KS: Firstly, would you consider yourself a collector of merch?
AG: Yeah, I like to buy at least one item at every concert that I go to.
KS: Do you think that you buy merch purely to collect as a keepsake or is it something that you actually wear on a day to day basis?
AG: Honestly, both. As much as I buy merch as a physical reminder - nearly every day I’m wearing at least one item of clothing that’s concert merch.
KS: What is the first piece of merch you remember buying?
AG: I bought a programme and a poster at the first ever concert I went to which was Little Mix. My second ever concert was AC/DC and I got a jumper which was the first piece of wearable merch I bought.
KS: Do you think there’s a piece that holds more sentimental value than the others in your collection?
AG: I bought a hoodie at the Beyonce concert I went to and one at the SZA/Kendrick Lamar Grand National tour. I love those hoodies so much and they remind me of times I was at concerts that really helped me to be happy with friends during times in my life I was actually feeling really low.
KS: Is there any concert that you have been to that was particularly special for you?
AG: I saw Ariana Grande back in 2019 on the Sweetener World Tour and I don’t think anything can top that. She’s been my all time favourite artist for the majority of my life and she rarely tours so that was really special. I also got to go to the show with my sister who is my best friend.
KS: Do you think the way that you purchase merchandise has changed over time as other physical keepsakes become more and more rare?
AG: Yeah absolutely, I used to love collecting concert tickets and putting them up on my wall or scrapbooking as a physical reminders but since you don’t get physical tickets anymore I like to have a wearable item that serves as a reminder that I was there and got to experience that particular show.
KS: I can see you have quite a large collection of merch, but have you ever gotten rid of any items that you feel no longer resonate with you or no longer hold value with you?
AG: There’s some artists that I just don’t listen to anymore or really enjoy that I still have merch for but wouldn’t get rid of. On the other hand, I used to have merch from Rex Orange County which I got rid of in the midst of his sexual assault allegations. He’s been cleared now but I honestly probably would have gotten rid of the merch regardless since it would sort of serve as a reminder for me of what he might have done.
KS: Do you think you will always hold on to your whole collection? Do you ever see yourself giving any away or passing it down?
AG: Yeah, I plan on keeping my collection for as long as possible, I like the idea of being able to pass it down to family in the future. There’s such a big emphasis these days on vintage clothing so maybe all my concert merch can be an archive for my kids one day, who knows!
KS: Is that something that was big in your life growing up? Did your parents have their own collection that they’ve gifted some of to you?
AG: My dad used to love rock and hard rock bands. So he’s passed down a lot of t-shirts over the years to me and my sister. They’re from bands I also like and they also just look really cool. My parents have also passed down genuinely hundreds of vinyl records to me over the years of all their favourite music. It’s nice to think those objects held such special memories for them and now I’m giving them a new life.
