Funny enough, I always keep my cell phone in my front pocket and recently realized it looks terrible on stage by seeing pictures of myself. Now I take it out and leave it on my amp or somewhere else out of sight.
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What do you wear when you play gigs?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
I use my phone as a camera to make a video of our shows, so I don't have to worry about it jutting from my front pocket. 
* scurries to find his photos to make sure his phone is not in front pocket.
I put my cell phone in my front pocket and turn the flashlight on strobe so the BL can find me when I get lost during breaks.
Also makes me easier to find at night at the dog park.
Also makes me easier to find at night at the dog park.
Her name was Vera. She was gorgeous and also married to the drummer, Mickey. They had two young kids at the time and on one 3-month leg of our tour, they brought the kids with them. We played this one club in Rock Springs, WY called "The Kasbah" and it was in an hotel. Our agent gave them a break on our price because they were including "rooms", so that was cool. When we got there we found out they also owned a trailer park the other side of the hotel and our "rooms" were in a big trailer in that park. So there were four rooms, which were enough for us and would have been not great, but OK, except for the young kids they brought on this leg of the tour. 5-nights a week for 2-weeks we played from 9PM until 1AM. We'd typically go out to eat dinner after the show and hit the sack as early as 2AM or as late as 3AM.Opinions differ.
Who puts their cell phone in their front pocket?
THis pic should be in the "Would you date your lead singer?" thread. And...yes.
AND THEN, between 5AM and 6AM the kids suddenly and quite loudly materialized in the living room playing with their toys. Next thing you know the kids are running laps around the living room through the kitchen and up and down the halls. It was absolutely impossible to sleep with them making all that racket. And of course the whole reason they were out there was because Mickey and Vera wanted to sleep in. I was exhausted at the end of those two weeks and our guitarist rented a room in the hotel for most of our second week.
At other venues, it wasn't a real problem. Separate hotel/motel rooms away from Mickey and Vera's room and it was not a problem - you couldn't hear the kids. And that was the last time we played the Kasbah with the kids in tow. On the next leg of the tour, they brought a 14-year old baby sitter with them and wherever stayed, they got her a separate room with the kids.
Vera had a great voice though and was certainly eye-candy for the audience. And that mini-skirt was about the longest thing she'd wear. I had a great time touring with those folks for 3-years. It was the perfect time to do that.
- Apr 1, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
usually jeans , boots , comfortable shirt , some sort of hat ...
blues , swingin' blues rock .
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Vera is a cool name. Why aren't people naming kids Vera anymore?
I really think stage attire can be a pretty tricky thing. There is a fine line. I think, you don't want to look like you could walk off stage and just blend into the crowd. Even for a bar band - you want to look something of the part. However - you are NOT a rock star - and that whole 'act like a rock star' thing looks asinine in about 99% of situations - the worst is the aging beer bellied rocker thing - it just is so cringey. So you have to be careful to not cross the ridiculous line. Also, there is an element of personality - some people can pull off the ridiculous pants, etc. Most of us can't - I know I wouldn't be able to. I've got the physique to do so, but not that built in attitude. I'm trying to upgrade my look a bit from casual/clean/boring to sharp/fitted/cool - but not crossing the line into 'who the heck does that doofus think he is' territory. One thing for sure - I'm trying to not do the cargo shorts thing anymore - I'll suck it up in the heat.
I really wanted to give you the business for dumping on us overweight guys given your avatar pic, but strong ending there
and I do need to lose weight.
Different things I've worn on stage over the years:
Here's a shot from a publicity photo with a group I played with from 1971 through 1973. That's my 1965 Jazz that really needs a good wipe down. In my defense we played 5-nights a week, typically 9PM to 1AM, 50-weeks a year.
Here's another publicity shot from with the J. Badders Band. Was taken at a small brewpub where we performed over 40 Fridays per year - hosted Open Mic Nights there.
Here's a shot from a Music Festival in about 2018: That's a more common get-up for me. Black pants and black overshirt with a t-shirt or polo in various colors. Neckerchief is my skull and crossbones scarf that my daughter in law gave me and of course my green Scottish Tam.
Here's another shot where we were playing at Bronco Billy's. I forgot my ever-present green tam (hat) but had my skull and crossbones scarf, so I used that for a head band and away I went. This is a small one because I pulled it out of another picture. It gives a totally different impression with the head band instead of the Tam.:
And here is my "Gerry Garcia plays bass" look from an outdoor festival where they asked us to dress in 1969 "Woodstock" clothing. I also let my hair down for this one. It's usually in a pony tail.
Yeah - I really hope it didn't come across in that way - very much not intended to be a slam on anyone (but myself!!)I really wanted to give you the business for dumping on us overweight guys given your avatar pic, but strong ending there
and I do need to lose weight.
Don't really have a lot more...I'll see what I can find.Look that's all good but we need more Vera pics
Here's one! There is smoke on the right side of this because we were playing at an NCO club at Lemoore Naval Air Station, home of the West Pac Widows back in 1971. The fighter squadrons stationed here were flying carrier missions in Viet Nam and would be gone for 6-months at a time or more. In their absence, their wives did like to party and blow off steam. Wives at the Officers Club were wilder yet (dancing on tables was definitely a thing). Anyhow, smoking was definitely allowed there and they all drank a LOT (it was cheap!). I just realized you can see part of the left side of my Standel amp there, that you can't see in other pictures. Darn I miss that amp!
So here's one more picture of Vera for you:
I think this is spot on. When I said "clothes that fit" earlier, that doesn't necessarily mean tight or skinny - it means clothes that suit your body type. It's good to be aware of that. There are different kinds of cuts of clothes that work better for slimmer or heftier physiques. And what you're talking about is awareness of the nuance in the message you're sending. Motley Crue outfits looked cool in videos on 80s MTV. They don't "read" the same in Bob's Country Bunker. Even if you're playing Motley Crue songs, that doesn't mean lipliner and spandex are the right message for your local bar gig.
The smoke might be on the right side but the smokeshow is dead center *rimshot*
For real though, thanks for sharing the story. Sounds like some really fun times! Rock on!
For real though, thanks for sharing the story. Sounds like some really fun times! Rock on!
This what we usually look like more or less when gigging. Bringing the post war blues experience shorts and sneakers topped of with a Fred Perry Polo won't do.
And always, always wear nice leather shoes!
