Color me silly, physician health shop but I love dressing up. I throw costume parties, order pharm I think masks are for lazy fools, and I loathe those who scoff and say, “Do I really have to?” on Halloween. Arcade Fire has been getting a lot of heat on the information superhighway over the past few weeks after they announced a (suggested) dress code for their 2014 Reflektor tour.

Did Arcade Fire just misread their audience?

In 2011, 30 Seconds To Mars announced a tour with 14 different themes. Rather than being called pretentious over and over again, 30STM was flooded with requests for specific themes in cities by fans. How was 30STM able to get fans to happily dress up as cowboys, doctors, zombies, yuppies, and in head-to-toe neon without protest? Meanwhile, Arcade Fire is being trailed by articles titled, “Is It OK For Arcade Fire To Have A Dress Code At Their Concerts?”

Yes, it is OK to have dress codes. No, it is not OK to mandate them.

Contrary to numerous negative comments on articles, Arcade Fire is not forcing you to go buy a new tuxedo. If you had any doubt about that, they issued a formal press release in hope to silence the relentless complaining:

“To everyone really upset about us asking people to dress up at our shows… please relax. It’s super not mandatory. It just makes for a more fun carnival when we are all in it together. So far these have been the best shows we have ever played.

See you soon.
Love,
Arcade Fire”

See? Right there, in black and white: it’s not mandatory.

Radiohead didn’t get any of this flack when they banned plastic water bottles from their 2012 summer tour, and that was strictly enforced! Earlier this year Disclosure played a secret show in Boston where fans were asked to wear all black. In Amsterdam, One Direction gave everyone orders to wear orange. Nobody batted an eye (and nobody looks good in orange).

LCD Soundsystem asked fans to dress up for their last gig at Madison Square Garden, didn’t they? Tons of bands ask fans to dress up for Halloween gigs – but is there really something wrong with Arcade Fire wanting to play a fancy night for more than one night a year? They’re just trying to have a bit of fun.

So why is Arcade Fire getting such mixed reviews? Polarization amongst the fan base is undeniable. Is it because they are Grammy winners with such a broad fan base that mixed reviews are inevitable? Is it Funeral fans gone sour? Everyone should have seen this stunt coming. When you add up the hype built up around Reflektor all year, the secret warehouse shows, and the use of the alias “The Reflektors”…this dress code seems natural. Arcade Fire has made it clear that they just want to have a party.

Bob Boilen (NPR) saw Arcade Fire’s Bushwick warehouse gig during CMJ where the band played an hour-long set before transitioning the night into a disco-inspired party. When tons of fans left disgruntled, Boilen saw Win Butler on the street asking a passerby, “Why is everybody leaving? We threw this big party!” Butler was surely re-asking himself that when they issued the press release.

Dress codes and theme nights are just another way to build community around the music, similar to that chilling moment when you hear every voice in a room singing the lines to your favorite song.

I have to tell you, walking through the doors of a club and seeing everyone around you dressed up (whether in black-tie or as zombies), there is an overwhelmingly beautiful sense of solidarity.

The bottom line is, there’s no agenda here. Nobody is conning you into spending more money on an outfit or make anyone feel left out. It’s a fun idea that requires no apology from the band. As this eloquent fan put it:

Maybe what Arcade Fire needs to do is take notes from acts like Of Montreal, the Aquabats, Sufjan Stevens, and tUnE-yArDs. These artists regularly dress up and create a theatrical and whimsical atmosphere. They have managed to create a culture of comfortability, so fans dress up out of love – without being asked.

Dressing up doesn’t have to be serious, so let’s just have fun with it. It breaks down barriers, can spark conversation amongst strangers, will probably make for a better DVD, and you’ll walk away with one hell of a memory.  If you’re holding onto a Reflektor tour ticket and are up in arms about the dress code, it’s time you unwind that ego.