It’s ok to be ‘that guy’ at concerts.

Junette Reyes / Editor-in-Chief

As someone who likes reading up on music news and the like, I sometimes browse several fan site forums of bands I am a fan of.

One particular instance while looking through a Nine Inch Nails forum, I came across a post where fans were debating concert etiquette of sorts. A topic that specifically peaked my interest was the guidelines behind wearing a band t-shirt.

A search here and there led me to similar posts, most of which agreed on one thing: never wear a band’s shirt to their concert. It’s just lame and redundant, it seems. Everyone knows you’re there to see said band, so why wear their gear? And whatever you do, make sure to never wear the shirt to the concert as soon as you buy it from the merch table. Hold it all night for the sake of staying cool.

Alternatives for what to wear to a concert were, thankfully, suggested, such as wearing the gear of another band. Like this, you can show just how far your taste in music goes.

While highly entertaining to read, the thought of anyone genuinely believing in this philosophy baffles me. For a rock n’ roll culture so enthralled with the idea of being free of any rules and just enjoying the music, it is quite interesting to see any sort of guidelines for concert attire, whether it’s serious or not.

Yes, it might be redundant to wear a band’s t-shirt to their concert, but who cares? The reason you bought the shirt in the first place was to wear it, regardless of where you wear it to.

In the words of Jeremy Piven in “PCU,” don’t be that guy. Sure, he says it in terms of not being the guy that wears the shirt of the band you’re going to see. I’m saying it in terms of not being the guy who cares about what other people think.

Wear the damn shirt if it so pleases you, or don’t. Your choice.

junette.reyes@fiusm.com