For the fifth year Ausmusic T-shirt Day is back to, one; put some cash in artists’ wallets and, two; help Support Act raise awareness and funds for musicians and people in the industry who have fallen on hard times due to illness, injury or mental health issues.
It's a great cause and it’s easy to get involved, just wear an Aussie band shirt on 15 Nov, take a selfie, post a selfie, and tag #ausmusictshirtday. Done.
Now you could wear an old fave, something you picked up back at Homebake '02 that’s more brown than black and more hole than shirt, particularly around the pits. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But, the spirit of the thing is to support the artists you love by throwing a little bit of pocket salad their way. If there's a time of year to snag a new top, this is it, and these might be the hautest options out.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
An early partnership formed with Melbourne-based artist/genius Jason Galea means King Gizz’s merch has always been on point. I’m also a big fan of his recent Cyborgie design, which gives off a big Heavy Metal / Akira vibe, but it’s hard to go past Skeletor shredding on tie-die.
Private Function
It takes a lot of $30 shirts to keep a growing band charging, so maybe buy two. It’s currently out of stock but I can also highly recommend their patented BBQ sauce.
Aarght Records
I wasn’t originally going to include any straight label merch but I mean, c’mon. It’s Patsy, darling.
Sarah Mary Chadwick
Yes she's originally from NZ, but Chadwick seems pretty firmly Melbourne-based for now. She does all of her own artwork, usually using porn for a reference, and this rad number is one of her own designs. Heads up, there are not a lot of these still going so first in gets dressed.
Bitch Diesel
My will stipulates I be buried in this shirt. Gotta let Saint Peter know early that I’m not to be fucked with.
Loose Tooth
I wouldn’t have thought it possible but turns out Loose Tooth’s Ts are cute as the band themselves. There are a lot of choices for shirts with dogs on, but pups in sparkly specs win every time for my money.
Frenzal Rhomb
Badass Spock’s kind of hot. If Leonard Nimoy was 20 years younger and alive he could get it.
Haiku Hands
The fox-god river-dance thing I think might be going on here is pretty classy - feels like something you'd pick up in the British Museum's gift shop. Their new single is killer too. You probably won't be hearing it in any museums though.
Cry Club
They’re out of 'Don’t fucking touch me' Ts! Gutted. 'Teary logo' shirt is a strong consolation though, and I always love a band who's down to model their own gear.
Methyl Ethel
Doesn't a poorly drawn axolotl just melt your heart? If I hadn't already settled on Bitch Diesel's 'Thunderbutt' hotrod six or seven entries back, Lottie here would be coming into eternity with me for sure.
The Veronicas
That is exactly how you get hookworm, and I can respect that level of devotion to getting the shot. Just don’t let them catch you wearing it at the airport, my goodness.
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