About a year since I started going to live shows and festivals.
I gathered up the merch I’d bought over that year and photographed it.
Top-left: COUNT DOWN JAPAN 09/10 T-shirt and scarf towel
Top-right: ROCK IN JAPAN FES 2010 T-shirt and scarf towel
Middle row, top to bottom:
FUNKY MONKY BABYS scarf towel, bought at GO!FES
the telephones scarf towel, bought at LIVE FACTORY
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION scarf towel, bought at ROCKS TOKYO
The collection is coming along nicely.
When I first started going to shows, I’d see everyone wearing artist T-shirts and festival tees and think, honestly: why would anyone pay that much for a T-shirt or a scarf?
Once you’re in it, though — the artist tees and towels do something to your energy.
A sense of belonging. I’m part of this too.
When I pick up one more at the next festival, I’ll be able to wear a festival tee three days in a row. Maybe that finally counts as leaving beginner status behind.
———————
And this is the three-day wristband from ROCK IN JAPAN FES. 2010, along with the guidebook they handed out on-site.
This time I managed to take the wristband off cleanly — I’m getting better at it. There’s something almost ritualistic about it. Breaking the spell of a dream world.
Apparently with a small attachment you can convert the wristband into a strap.
I’d like to do that with past wristbands too, when I get a moment.
Still not fully back from that dream world, even after nearly four days.