Nudie suits vs blue jeans?

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Having barely recovered from putting my foot in my mouth with my comments about the countrypolitan sound, here I am doing it again.

Just as I like my music on the raw and funky side, so to do I prefer to see performers wearing informal clothing. I prefer the Willie Nelson look to that of performers like Porter Wagonner (No disrespect to Porter intended.)

So how about you guys. Agree? Disagree? Any comments?

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

That's what I liked about the early Flying Burrito Brothers promo shots, they had long hair and wore nudie suits!
Too cool.

Personally I thought Willie had some really funky threads in the 1970s, he sometimes wore Nudie styled flairs and some excelllent boots.
It's in the 1980s when he looked like a jogger, now that didn't work for me.

Michael Holland · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Of course, we all like the Nigel Tufnel look; jeans and a "Norman's Rare Guitars" t-shirt. But I think the audience likes to be able to tell the band from the bus boys. Personally, I like the open dress shirt over a white or black t-shirt. Maybe a polyester pattern or a Hawaiian kind of thing.

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Geoff Brown · From: Nashvegas

Great thread. I'm with Jason on this one. Gotta love those nudie suits. Willie's outfits these days are ok with me, but I can't help but wonder how cool it would be to see that whole band on stage someplace wearing nudie suits. I think it would look great

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

When I worked w/ Tommy Overstreet,he spent a lot of money buying matched uniforms for us. (I hate the word,"costumes".) We had, at least,4 changes,that we could "mix & match". When people came to see us,they knew who the band was,even if we were on break. I think that "uniforms" are half the show. If you look good,you sound good,even if you aren't great.They don't have to be expensive,but they should match. When I was working,nobody ever walked up to me & said,"Are you with the band?" They already knew I was.

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Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I think you should at least look neat and clean when appearing in public. The "grunge" look usually appeals to kids or other "grungy people" (No offense, Mike

)

To me, when Willie or Merle appear at a concert looking like a "street-person", or when Mary Chapin Carpenter looks more like a "bag-lady" than a sucessful entertainer, they're doing nothing but thumbing their nose at the world (i.e. the audience), and the audience is too stupid to even realize it! (At least...that's what's going through my mind.)

Of course, there may be a hidden agenda...most "stars" probably do this at the request of their many "advisors". It's a ploy to attract the larger, more enthusiastic, young audience...most of whom dress like dirt-bags anyway!

Yes, I was young once...a long time ago. And I dressed very sloppily when I was washing cars for a living at $1.25 an hour. But when I got my first music job (which paid $6.00 a night!) I was neat.

Nudie suits? I never cared for 'em...remind me of Liberace.

Bill Sharpe · From: Hermitage, TN 37076, USA

So, that's where the yellow shorts came from

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B#

Martin Abend · From: Berlin, Germany

I like the idea that the band is not distinguished from the audience, at least not by their looks. This works for some people, thought (Tele's (Andy's) band is one of the most stylish I've ever seen. But they are great anyway so they could could wear nothing and it wouod be o.k.).

Maybe it's my punkrock past, but I alway hope that someone from the audience would jump up on stage and do a sond with us. Unfortunately, I'm the only one in the band that thinks that way

...but if I could get a nudie suit nothing could stop me from wearing it (every day, that is).

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Sage · From: Boulder, Colorado

Nudie suits all the way! They are better than Bill Monroe's version of neat, which IMHO would look most stylish when carrying a casket. Personally, I am tired of drab and usual, and I try to look better than usual when I go out to play. I also have a collection of startling and offensively bright western shirts from the 1980's which I love. That is my version of dressing for the job.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Don't get me wrong guys. I agree that a performer should look presentable and professional. I said I like the informal or casual look, as opposed to the elaborate style exemplified by the aforementioned Mr. Waggoner. But I don't think performers should wear torn or dirty clothes or look like they are homeless and haven't washed in 6 months.

Let me rephrase the question. Nudie suits or clean and neat casual wear?

Bob Hayes · From: Church Hill,Tenn,USA

I had a WHOLE closet of Band Uniforms..for a while thay's all I had..from the Many different bands that I've been involved with.
I think that they all SHRUNK..I belive in looking neat at most jobs,but sometimes for outside stuff or very informal,,I like the black Tee shirt and Jeans. I'm into the Kik Brooks look(fancy.wild colors and shapes).
I don't know what Allan Jackson does with his money..but he dosn't spend it on jeans! They are ALL ripped or worn out at the KNEE!!!

Quesney Gibbs · From: Anniston, AL

Perhaps it is just my opinion but I think that grunge is for sloppy musicians. If you don't care what you look like onstage as far as I am concerned you don't care what you play like. No matter what band I play with I am neat and do my best for whoever I am working for.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I go along with the "neat" side. I don't think the "wear anything you feel like" is the right approach.

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

At different times in my career I've worn everything from embroidered shirts with fringe, to nudies, to jeans, to shorts, but I don't remember it very often being my choice.

As a musician, not the star, the final question I've always asked after all the other details like money etc have been decided is: "What do you want me to wear"? www.genejones.com

Larry Miller · From: Dothan AL,USA

Mike, I like the "Spangles" and "Sparkles"

Larry

Earl Foote · From: Houston, Tx, USA

I'm with Mike on this one. One thing I really don't like is band "uniforms"

What the heck is a nudie suit?

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

A "nudie" suit is your birthday suit.

