Steve Firth From JR’s: “There’s No Excuse For Any of This. It Fucking Makes Me Sick to My Stomach.”
Things got messy on Saturday night when a woman was punched in the face between sets at Jr’s.
Things got messier the next morning, when a witness took to facebook and launched a campaign to stop people from patronizing the South Philly venue that has been a punk stronghold in a changing neighborhood.
“I am both saddened and disgusted by the events that took place last night at Jr’s bar,” she wrote (we’re not linking to the original post because it’s on her personal page). “I am writing this with hopes that neither you or your friend ever book shows or patronize this hate filled, sexist establishment again.”
Her post was shared more than 250 times, including on numerous group pages. Here’s some of what she wrote (directly cut and paste from a re-post):
“They then started shouting at her and told her to get the fuck out. She said ok and turned to grab her back pack and leave when one of the older south philly guys grabbed her by the shoulder and punched her hard in the face. Things quickly escalated, and all of these things happened within a span of about 10 seconds. Most people (the 8 people not playing) were outside smoking and heard the commotion, one of them being the victims sister. Naturally, she ran inside to see what was happening and found her sister trying to protect herself in what was almost a full throttled bar fight against 4 old south philly guys. Everyone tried to hold everyone back and stop things from getting even more out of control. We just wanted to leave as quickly as possible. The girl who was punched hit one of the older men in the head with a beer bottle.”
Last night, our G.W. Miller III caught up with Steve Firth, the lone staffer at Jr’s. Steve, who has performed in numerous bands over the years, is the reason there have been shows at the South Philly social club for the last seven years. He books shows, tends bar, runs sound and basically does everything in between. He was there when the craziness occurred.
What happened on Saturday?
Full disclosure – I did not see everything. I just talked to as many people as I could and tried to formulate my opinions of how the event escalated.
What I gather is that the dude who booked the show was playing his set. His stuff was pretty cool. I was into it – mellow, folky, depressing. It was good stuff. I liked it.
The owner is there. I don’t know what he said, something like, “Can’t you play something happy?”
Yeah, that’s a dick move. I’m not going to disagree. It’s something an asshole would say. But you kind of take it and roll with it.
I guess the girl took offense to his comments. Shit, it was her friend. I would too. If somebody was taking apart my friend, I’d be a little raw about it.
Where were you at this point?
I was at the soundboard. Far enough away but I could hear the whole thing.
Where was she?
She had walked by (the owner) and physically gave him one of these (push on the shoulder) and called him a douche.
When did you realize something was going on?
I guess she walked by him again and sort of did the same thing. (The owner) knew she was a woman. I could hear him very calmly say, “I’m the owner. You can’t talk to me or touch me like that. You’re going to have to leave.”
That’s fair. If someone came to my house and touched me, I’d probably not want them to be there anymore. Granted, he was being a dick. But I guess he’s allowed to be. It’s his bar.
Was he being forceful at that point?
No. He was being pretty calm, looking her in the eye, saying, “Listen. You gotta go. It’s my bar. You gotta go.”
I’m not sure what happened after that. Somebody called him a douche again? I don’t know who the guy was, I guess one of the owner’s friends who was sitting close to him … he sees a young guy threatening his friend, a 60-year-old man, a senior citizen. Rather than do the intelligent thing maybe – walk and use words to try to de-escalate the situation, he reacted. Much like the way she reacted when her friend was being insulted, he reacted.
I would never condone violence but for better or worse, that’s what happened. He thought his friend, who is an older guy, was being threatened by a younger guy. He jumped up and punched her in the face.
She was absolutely, 100 percent honest and not lying at all when she said what she said. She definitely got punched in the face.
And then everything went out of control after that?
Yeah, absolutely.
I went to try to calm everything as they were walking her out. They were trying to get her out in a calm way.
I don’t know if she was looking to provoke something. I don’t understand why it all happened.
Rock and roll should be dangerous and edgy. (Jr’s) is not Johnny Brenda’s. It doesn’t try to be. It doesn’t want to be. It has no business doing shows. It makes no sense that there are so many shows there.
