The Steel Guitar Forum

I like the stupid cowboy shirts with the flowers on the shoulders. We play at Pearls Dancehall Friday nite in Fort Worth and we all wear the same outfits. Same shirt jeans and boots. Too many people think they gotta wear rags and wife beaters to look cool these days. Hell, Buck and Don were cooler than cool. The Jones Boys wear the same outfits. I can wear rags and sandals at home when I'm ridin horses.

that garvis pic is pretty scary...what kind of institution is that?

W.C., there is no doubt that outfits will not cover for bad musicianship. I just think it wraps a group up for a more professional look. Now I realize that in some instances where guys are called to set in with groups that they do not normally play with creates problems unless they have a whole closet full of extra uniforms for that occasion. I guess uniforms are just part of our heritage as is the good old country sound.

The last country band I was in we didn't have uniforms. One of the gospel bands I played in we did. We wore black suits with white shrits and black shoes or boots. In the last country band I played the lead singer wanted me to wear blue jeans and earth tone colored shirts.
Tommy

Here is the one we were thinking of.....

Meet The Buckles, from Portland, Oregon! My very good friend and Forum member, Harley James sings, plays pedal steel and electric guitar in the band. I think they have been together about eight years or so. They typically wear two different uniforms for each gig, changing about the halfway point. They play a lot of West Coast, Buck Owens style honky tonk material along with 60's Beatle covers, hence the name Buckles....get it?

These guys are a real class act.


http://www.thebuckles.net/

The "Village People" now they had uniforms! Makes you wont to sing-YMCA-YMCA. Joe

which one was the gay one?......not that there's anything wrong with it........

My band doesn't wear uniforms, but, we wear western shirts, boots and some of us wear hats. We like the way it looks and we dress the part. Sometimes, at an informal gig, I'll wear a "T" shirt with some western logo on it, but, clean and not ripped up.
I can't stand the un-kempt look, I don't care how good you play, it just looks sloppy.
Dressing appropiately separates you from the crowd and I like that. I'm just from the old school, I guess. Nowadays, it doesn't seem to matter, but, I'll still follow my venue.

My band doesn't wear uniforms, but, we wear western shirts, boots and some of us wear hats. We like the way it looks and we dress the part. Sometimes, at an informal gig, I'll wear a "T" shirt with some western logo on it, but, clean and not ripped up.
I can't stand the un-kempt look, I don't care how good you play, it just looks sloppy.
Dressing appropiately separates you from the crowd and I like that. I'm just from the old school, I guess. Nowadays, it doesn't seem to matter, but, I'll still follow my venue.

Here My Band, the one day I left without my Hat

A few years ago I was at some country music jam when I asked some guy(who was all dress up in cowboy clothes, big cowboy hat and boots) what band are you with? He replied, Oh I'm not in a band ,I'm here to line dance. That did it--when you can't tell the difference between the band and the crowd, that is when the band stops dressing--let the crowd do it. After all, the customer (crowd) is always right!!!Joe

chris ivey wrote:which one was the gay one?......not that there's anything wrong with it........

Whichever one suits your fancy, but the Indian would probably be the most fun.

Joe Miraglia wrote:

Hey Joe! So THAT'S the group that you played with in your younger years huh! Which one were you? The construction worker seems to bare a resemblance...

Mark, yes it the Seneca Allegany Casino Joe

I guess everybody tries to justify why they wear what they do and maybe I'm showing my own age here but I don't think the days of the Nudie suits are coming back and most bands simply can't afford them. That was the 60's and it's 40 years later folks! I figure just find something inbetween that's respectable and doesn't look like you just got out from under your car. I've seen those guys that do come in after just climbing out from under their car and for them, somebody just needs to tell them to wash up and put on some deodorant! It may be a bar or not seem like much to you when you go to play but it's supposed to be entertainment whatever the setting and you need to outdress the usual customers that come in. On a typical gig if you're playing country music then a clean western shirt with jeans and boots should be appropriate. Sorry torn jeans and never T-shirts...never! Remember these idiots you see on the Opry may wear a T-Shirt and torn jeans but that ain't country music either!

Remember these idiots you see on the Opry may wear a T-Shirt and torn jeans but that ain't country music either!

I'm pretty young, and I did not experience the golden age of country music, but I definitely enjoy it! Including the western wear!

As a matter of fact, I make western wear and stage wear!

I am heavily influenced by the great custom tailors; Nudie's Rodeo Tailors, Nathan Turk, Manuel, etc...

I create designs in that style, but I try to retain my own individuality in it.

I invite you to visit my website:
www.windwagonwesterns.com

~Tim

. . . it's supposed to be entertainment whatever the setting and you need to outdress the usual customers that come in.

. . . and compliment the venue, too. Bandstands and stages are for those willing to go beyond themselves. If you don't get that, you don't belong there. (Just watch anyone up there who doesn't know how to carry it off--Karaoke is a great case in point--or band groups who look like they just got through cutting grass or swapping a tranny).

That said, there are only two things to know about Karaoke: the songs you can sing, and those you can't.

Tim Jones wrote:I invite you to visit my website:
www.windwagonwesterns.com

Well, I guess, like others in this thread, I must be old school too. If I was running a band today I would be round for a 'measuring up' session with ya. I like it.

All the people who say that it's all about the music are wrong. That only applies in the studio or in basement sessions and such. The rest of the time it is generally 'all about the show'. In the mind of the paying customer that is the sum total of 'what you see', 'what you hear' and 'how it makes you feel'. While some in the audience will be there for your amazing multi element chords, most are there to dance and have a good time and the most won't know if you are playing a Gm7flat5 or a Eb9 or even a Bbm6 - and most won't care. That is NOT an excuse for sloppy playing - just that most won't know why they like what they hear. On the other hand, look good on stage and they have something to refer to when they say 'Remember that band that did...'
But as I said, I'm old school...

Regards, Allan.....

I think matching outfits or close anyway makes for a better show. Hell, if your only interested in the sound you might as well stay home and listen to the CD.

Nice work Tim. Manuel once told me. "if you want to be treated like a star, you have to look like a star".

Jeff Evans beat me to it.

Uniforms?

I'd quit so fast all you'd hear is screeching tires.

In the late-70's our bluegrass band came in second in a large contest...because one judge marked us down as we did not wear matching shirts. Jethro Burns was one of the other judges and he was so pissed he walked off the judging stand.

Jim Sliff wrote:I'd quit so fast all you'd hear is screeching tires.

And I would be the first in line to support you - there is room for both attitudes. I assume that you wouldn't even audition for a band that was in to uniforms.

As regards competitions, I would say that is ALL about the music. Mr. Burns deserves all respect for what he did.

Regards, Allan.....