If you love music, your wardrobe is likely stuffed full of band shirts. You might have a bunch of hoodies or a cap or two as well, or maybe something even more eclectic than that. It’s a conversation starter with fellow fans, a way of announcing that you belong to a certain scene, and a way of shouting about bands you love. On top of that, it’s also a vital way of putting money in artists’ pockets at a time where making enough money is harder than ever. Put simply, it’s the lifeblood of music.
In the latest instalment of The View From The Merch Table, we chat to Marshall Gallagher of California alt-rock/shoegaze band Teenage Wrist. After well-received slots at Outbreak and 2000trees this summer off the back of last year’s ‘Still Love’ they’re squeezing in another trip to the UK before 2024 is out, opening for Enter Shikari at a string of more intimate shows. Here, Gallagher shares the story of how his first band shirt found its way back to him after he gave it away, why band merch doesn’t have to have the band’s name on, and his loathing of Gildan T-shirts…
What was the first item of merch you remember buying?
It was from my first real concert, which was the KTCL Big Adventure in Denver, Colorado, which is where I’m from, in 2000. The headliner was 311, which was my favourite band at the time and still is one of my favourite bands. I bought the shirt from that tour, and it’s still in horrible shape in my dresser somewhere. I gave it away for a while, and then it somehow actually found its way back to me. I had given it to a girlfriend or something, and it travelled with her long after we broke up. She’d even moved out of state and then we reconnected at least a decade later, and she was like, ‘What’s your address? I have something to send you.’ I was like, ‘This could be scary and weird.’ But she sent me my shirt in the mail. I was so happy to have it back.
What was the most recent thing you bought?
It was at the Blood Brothers reunion show. It was such a good show, so much fun. I bought a Blood Brothers shirt because I had to, you know? I hadn't seen them in probably close to 20 years so I had to commemorate that one. It was a Comfort Colors T-shirt so I felt good about spending $40 on it, because I can’t buy the cheap stuff anymore. I can't buy the Gildan shirts. It just makes me so angry.
How so?
The default shirt, I think for a lot of bands, is the Gildan, like, just base. It’s just the worst material you could possibly acquire for a T-shirt. It’s itchy and doesn’t fit right – it’s just like a box with a sign on it. I just can’t do it anymore, even if it’s a sick shirt. I appreciate it when bands spend a little more on the garment.
What’s your favourite merch design you’ve done with Teenage Wrist?
There are a couple of designs that we did around ‘Chrome Neon Jesus’ that I really loved. We have a really deep cut on that record called Spit and we did a couple of shirts for that. Actually, we had a long sleeve and a short sleeve, each with a lyric from that song and somehow the designs just turned out really cool. I try to keep a somewhat chronological stock of all the stuff that we’ve made that’s buried in my closet now.
I try not to wear my own merch too much, but just for sentimental reasons, I keep all that stuff and I think I have one of those. I don’t have both of them, unfortunately. I like when bands get a little deeper with the words that they put on there. I weirdly like when band merch doesn't even necessarily say the name of the band on the front, so it’s like, if you know, you know. Sometimes you don't want to plaster your body with a band name. You just want a cool fashion piece.
How important is merch in terms of being able to sustain the band?
It’s literally the difference between us losing money on a tour and coming home with either minimal cash in our pockets or breaking even. We’ve never been a huge merch band — we don't roll up with 10 designs and a million accessories and stuff. We usually keep it pretty simple, which maybe we shouldn’t do, maybe we should give people a little bit more to work with. But it’s the only thing that sustains us. We’re not making money at shows, we’re not getting huge guarantees. It’s the only thing that we can look to. We don’t make money on streaming.
You’re back in the UK opening for Enter Shikari this month – what made you want to take them up on a tour?
It’s kind of an experiment. It’s weird, because we don’t really get a whole lot of bands that sound like us trying to pick us up for a support tour. We did a tour with Basement and Nothing in 2019 and Gouge Away was on the other leg. It was incredible. We’ve been out with Badflower, 311, now Enter Shikari. None of these bands sound remotely like us. I really dig Enter Shikari. I feel like, if we get in front of a room full of their fans, then it might work. We might connect. It might fall flat on its face. Worst case scenario, we’re out for two weeks playing for a bunch of people that hate us, and it would not be the first time.
You’ve said before you really appreciate how UK crowds have received you. What makes them stand out for you?
The drives are a lot shorter! It’s tough getting to the UK but then once you get to the UK, everything’s pretty easy. There are a lot of stairs, which I don’t love, hauling several amps and drums and stuff. But, other than that, it feels like a place that’s retained its love for rock music. It doesn’t feel like that here, it feels like you’re straining to reach a rock audience. I’ve always said the Brits do it better when it comes to rock.
Enter Shikari w/ Teenage Wrist Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue November 26 2024 - TORQUAY Foundry
Wed November 27 2024 - CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach (TW headline)
Thu November 28 2024 - SHEFFIELD Octagon
Fri November 29 2024 - LIVERPOOL Liverpool Uni Mountford Hall
Sat November 30 2024 - BOSTON Gliderdrome
Sun December 01 2024 - NORWICH UEA
Tue December 03 2024 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Wed December 04 2024 - STOCKTON Globe
Thu December 05 2024 - MANCHESTER Star & Garter (TW headline)
Fri December 06 2024 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Sat December 07 2024 - FOLKESTONE Leas Cliff Hall
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