Long Underwear Bands - Finis 

Before I wrap up this series, I want to introduce you to two more bands that are unconventional and strange enough to be included in Long Underwear Bands. One utilizes “Union Suit” in their album name; the other entitled their first album after a union suit.

Union Suit Characters make their home in Joliet, Illinois, an area much suited to union suits. Even though they are not known for performing live or wearing long underwear, at least that you can see, the group is purported to have a first rate, full-length album: “Streetcar Legs.” Their music, with titles like “Sunday Babies” and "Without the Wilderness," is pure and singular, like from a by-gone era. Background sounds like dogs barking, trains whistling, tires squealing, wind blowin', and horns a-honkin are plentiful.

These guys have fun right down to the names of their alter egos. for example, William Nemecek goes by Elmer Smudgegump and Mike Moloney is Clancy Snapgirdle. Reportedly, they compose and record their music in the evenings so as not to interfere with their truck driving, goods delivery jobs in the daylight. “Characters” they are.

Long Underwear Band Honorable Mention goes to a new “post punk” band, Them Airs of New Haven, Connecticut. These kids hail from New England, a winter wonderland location for union suits and other types of long underwear. They “deliver an eclectic and adventurous love letter to abnormal post-punk of both present and the days of yore.”

Their first album is called Union Suit XL, and few, if any, know why or how they came up with that title. Do these young kids even know what a union suit is?! They probably refer to them as "onesies."  They are known neither to wear one-piece, button-down long underwear, nor write, sing or reference such in their music. 

Anyway, these art punks include Cade on guitar (vocals), Adam on Bass, Rebecca on Sax, Evan on drums, and Hayden on Guitar. Anna and Tal contribute to the vocals. If you are in to “weird punk” or “salad rock” and take your music loud and raucous, listen to Union Suit XL. You may just like them.

Long Underwear Bands South of the Mason-Dixon

It's strange that a long underwear band hangs out in Clearwater, Florida. Yet, The Long Johns seem quite happy there,doing their thing which is singing and playing music! There are six "long johns" but none name John nor any evidence that they wear long johns, union suits, long-handles, or thermal drawers... hmmm. Wouldn't be needed most days, not in the sunshine state. The ensemble: Matt Bartholomay - Guitar, Vocals, Stephanie Summerbell - Vocals, Keys. Josh Dykstra - Bass, Brian Ferreira - Trombone,  Woody Bond - Drums, Justin Larsen - Tenor Sax.

The sextet has been around since at least 2012, playing music in central Florida and elsewhere. They record at Audio Impact Studios in Clearwater. 

Then you have another southern band, The Union Suit, that's right - singular, just The Union Suit, not "suits" just "suit."  This three piece Long Underwear Band originated back in 2006. Not much has been heard from them since 2011. The indie band originaled in Paducah, KY. They wrote much of their own music. Their stage and bar performances appealed to a wide group of fans, teens to adults, mainstream to neo-punk, you might say.

 

The boys don't appear to wear union suits but at least one wears at least a long underwear shirt under his t-shirt.

Two More International Long Underwear Bands!

You've already discovered Thee Long Johns, a scandalous Scandinavian band from Norway who typically perform live in concerts in just their union suits. You know, the ones brought to you in this blog who hammer out rock music on stage and in videos wearing only one-piece long underwear with the button flap in the rear end (see my postings of October 16, 2021 and July 3, 2018).

Now along comes The Long Johns Band (La banda de Long Johns). This band, named for long underwear, was formed in 2013 and are from Santander, Cantabria, Spain.

Members include Darío Sueiro (vocals, guitar), Andoni Elorriaga (drums, percussion, vocals), Óscar García (bass), and, joining in 2017, Carlos Moreno (guitar). Excelentes artistas en ropa interior larga, ¿no?  

Their music is first and foremost blues but, on occasion, southern rock and jazz are intermingled. The Long Johns Band entertained for six years, saying goodbye to their fans in 2019. Hombres in Spain wear union suits, don't they?

And how about these blokes based in Bristol, England. This talented four, sometimes five, member a cappella group perform traditional English folk music mixed with maritime songs based on the British Isles long association with the sea, whaling and salty aires. I have not the foggiest idea if they wear union suits or any other type of long underwear. But their namesake, The Longest Johns, denote their place along side other Long Underwear Bands.

The Longest Johns are recognized as exceptional performers, being appreciated by hundreds of fans at the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, for example, and have been featured on the BBC. Some of their “shanties” date back hundreds of years. Yet, these five mates are just as comfortable performing their own folk ballads. You could say all their music is "sea worthy."  

As a young man, I visited England and travelled to Bristol. Much of the year across the pond is cool and rainy, so I remembered to carry an umbrella and wore my union suits for the entire two weeks. Of course, union suits are called "combinations" in Britain as my hosts reminded me when they discovered the underwear I was sporting.

When you visit, just don't forget to pack your Long Johns. You'll need them!