# Wearing a band's t-shirt to their concert. Bad. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482 "2005-10-29T18:52:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/1 "2005-10-29T18:52:33Z")
I’ve always heard that it isn’t cool to wear a band’s t shirt to a concert put on by that band is not cool, but I’ve never really heard the explaination of why. Is it seen as an attempt to be “a bigger fan than thou?” Is it just considered too obvious? Also, last night I went to a Led Zepagain concert, a Led Zeppelin tribute band(great show BTW), and I noticed a lot of people in Led Zeppelin t-shirts. Would this violate the rule? I mean, whatever explanation there is for not wearng a band’s shirt to their concert surely applies to wearing a bands shirt to a tribute band. I saw a few Led Zeppagain t-shirtsm which I thought waas pretty cool, because it’s just kind of out there to have a t-shirt of a cover band. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/2 "2005-10-29T18:56:06Z")
Don’t be that guy. Sorry - I have nothing else to add. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/3 "2005-10-29T19:08:04Z")
It would be cool to wear a a Led Zepagain Tshirt to a Led Zeppelin concert (talkin theory here); it would NOT be cool to wear a Led Zeppelin Tshirt to a Led Zepagain concert. That would be gay. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/4 "2005-10-29T19:20:00Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > I’ve always heard that it isn’t cool to wear a band’s t shirt to a concert put on by that band is not cool, but I’ve never really heard the explaination of why. Is it seen as an attempt to be “a bigger fan than thou?” Is it just considered too obvious? I’ve never heard that, nor would I care. If a person is going to think less of me because of what I’m wearing, there opinion ceases to be important to me. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/5 "2005-10-29T19:27:13Z")
If you’re going to wear the band’s T-shirt to the concert, it should be one that you bought 10 years ago when the band was a little-known opening act. It shows you were a fan way back when. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/6 "2005-10-29T19:32:11Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > It would be cool to wear a a Led Zepagain Tshirt to a Led Zeppelin concert (talkin theory here); it would NOT be cool to wear a Led Zeppelin Tshirt to a Led Zepagain concert. That would be gay. No gay person would ever wear a Led Zepplin t-shirt to a Led Zepplin concert. Undoubtedly you meant “stupid” or “uncool” and your fat little fingers accidentally typed out “gay” instead. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/7 "2005-10-29T19:34:35Z")
Enthusiasm is lame. To be cool, you must always look like you would rather be somewhere else. Wearing a White Stripes Tshirt to a White Stripes concert is barely a step away from going to a Tori Amos concert with a Tori Amos Tshirt, buttons, hat, tote bag, and travel mug in tow. Ultimately, what’s the difference between someone wearing a Death Cab for Cutie Tshirt to a Death Cab for Cutie show, and a football fan painting his naked torso blue? It’s only a matter of degree. MUCH cooler to paint your torso blue for a Death Cab for Cutie concert. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/8 "2005-10-29T19:40:21Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Enthusiasm is lame. To be cool, you must always look like you would rather be somewhere else. Wearing a White Stripes Tshirt to a White Stripes concert is barely a step away from going to a Tori Amos concert with a Tori Amos Tshirt, buttons, hat, tote bag, and travel mug in tow. Ultimately, what’s the difference between someone wearing a Death Cab for Cutie Tshirt to a Death Cab for Cutie show, and a football fan painting his naked torso blue? It’s only a matter of degree. MUCH cooler to paint your torso blue for a Death Cab for Cutie concert. Oh God! - It’s all so crystal clear now. What a fool I’ve been! Not liking is the best liking. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/9 "2005-10-29T19:46:07Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > No gay person would ever wear a Led Zepplin t-shirt to a Led Zepplin concert. Undoubtedly you meant “stupid” or “uncool” and your fat little fingers accidentally typed out “gay” instead. Probably should’ve footnoted that I was adopting the tone and vocabulary of someone to whom such issues would be important. Maybe, should’ve put it in quotes and bylined it “Hipster Boy” or something ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/10 "2005-10-29T19:49:41Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > No gay person would ever wear a Led Zepplin t-shirt to a Led Zepplin concert. Undoubtedly you meant “stupid” or “uncool” and your fat little fingers accidentally typed out “gay” instead. Oh and plus, you probably meant to type “elegant” or “statuesque” and your gay fingers accidentally type out “fat” instead. Oh, enclose that in quotes, with the byline “–Cartman.” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/11 "2005-10-29T19:51:56Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Oh and plus, you probably meant to type “elegant” or “statuesque” and your gay fingers accidentally type out “fat” instead. > > Oh, enclose that in quotes, with the byline “–Cartman.” You know, just in case, you DO realize I’m trying (with debatable success) to be funny here? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/12 "2005-10-29T20:03:21Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > You know, just in case, you DO realize I’m trying (with debatable success) to be funny here? Not that it matters, but does Otto know that you’re gay? It might seem less objectionable and more of a winking aside in that context. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/13 "2005-10-29T20:09:23Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Not that it matters, but does Otto know that you’re gay? It might seem less objectionable and more of a winking aside in that context. You mean, does he know that I’m “stupid” or “uncool”? Probly. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/14 "2005-10-29T20:14:28Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > You know, just in case, you DO realize I’m trying (with debatable success) to be funny here? As a totally outside opinion, I have to say, no, it never occurred to me. I don’t know why people won’t use smilies or the equivalent. They are essential. Absolutely essential. This is not aimed at you particularly. It’s a general rule that everyone should obey. ---
**Author:** ![Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/15 "2005-10-29T21:13:25Z")
[Droz: What’s this? You’re wearing the shirt of the band you’re going to see? Don’t be that guy](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110759/) Haz 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/16 "2005-10-29T21:30:41Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > As a totally outside opinion, I have to say, no, it never occurred to me. > > I don’t know why people won’t use smilies or the equivalent. They are essential. Absolutely essential. > > This is not aimed at you particularly. It’s a general rule that everyone should obey. Shouldn’t you have included a smiley? I mean, you can’t be serious? For the record, I almost never use smileys. Except, well, sometimes ironically. Do you need smileys when you’re reading the newspaper, or a book? Seriously, sorry for the hijack, but the overdependence on smileys have created some kind of bizarro world where things are assumed to be serious unless accompanied by a smiley. If I can’t a funny across on its own merits, then I’ve failed in my attempt. (Which is clearly a given in this thread; I’m just sayin, in general.) [I’m gonna back out of this hijack now; sorry Taber. I may, however, pop into a “Smileys mandatory?” thread if such a thing pops up in GD or something.] ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/17 "2005-10-29T21:32:26Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > No gay person would ever wear a Led Zepplin t-shirt to a Led Zepplin concert. No gay person would ever spell Led Zeppelin correctly. Undoubtedly your elegant, sensual, finely chiselled digits knew this independent of your conscious mind. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/18 "2005-10-29T21:35:13Z")
Sheesh. :rolleyes: > [@lissener](#): > > . . . If I can’t \*\*\*put \*\*\*a funny across on its own merits . . . ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/19 "2005-10-29T21:45:23Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > You know, just in case, you DO realize I’m trying (with debatable success) to be funny here? Well, _I_ laughed. Am definitely going to paint myself blue for Broken Social Scene next month. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482/20 "2005-10-29T22:00:31Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > No gay person would ever wear a Led Zepplin t-shirt to a Led Zepplin concert. Undoubtedly you meant “stupid” or “uncool” and your fat little fingers accidentally typed out “gay” instead. “Fat?” “Little?” Undoubtedly, you must have meant something else entirely, bigot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wearing-a-bands-t-shirt-to-their-concert-bad-why/328482.md?page=2)