Whatever her intentions were, I’m sure she wasn’t expecting that. If you provoke somebody, there’s going to be ramifications.
At that point, I was outside trying to calm everybody down. I knew that she was a girl. The guy that hit her obviously did not.
Was he loaded?
I’m sure everyone was. I wasn’t.
It was pretty early in the night?
Yeah, it was like 10 o’clock. Only the second band was on.
There’s no excuse for any of this. It fucking makes me sick to my stomach. But I don’t think it’s about race, gender … it’s not about homophobia, it’s not about genetics.
I don’t want to give him too much credit but the owner was the most calm one there.
The message you want to get across though is that this not the normal thing, right?
No, of course it’s not. I mean, every year, I get punched in the face a couple times by people when I’m trying to get in the middle, trying to keep the peace. Just like anywhere with alcohol, people get a little bonkers. Shit happens.
It has nothing to do with being misogynistic or whatever?
No. And it bums me out because I don’t think you should feel threatened, especially in a space that caters toward a subculture.
I try to make it a most accessible space. If you email me, I’ll book you. Then it’s your night. Make of it as you will. I’ve always been that way. I think it’s important to have an open, accessible platform to express yourself and you can do it any way that you want to.
Granted, that is all happening in somebody’s bar, a guy who is radically different from the majority of the people who are there. I probably disagree with 100 percent of what he thinks, says and does. He thinks I’m a jerkoff and an asshole.
Why does he keep you around?
I don’t know. He loses money more often than he makes it from shows. He’s constantly cleaning blood and puke off the ground. But any time there is a touring band, he’ll buy a T-shirt from them and hang it up on the ceiling. I don’t know why he’s so patient. I don’t understand why he lets me do half the shit I’ve done there.
And if you weren’t there, there wouldn’t be shows?
No. We butt heads a lot and he thinks I’m a prick but there’s mutual respect.
What do you suggest for the girl who got popped in the face? How do you remedy the situation?
To be honest, the owner wouldn’t give a fuck if no one ever came back. He’d make a lot more money and sleep a lot better at night.
As far as what I would tell her? She probably shouldn’t come back. I don’t understand her intentions or motives but I’d be happy to talk to her. I don’t take it personally. But at the end of the day, the only people I really care about or have an alliance to are the guys who drove five hours in a broken down van to play a 20-minute set and maybe get $50. Those are the people I got to look out for. We’re a glorified house show.
Comments are closed.
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 
Boycott this rathole.
Nope
So now the full story is out. The person who got punched initiated the altercation and tried to stay in the bar after she was politely asked to leave. I hate fucking liars. I hope she rots in jail for smashing a bottle over someone’s head.
Well I know people that were there and they know Exactly what happened!! That owner of the establishment should be ashamed of himself for letting that happen. By the way did you know that He started it all by being a Douche Bag!!!! She is NOT a liar and did Not deserve to be punched in the face!!!
first step might be to refer to adult female humans as ‘women’ rather than ‘girls’.
shut up forever
You first Brodude McBroinson.
That is so sexist!
Ooooooh, using “bro” as a pejorative! 3edgy 5me!
You just said all bros are bad, but there are many noble bros! Not all bros are bad! This is a hate crime! Reported!
Im sorry but girl’s walk by strangers and shove them, not women. She is a girl by her actions not physical stature.
Sounds like she deserved to get hit. The only sexist part is that the guy said he wouldn’t have hit her if he knew it was a girl.
Bingo
STFU, retard. Hecklers should be executed. Sounds like your mom used to fuck your little ass with a broomstick, and you liked it.
If you can’t handle a heckler, you shouldn’t be anywhere near a stage.
BOOM
lol she got punched because she looks like a man. shave your upper lip, maybe.
All ya’ll need to check your privilege
says the guy posting anonymously…
Is that the same privilege that would let a guy get hit without anybody caring? Equal rights means you don’t get special treatment.
…men hit women all the time. This one just did it in public. Whoops.
