Cool t-shirts from non white musicians/bands?
February 17, 2019 1:50 PM Subscribe
About 6 months ago I started wearing only jeans + cool band tshirts, mostly from bands/artists you've never heard of; mostly local or regional. A lot of southerny stuff, newgrass, etc. Old 97's, Jason Isbell, War and Treaty, Blind Pilots, She Returns From War, Great Peacock. They're almost all white! Can you suggest cool tshirts from talented, non white artists/bands? Understated, graphic, dark colors? Regional (SE) preferred?
I have a little trouble with your question. I think it's great that you are mindful about what you wear! But there's something uncomfortable about looking for cool band t-shirts from artists who are People of Color simply to appear more stylish and woke. That may not be your point at all but that's how it comes across to me. If I were you, I'd start by asking for suggestions for bands, listening to their music, and then looking into buying apparel that reflects what you genuinely love listening to.
posted by smorgasbord at 2:16 PM on February 17, 2019 [46 favorites]
posted by smorgasbord at 2:16 PM on February 17, 2019 [46 favorites]
My immediate reaction to the phrase "bands/artists you've never heard of" made me roll my eyes. I'm a sample size of one, but I thought I'd toss it out there since it seems to be exact opposite of what you are going for.
posted by phil at 2:47 PM on February 17, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by phil at 2:47 PM on February 17, 2019 [9 favorites]
I don’t disagree with smorgasbord’s take. So I will recommend a non-white band for you to listen to, and if you like them, you will enjoy their graphic shirts. It’s an LA band called Fishbone:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KK640dPPhXE&list=RDEMyo2fwBL6A_GdZnsUL-lqxA&start_radio=1
https://www.jsrdirect.com/bands/fishbone
posted by ejs at 2:48 PM on February 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KK640dPPhXE&list=RDEMyo2fwBL6A_GdZnsUL-lqxA&start_radio=1
https://www.jsrdirect.com/bands/fishbone
posted by ejs at 2:48 PM on February 17, 2019 [2 favorites]
With the aforementioned caveat on the table, Oxford American: A Magazine of the South, puts out an annual music issue that is pure gold. You can buy back issues online; additionally, there's a nearly 24-hour Spotify playlist called "Oxford American Southern Music: Vol. 1-19" full of gems to get you started.
posted by smorgasbord at 2:53 PM on February 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by smorgasbord at 2:53 PM on February 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
How 'bout Raury (ATL), Carolina Chocolate Drops (sadly defunct, but NC), or Tank and the Bangas (New Orleans)? Rhiannon Giddens has solo albums post CCD, too. In fact, CCD might be a great place to start as they were about reclaiming and spotlighting the African roots of bluegrass music.
posted by Slothrop at 2:58 PM on February 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Slothrop at 2:58 PM on February 17, 2019 [3 favorites]
Oh, also that reminds me of Gangstagrass, as well as Nappy Roots (from my own KY). Gangstagrass was/is a Brooklyn outfit, but they put rap to banjo music and had a single featured in the TV show Justified. In fact, it might have been the Justified theme. Nappy Roots is just straight up baller countrified rap.
posted by Slothrop at 3:01 PM on February 17, 2019
posted by Slothrop at 3:01 PM on February 17, 2019
Response by poster: I listen to the band before I buy the shirt. I don’t wear any shirts from bands I don’t listen to and enjoy. I’d like to expand both my musical horizons, and my cool shirt collection, at the same time. It also helps other people learn about the bands if they ask me about my cool shirt.
Hah! Slothrop, I was just thinking of Rhiannon Giddens (and Dom Flemons) when I saw rhizome’s post.
posted by ftm at 3:03 PM on February 17, 2019
Hah! Slothrop, I was just thinking of Rhiannon Giddens (and Dom Flemons) when I saw rhizome’s post.
posted by ftm at 3:03 PM on February 17, 2019
You want The Bitter Southerner's annual Best Southern Albums. Black musicians are definitely represented, across a lot of different genres. (Other musicians of color less so, though.) They also manage a pretty good balance between "People you haven't heard of" and "Janelle Monae" — not that I don't recommend Janelle Monae, you should definitely listen to Janelle Monae, but it sounds like you'll be reassured to know there's obscure stuff in there too.
I'd be shocked if you couldn't find artists in there that fit your interests, and I'd be shocked if some of those artists didn't have cool T-shirts.
Also, given your interest in roots music, this isn't a Southern musician, but check out Zeal and Ardor. He does a really interesting combination of heavy metal instrumentation and vocals that range from gospel to fake-Alan-Lomax-work-song-field-recordings. I honestly find his stuff pretty uneven, but when it's good it's fucking good. Existence of t-shirts confirmed.
posted by nebulawindphone at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'd be shocked if you couldn't find artists in there that fit your interests, and I'd be shocked if some of those artists didn't have cool T-shirts.
Also, given your interest in roots music, this isn't a Southern musician, but check out Zeal and Ardor. He does a really interesting combination of heavy metal instrumentation and vocals that range from gospel to fake-Alan-Lomax-work-song-field-recordings. I honestly find his stuff pretty uneven, but when it's good it's fucking good. Existence of t-shirts confirmed.
posted by nebulawindphone at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
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