19
lifestyle. The popularity of concert shirts is matched by a large abundance of high dollar
outdoor labels worn by this crowd. It is not uncommon to see logos for The North Face,
Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia, Columbia, etc. on jackets, shirts, shorts, or any other
type of clothing. While this signifies more of an outdoor, non-traditional type of lifestyle
it also reveals a certain economic position. These brands are very
expensive and therefore
raise the question of: Where is the Money coming from? If I am following a band for
weeks and sometimes months at a time, how do I afford some of these clothes? There is
also the constant usage of cell-phones both during the shows and in the parking lots
before and after. While cell phones are not as expensive as they used to be, they still raise
the issue of financial support.
In the parking lots of many of these shows it is not uncommon to notice WP
stickers displayed alongside the outdoor logos or stickers for other jambands. You may
also find individuals who have found ways to incorporate WP into their license plates.
Many times these symbolic markers are often seen on SUV’s and other automobiles that
also signify a certain economic position/status. Driving from Raleigh to Asheville, I
found myself in a convoy of WP fans and it came as no surprise to see stickers on Toyota
Four Runners, Jeep Cherokees, and Honda Passports. It was also interesting to notice the
look of the individuals driving those cars. While WP fans have many of the
characteristics of a distinct subculture, they do raise some questions regarding the work
of Hebdige. If subcultures are defined as a form of resistance in which experienced
contradictions and objections to the ruling ideology are obliquely represented in style
(Hebdige, 1979) then some would argue that fans of WP are obviously not in this
category. On the one hand, there is the desire to appear free from the constraints of the
Convention