strict high dress band man. Those coats he wears looks like something out of the 1950s country music scene.

[Rodney Riley]

I look at some of the designer jeans worn today and wished I'd saved all the jeans that had burn holes in them from welding and tears from getting too close to jagged steel that I have thrown away.

Actually if they are clean and not wrinkled I like the look. Clean and wrinkle free is the key.

[Mark Hudson]

I always pity the "tie and jacket" bands at the festivals nowadays... I understand the tradition, but when it's over 90 degrees and humid, and the entire audience is wearing shorts and tees...

[JeffD]

It would be great if I could separate what the band looks like on stage and what they sound like, but really, its the whole performance, of which the clothing is a part.

I really like a bluegrass band in matching suit and tie. Great jazz and blues bands that wore formal suit and tie looked great too.

I like a western swing band in matching two tone western shirts.

I love the over the top blazers and outfits of the days of classic country music.

I guess I like traditions that require dressing up a bit. But that may be a old fashioned notion on my part. I don't know if it helps or hurts a band to all be dressed alike.

I personally won't wear working clothes (overalls) to play music, or anything thats not working. I understand folks who want to, and I don't mind, but its not me to do that.

[mandopete]

Pretty hard to beat this look huh?

[D. Roberts]

Hey Willie,
Next time we play on Presley's I'll try to remember to change from the the clothes I slept in the night before:-))
Hope you enjoyed the music better than how we looked.

Danny

[AlanN]

'It's not how you feel, but how you look. And you look mahvelous!'

[Scotti Adams]

Now..you boys all play nice now....ya hear?

[Bill Baldock]

I thought the Presleys do sleep in those suits.

[AlanN]

Back in Tony Rice's singin/playin days, he did the Johnny Carson look - starched white shirt, red tie, light blue sport coat, a very cool look.

Duffey did the loud trousers and a knit shirt.

Monroe did the dark suit, thin tie.

Del and boys dress sharp.

Each has their own thing.

[JeffD]

If I could play like him, I would dress like him.

[f5loar]

The Grasscals probably did take a shower before that show so that's more then most bands will do. And I'm sure their clothes although unmatched were clean. I have faith in that at least Kristen smelled fine. But right it does make you wonder that a band of that high profile does not want to look more professional. But to live up to Doyle's standards (his Manuel/Nudie style jackets cost $10,000 plus) might be far fetched.

[journeybear]

And Jeff, don't forget the hair. Marty has the best hair in bluegrass.

[mandowilli]

These guys know how to dress like pros.

[JeffD]

But to live up to Doyle's standards (his Manuel/Nudie style jackets cost $10,000 plus) might be far fetched.

I am tempted, but will refrain from referencing this post in the many "Why Do They Cost So Much I Mean Really (mandolins or picks) threads.

[tiltman]

I'm pretty traditional in my most of my opinions about music...my band tends to give me a pretty hard time about it.
But Band Attire is where I tend to differ with the traditionalists. Suits just really aren't all that practical anymore - esp. for an outdoor show - although I sure do like the way a band looks in them. And I think that bands that dress alike in 'casual' attire...usually look like the waiters at Applebees.
Just my opinion.

Kirk Miller
Portland, OR

[JeffD]

And I think that bands that dress alike in 'casual' attire...usually look like the waiters at Applebees.

I know what you mean.

OTO, when everyone is dressed their own way, and casual, it kind of loses something. I dunno. Like they just met backstage or in a jam.

I remember seeing an all girl bluegrass band, I forget where, and they all wore different outfits, but the same bright yellow color. A flouncy country dress, a business suit, a sick city pants suit, and a formal evening gown. All bright sunflower yellow. It really worked well. Made you look. Made you listen. Sure they were good, but the attire just added something more to the performance.

[Nolan]

And I think that bands that dress alike in 'casual' attire...usually look like the waiters at Applebees.
Just my opinion.

Kirk Miller
Portland, OR

That is classic Kirk... the true mark of an amateur band! Unfortunately most bands (At least the ones I've been in) have different ideas of what they want to look like and the compromise is Applebee waiter. Safe but boring. I like the fact that the Grascals obviously have a theme (Cool western I guess you could call it?) but don't look like they're are trying hard to "Match".

[Scott Holt]

Well, based upon my assessment, the Grascals seem to be doing just fine. Personally, I could care less what they wear. I understand the urge to wear suits given tradition, however they can be quite impractical. I find it interesting that no one responded to Danny Roberts post (#8).

Scott

[MikeEdgerton]

Hey Willie,
Next time we play on Presley's I'll try to remember to change from the the clothes I slept in the night before:-))
Hope you enjoyed the music better than how we looked.

Danny, it's good to see you weighing in here on this pressing subject.

By the way Willie, your feet are looking pretty clean on this one.

[Popeye39]

These guys know how to dress like pros.

I can't begin to tell what that picture has done to me. The jury is still out on "guys", for me.

[JEStanek]

...By the way Willie, your feet are looking pretty clean on this one.

huh?

Jamie

[MikeEdgerton]

huh?

They must be clean, at least one has been in his mouth.