Off With Their Heads frontman Ryan Young took to the band’s Facebook to defend his decision to walk off stage after being confronted with a rough and riotous crowd in Cincinnati. It’s been reported Young copped several cans and bottles to the head throughout his set, so he left the stage and shortly after wrote: “I don’t have to take shit from people. I gave multiple warnings. If you can’t control yourself and not threaten the band playing, then I’m leaving… Don’t try and do the ‘this is a punk show’ excuse. That’s called ‘The Idiot’s Excuse’. If you think that me standing up for myself and my friends isn’t punk, then that’s just fine with me.”
It’s a fair call to make, but nevertheless one that was hotly rebutted on the band’s social media, with many fans insisting Young was in a foul mood before he came on stage and needed little prompting to unplug and storm off. I’ve never personally understood the desire to throw shit at the stage and would genuinely love to hear from someone who condones or practices it personally. I do think there’s a romanticism associated with old school punk rock ideals in which violence, selfishness and chaos reign. Punk has prided itself on an ideology along those lines for many decades and that’s why it’s such a liberating and exciting concept, but I also think bands are well within their rights to call out dickheads and leave the stage if they’re not in the mood to have shit piffed at them. Just because a band sounds like punk rock doesn’t mean they have to subscribe to all associated sentiments, most of which are created and perpetuated by teenage dickheads anyway.
Not content to tour Australia with American Sharks then fly straight to the US for a massive tour, Melbourne’s Clowns have planned another tour once they return in May. Sumer Blood will accompany on the run of 20 shows across winter. Victorian dates include CherryRock015 on Sunday May 10, The Tote on Friday June 12, Karova Lounge on Saturday June 13, Musicman Megastore on Friday June 26 and Barwon Club on Saturday June 27. If you missed their massive album launches, this is your best bet to see this punk rock freight train live.
Instrumental band This Will Destroy You will bring their mega ambient live show to Australia for a run of headlining dates as well as shows supporting locals sleepmakeswaves. They’ll headline The Corner Hotel on Thursday June 11 and also play with sleepmakeswaves on Friday June 12 at Max Watt’s (previously The Hi-Fi). Get stuck in.
