Teen Gothic

Hey everyone! I'm really new to goth music, but from what I've heard so far I really like it. I've learned that a big part of being goth is actually supporting bands, not just liking the music.

My problem is that I suffer from severe anxiety that makes getting out of the house pretty rough sometimes, and the nearest nightclub to me is like a minimum of 45 minutes away. Are there other ways I can support bands, and am I allowed to call myself goth if I'm not active in clubs?

An example I suppose would be The Birthday Massacre. I've seen some people consider them darkwave and others synthpop, some call it gothic rock and others industrial.

I've just kinda been left in this confusion of how these conclusions of subgenre are made. I understand what makes Rosetta Stone gothic rock or Joy Division post-punk, but not something like TBM where I can't get a decisive answer.

Like I said, I'm new to this. Very new, and I'm just trying to figure out the sub genres I like by bands I've listened to. I tagged this as a recommendation request cuz I'd like some recommendations on the subgenres so I can see more of what they're all like to get a better understanding.

EDIT: Just want to say I appreciate all the feedback, I think I'm starting to get a better understanding of the genre!

First of all, I’m strictly talking about goths on Tik Tok. I understand goth people get made fun of all the time but why do the same to others? Why are people judged for simply having a different taste of music, fashion, and mindset? Not everyone is capable of liking the same things. I’m just confused. I posted about this somewhere else and got judged and told I had no understanding of goth?

Everyone knows the popular ones. Kinda want to add others to a playlist.

i discovered the wraith a while back and loved their harder deathrock sound, but after hearing about all the controversies with them i'm really not comfortable listening to their music. does anyone have any recommendations for that kind of dark punk/deathrock sound, besides like, 45 grave or christian death?

I get so happy when I see someone with an alt style out in London.

It seems like most gothic clothes you find are stolen/deadstock items and i really wanna shop ethically instead

Hello r/goth!

Long time lurker, not much of a speaker, decided to finally make a newer account and talk. I'm deaf and goth, and I have a very confusing and oddly specific issue. I love goth music (Switchblade Symphony, Clan of Xymox, The Merry Thoughts, Horror Vacui, to name a few), but sometimes I see bands name themselves goth and I don't actually know if that's true, since I can't hear. My enjoyment of music is purely physical, so my ability to understand whether or not a band is goth is limited. However, the bands that I'm drawn to as well as the community tends to be goth. I hope that makes sense, but I can elaborate more if there's questions.

So I suppose I'm wondering, how do you know a band is goth or not? Is there some sort of specific rhythm/feel that identifies them that I could tell apart?

Example: Ludovico Technique. I enjoy his music a lot and he calls himself goth, but I've seen people say that he isn't, though I'm not sure what the genre is.

(wasn't sure on which flair to use)

I've never actually been to a club because I only turned 18 recently, but I feel like there wouldn't be much for me to do there. I would be too shy to talk to anyone, I don't like drinking, and I don't dance. And those are the things you do at clubs so I don't really know what else I would do there.

So as a socially anxious person what do I do to meet people in real life? Do I just suck it up and go to clubs a few times until I somehow gain a friend group? My city doesn't have many alternative events outside of club nights except for like, one picnic a year which is more my speed. But that's one day out of the whole year. Is there any chance of finding goths in places like comic conventions? From my experience online there is quite a bit of overlap with alternative and nerd culture but I think this might be too much of a reach. Maybe the friend tab on bumble? I'm kinda grasping at straws here. I mean shit even the last good clothing store I knew of shut down so I literally don't know where to go