(actually it isn't but I had to say that)

Dave Robbins · From: Cottontown, Tnn. USA (deceased)

An agent once told me that he prefer the band members be "distinguishable" (spelling?)from anyone else. He didn't say that he preferred "nudies" suits "or" the grunge look, just that "anyone should be able tell who the band was". He also preferred "neat and clean", but I think that should go without saying.
I personally like the way Jay Dee always dressed with "Dessert Rose". His mixture of the "Nudie" jacket with casual dress, I thought, looked very contemporary.
Nothing looked "sharper" for it's time though than Ray Price's band in the sixties!
I personally dress according to the situation. If it is a sit-down, weekly club gig (though few and far between these days), I'm more inclined to dress casually. If it is behind an artist, I dress according to "their" preference, since "motif" seems to change from artist to artist. If unknown, you can't go wrong with basic black. I know of some theater/club gigs where it is "required" to wear black and white.
I think that, regardless of the situation, you should show repect for the listening audience in your apparel. And, I don't think it is repectful to dress like a "street bum!" You'd think "Dwight" could afford a pair of pants by now!..Maybe he's saving his money for "hair!"...ooops! Did I say that?

Dave

[This message was edited by Dave Robbins on 19 July 2001 at 06:46 AM.]

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Eark, I beieve Nudie is the name of man who designed the kind of suits suits with the spangles and glitter sequins that some performers prefer.

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

For all the lip service given to "individuality," it's been my experience that when a band dresses in the same motif, there is a sense of cohesiveness that translates into the music and the performance.

Before the 1960's "cultural rebellion," it was commonplace, even expected, for bands to dress alike and be distinctive from the audience, including rock and roll bands.

The 1960's changed that attitude, and when bass players and drummers... and even the musicians

(just joking - all you thin-skinned guys spare me the flames, okay)... decided that they were no longer in a service profession for dancers but instead were "ar-teestes," the "I'm above this lame uniform sh*t" attitude was adopted.

What is ignored is that audiences relate to what is going on visually almost as much as what goes on aurally. Which is why bands that dress extremely flashy, "do steps" onstage, have coordinated movements with their instruments, have matching guitars, etc., present a much more attractive and impressive package than those guys that dress just like the audience. When you offer visuals, you make the statement "we're something special and it was worth your paying the cover charge to see us, as well as hear us. We care that you are impressed."

Hey, even something as simple as a sport coat and tie will differentiate the band from the audience and will get a very favorable reaction from everyone, generally.

I've been in uniform bands/flash bands, and I've been in "come as you are bands." Generally, the crowds were bigger and more enthusiastic when the musicians dressed differently than the bartenders, bouncers, and customers.

Of course, if you're a rebellious "ar-teeste," well...

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Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Earl, to answer your question.....here is a band outfitted in "Nudies" right out of the 60s when they were popular: http://genejones.bizland.com/cmywebpa.htm
(P.S. I just realized that those outfits looked sort of bland in the black & white...but, they were mustard yellow)

Nudie was a well known clothier in California who originally made western or cowboy clothing for the Hollywood Stars like Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, etc, and later for bands, especially those appearing on the Reno/Los Vegas circuit. He was very well known and flamboyant, often photographed in a Cadilac convertible with steer-horns on the hood. www.genejones.com

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 19 July 2001 at 08:04 AM.]

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 19 July 2001 at 08:05 AM.]

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 20 July 2001 at 01:05 PM.]

Martin Abend · From: Berlin, Germany

Herb,

that's an interesting opinion. Maybe it's different in a country-context than it is in Rock music, but my impression is that it is an attribute to those "I'm an artist"-idiots when they have all this visual stuff going on. To dress more or less like the crowd means to me that the musician is not "better" or elevated or whatever compared with the audience. And most of all it sure is not meant as disrespect! Like I said: I think it's great if someone comes up and play a tune with the band.

And Quesney,

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Damn......I was just trying to be "cosmopolitan" and I find all of my self confidence sinking to the bottom of the pond. www.genejones.com

Greg Vincent · From: Folsom, CA USA

Gene,

Now you guys had THE LOOK! Those were GREAT THREADS!!!

My take on Mike's question is that these things come in waves: For a long time everyone dressed-up on stage. It was expected. Then naturally it became necessary to rebel against what was "expected". This happened in pop music (with hippies and then again with punks) and in C&W (with the "outlaw" movement). While once you could make a statement by looking casual on stage, at this point in time it seems like the "rebel" movements have lost a lot of meaning, since it's now so common to see performers who look "ordinary" on stage.

That's why I think that right now it's important to dress fancy on stage --if only because so few people bother to do it anymore. It makes a statement and will set your band apart from the rest.

So... IMHO, Nudie suits YES!

GV

[This message was edited by Greg Vincent on 19 July 2001 at 10:03 AM.]

[This message was edited by Greg Vincent on 19 July 2001 at 10:04 AM.]

[This message was edited by Greg Vincent on 19 July 2001 at 10:06 AM.]

Steve B · From: Garland Texas

Yeah, nudie suits are great when it is 95 degrees outide and 105 degrees inside at Gruene Hall, or other no a/c or outdoor places in the hot Texas Summer.

When is the last time you have seen anybody wearing a nudie suit in person? No country artists, top 40 Nashville or traditional Texas wear Nudie Suits. The Derailers and Junior Brown look very sharp onstage, but no nudie suits. I have seen Dale Watson in a mechanics jump suit, but no Nudie suit. Did Buck Owens look sharp at the Carnagie Hall show back in the day? You bet he did! What about Diamond Rio (or Blackhawk)and their mullet haircuts, and silk shirts?

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