something different in the Pipe Band world

[OC Richard]

Pipe Band dress has come up from time to time here. I follow the trends fairly closely. The main attribute is, generally speaking, conformity, bands being afraid to wear anything that makes them stand out too much.

Though they're not uncommon outwith the Pipe Band world, plain/selfcoloured hose with tartan tops are pretty much unheard of within it... until now, because one of the world's top bands showed up at Glasgow Green wearing them.



Let's see if they catch on! Wouldn't surprise me if, five years from now, half the bands were wearing them.

(About the conformity thing, I saw 17 bands in Grade One and every one of them was wearing waistcoats without jackets. Nearly all of these waistcoats were black, save for a couple bands wearing dark colours such as charcoal grey and navy blue.)

[Liam]

Would that be the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band?

[plaid preacher]

Would that be the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band?

LOL...what you be your first clue???

[Blupiper]

I do like SFU's new choice for the tartan, as well. Lays on the eyes a bit easier than the older, more bold colors. Richard, I don't think you will get any takers on your bet. You got it right in one with 'conformity.' It's kind of enforced with groupthink, some of the limits of repertoire and the rules. As an example, which band was it a year or two ago that was considered radically innovative by turning out to face the audience in the last bit of their medley. It wasn't at the World's, it was another competition. If that is 'knock your socks off' daring, it won't be seen at the World's. My two cents worth.

JMB

[Nile]

That is indeed the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band wearing their Fraser of Lovat tartan. That is the exact tartan of my new kilt (pics here) made by Bonnie Heather Greene but, I had mine pleated to the sett. I really like this tartan and am glad I chose it (Fraser is my Clan affiliation).

Those hose are very interesting and perhaps add a new dimension to the decorative cuffs found on many kilt and country hose styles. I believe they come from a company called "Bonnie Tartan". They have many styles of hose and hose tops and they will match your tartan if you send them a swatch. Their prices aren't bad either.

Nile

[imrichmond]

As an example, which band was it a year or two ago that was considered radically innovative by turning out to face the audience in the last bit of their medley. It wasn't at the World's, it was another competition. If that is 'knock your socks off' daring, it won't be seen at the World's. My two cents worth.JMB

My memory may be faulty, but it seems to me that it was at the World's and it was Shotts & Dykehead. If my recollection is accurate, they were criticized, not for turning to face the crowd, but because their sudden about-turn towards the end of their medley appeared rather gimmicky. Certainly, it added nothing to their musical performance. Since drill and deportment are not components of the judging at the World's -- or, indeed, at most pipe band competitions these days -- they would have neither gained nor lost points for the manoeuvre. In that respect, it was purely gratuitous.

It's great to see a bit of variety in pipe band hose once again. I really hated the white/off-white hose craze that seized the pipe band world from the 1980s until the past four or five years. It would be nice to see a bit of colour in other parts of the uniform, too. The ubiquitous black/navy blue argyll or vest with black bag cover is very monotonous. Change is hard to achieve, though. I managed to wean my pipe band off its black with red trim bag covers in favour of red covers with navy blue trim, but it took a lot of persuading over several months. ("It won't match the red in our kilts"; "It won't match our jackets"; "It won't match our hose"; "I've never seen another band with red bag covers"; etc.) Unfortunately, cost can be a significant factor in change. Since most suppliers stock only black or navy blue jackets and vests, other colours are normally a special -- and more costly -- order. Still, there is hope. Most suppliers a few years ago stocked only white or off-white "piper's hose", but now that bands are demanding variety, it is a rare supplier who doesn't offer piper's hose in half a dozen colours or more. (Piper's hose generally has a wider and thicker cuff than most other types of kilt hose.)

[Tobus]

Those flashes would be so much more awesome if they said STFU instead of SFU...

[Liam]

Those flashes would be so much more awesome if they said STFU instead of SFU...

Now, Now... this is a family show....

[creagdhubh]

Those flashes would be so much more awesome if they said STFU instead of SFU...

Hahahaha! Well done to the band for looking (as well as sounding) sharp as ever!

[pbutts]

Now, Now... this is a family show....

True, but "shut f*#k up" is grammatically incorrect.

Thanks for sharing...I totally missed the hose. However the closeup shows some sloppy shoe tying.