Check your privilege? Same old race card but worded differently by someone who can’t get ahead in life so he has to blame others. LOSER!!!!!
I’m glad that Steve was able to say his side of the story and I hope his gets many more likes than this female’s.
You all need to get your heads out of your asses and stop hiding behind calling other people sexist when you’re blatantly more so… Saying she shouldn’t have gotten hit cause she’s a girl is more sexist than saying she deserved it. You obviously have no understanding of how equality really works.
The incident itself shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
No one who’s ever been in a band hasn’t been heckled by someone in the crowd, so anyone’s comments on their performance should be taken with a grain of salt.
She escalated something that wasn’t a problem into a problem and the owner did what he should have done and asked her to leave his bar, which he has EVERY right to do.
After that, her actions and any consequences that follow are her own fault.
I don’t blankly condone violence on people, but her initial actions caused the reaction of others. The blame is on her… and y’know what, yes, sometimes people deserve to get hit for mouthing off… did she? I don’t know… I don’t know what she said, but she’s an adult, and needs to act like one. You all do.
You want equality? Take equal responsibility for your actions.
Sorry, but no one “deserves” to get hit for using their words. If you can’t keep your temper down enough not to get violent with people who piss you off, then you should probably stay away from bar shows.
AMANDA, totally. Violence is a last last resort. But I think it was mentioned that she started the physical stuff. Either way. Totally lame. Steve is pretty much an uncredited gem to phillys punk scene and also a TOTALLY REASONABLE ADULT. If he says that’s how it went down I take his word.
she pushed him first. i would have punched her in the face as well. maybe it made her look more feminine.
She shoved the bar owner, got in his face, refused to leave the bar after she was kicked out and started a bar fight. She’s no victim. Fuck this cunt and her stupid lying friends. Go play a coffee shop.
That’s what I was thinking, what kind of band plays a bar, but is still playing quietly enough that you can hear the people at the bar.
You tell them Amanda!!!
In case you didn’t see the original post about this, the “sexism” refers not to the victim being a woman, but to the following:
‘The man who threw the punch kept yelling “i didnt know it was a girl” and “he-she weirdos”, the 4 south philly men, the owners of JR’s, were yelling things like this. […] They continued yelling hate filled obscenities at us the whole time the bands packed up.’
So yeah, just FYI, that’s sexist, homophobic hate-speech.
lol shut up PC baby
Yeah but apparently this guy said those things were never shouted, well except the part about not knowing it was a girl. But still, in the end, id take the word of this guy over anyone. Iv been in a few bands and have dealt with guys like him. They don’t care whether or not the owner gos to jail or what not, but care about the musicians having a place to play.
A rare occasion!? Last time I was there (almost 3 years ago) the owner had a bat in his hand threatening to beat a mans head open. I stepped in (a female) trying to calm him down and tell him I would take my friend home and apologize, he threatened me as well and one of his lackeys punched my friend in the face. It’s not okay.
there is nothing glorified about shows at jrs. they suck and have always sucked. the truth is that jrs doesnt support the scene, the scene supports jrs. local bands are never paid and its extremely rare that they even get a free drink. steve takes a cut of the bar for each show and also from the door for “doing sound.” the touring bands get the scraps.
steve always twells the bands run the door and keep the money. If people are to lazy to run the door and dont get paid that is their own fault. Steve also never takes a cut of the bar. He gets paid a very small wage for his time and effort and bartends for tips but I can 100% say from knowledge that Steve has never ever got a cut of the bar.
Steve also never has ever taken a single penny from the door. Dont post shit anonymous if you dont have your facts straight.
These people are liars. I doubt they’ve ever been to JRs.
100% of door goes to touring band. I’ve been to JR’s more times than I can count and Steve never even works the door. Nobody drinks for free at JR’s either, owner even pays for his own drinks.
No bands should ever play this shitty fucked up hellhole again.
This is bullshit. Steve does not make money off the door, and I am a local music artist who has made up to $50 off the door almost every time I’ve performed there. The owner is a dick–no one ever said he wasn’t. One time I was playing there with my band, and he cut our show short because he wanted to have a mafia meeting or whatever. It was rude, but I somehow managed to keep my cool and not respond by smashing a beer bottle over his head. He is not cool, never was, but who the fuck cares? He lets us have shows in his bar. The original status by the girl Megan that everyone was sharing even says that the “victim” got violent. The status also indicates she was asked to leave, but didn’t. The girl who wrote the status is crying about sexism and inequality, while repeatedly using the phrase “typical older South Philly men”. The Deli even retracted the story they wrote up because they probably read the status again and saw it for what it really was: a girl got drunk and belligerent, and was asked to leave because she was getting violent, but refused to leave, and initiated a physical fight with the owner. When a man gets violent in a bar and a bouncer punches him to get him out, everyone is relieved, but when a dangerous woman gets put in her place, it’s “sexist”. Nice. I’m a girl, by the way, and I don’t hate women except my mother-in-law, so please don’t tell me I’m sexist too. Bye.
I’ve spent the better part of a decade going to shows at this place. Like the article mentioned, this isn’t an established venue where everyone gets a cut of the action. It’s a place where for some reason the owner decided to let the DIY scene in and do what they will at the shows. I’ve seen some great bands and some shit bands. I’ve left with my fair share of cuts and bruises bc of who was playing and where I decided to plant myself. There aren’t any bouncers to come to your rescue or hinderance for better or worse. Local bands don’t usually get a cut bc whatever comes in at the door goes to the touring band. Duh. It’s been that way for a decade and is not a secret. The idea behind that is to give everyone exposure, make sure the touring band has a little something for gas, and everyone makes friends so when you want to tour, maybe you’ll get a little kindness your way. Isn’t being in a band about making music?
t.t., I agree that I’m not looking at this with a sexist perspective. The incident sucks regardless of what was who said or did or what sex they are. If the person punched wasn’t a female, this wouldn’t be a story and would have been gossip in the scene for a week, at best, and then forgotten about.
I’m not sure what Steve has to do with any of this specific event bc if the article is close to accurate, he wasn’t involved. So why is everyone talking about him? If time and energy was going to be spent on something, why waste it on him? I can hardly believe I wasted the 3 minutes making this response.
I just thought if something we can all do. Find the guys who shot a 13 year old kid over a bicycle yesterday.
It became about Steve because the girl who made the status asked everyone to boycott JR’s shows, which are Steve’s thing, not the owner’s. Like Steve said, the owner doesn’t care if shows stop–he’d probably prefer it.
Typical to not freak out on the actual people involved but the find someone else to focus the energy on.
Not that you need it, but for everyone else, I’m not trying to stir the pot further, but just would like to make sure that everyone understands what sexism is:
1. prejudice or discrimination based on sex; especially: discrimination against women
2. behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex
Again, not condoning violence at all bc there’s no point to it and is just reckless. But figured since this is the buzz word around here, thought we might all want to use it correctly.
the freaky thing is that i dont even have a feeling this way or that about what i think is really just a horrible thing to begin with. did the bands play for fun – if not what for? is this “guy” (bar owner) the one to blame for the music or for the pain we all now feel or is it the scene or people itself that is the one to think about in regard to “glory”?
is it wrong to feel this way?
Thanks for this. I read the original FB post which was completely one sided and didn’t mention that the woman made physical contact first. If you shove someone and call them a douche bag it’s not going to end well.
regardless of gender or orientation if the owner tells you to leave and you don’t that is trespassing, you shove someone that is battery, hitting someone with a beer bottle is aggravated assault. that “woman” is lucky she didn’t get the shit stomped out of her and thrown in jail. if you want to be all punk rock don’t be a bitch when you get your ass handed to you.
So someone got punched in the face at a punk show? And…. What else is new. Punk is not and never has been safe zone.
Exactly. I think the girl who got hit is embarrassed of her drunken buffoonery, so tried to distract from her behavior by saying the whole thing was a hate crime. I don’t blame her. I get pissed off when I get flagged from bars too. I usually lie and say I got raped.
steve buddy, sounds like you’re stepping up to the plate for a bunch of violently ignorant misogynists that don’t give a fuck about you or anyone else. that being said, it also doesn’t sound like you’re really equipped to deal with any of this in a helpful way. if we’re really gonna get into it, this dude’s been booking some of the crappiest shows in Philly for a long, long time. jr’s is the dregs of what is turning into one of the best punk scenes in the country. with awesome new bands and spaces popping up every week, do we seriously need to hold onto a gross bar that reeks of embarrassing knuckle dragger hardcore and outdated macho punk bullshit? these shows don’t need to happen, this place doesn’t need to exist, and nobody involved really needs to be defended. steve is a grown up. if he’s decided these are the kinds of shows he wants to book and people he’s cool with working for, that’s his choice. now that his spots blown up, dude just can’t claim ignorance anymore. also, and really make sure y’all read this part carefully, the assessment of “equal rights” being tossed around and joked about here is grossly outdated and super fucking ignorant. feeling entitled to violence against ANYONE is insane. when you claim that you feel entitled to violence against anyone of any gender because of “equality,” you wholly ignore the lengthy history of unequal and gendered violence that women have endured (and continue to endure) at the hands of men, and you sound like such a fucking shit head. grow up and read a book. damn, south philly. the rest of us will be over here in 20fucking14 when you get your shit together.
You probably think Johnny Brendas is punk.
your comments are probably the least punk, most middle of the road, ignorant, status quo shit i’ve seen in relation to this jr’s mess thus far. please, tell me more about punk, boring internet man. how old are you? are you in your parent’s basement right now?
I guess being literate isn’t punk enough for this guy. Is there a punk rock translation app I can use to understand what the fuck this asshole is trying to say?
Philly has a punk scene? I thought it was known across the country for it’s knuckle dragging hardcore.
i will never get tired of people like you not leaving your houses. thanks, and keep up the good work!
South Philly needs to read a book? I think you need to read a book. Try to start with something simple. Here’s a recommendation.
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Engine-Could-Letters-Edition/dp/0448463598
Thanks for the history lesson professor, please enlighten us more on the women’s liberation movement and your idealized vision of a perfect punk rock world. Here’s a novel idea, if you don’t like the venue, the promoter or show, don’t go. Rambling anonymous postings on the Internet never sway anyone.
seriously? “thanks for the history lesson professor?” you sound like a meathead jock from a shitty movie.
Total support to Steve, JRs, the owner Bobby, the Mafia, and South Philly locals. Fuck people who’ve never been to JRs stirring the pot. Eat shit and die.
c
Ya’ll need Jesus. Also lessen up on the white guilt and worrying about being such fucking ladies all the time.
SUCK HIS DICK. P.S. I can’t wait til Steve’s interview on Fox 29 news tonight. It’s gonna be bomb as shit.
Sensitive cry babies taking to Facebook. Maybe jrs can have a child’s corner where you sissies can cry and throw tantrums. Yeah it was crappy it had to get to that point, I also wouldn’t go around Camden with impunity.
A fight broke out at a bar?? No way… I’m a woman, and if a woman starts a fight, it’s her fault. You provoke something, you better expect to get a reaction out of everyone. So what, the guy that hit her thought she was a dude. A lot of lesbians look like dudes. If you don’t wanna be mistaken for a dude, don’t dress like one. And don’t turn YOUR stupidity into someone else’s HATE crime. Seriously?? So stupid. Take responsibility for your actions, and don’t play the victim. Fights break out everywhere, and all the sudden this one in particular is a huge deal because it’s now dealing with “sexist homophobes”… Get real people and stop feeding off all this drama. Check it out too, now JRs has a hell of a lot more publicity.
Hey. I read Steve’s side and I’m sad to see that he chose not to be completely honest in his recount of what happened. I have no loyalties to the person who was hurt or Jr’s, so take this as you want to, but this is unbiased.
I was sitting directly across from the girl who got punched. It was her and I at the bar. I was sitting with my back turned to the other men. I was texting when I heard someone behind me ask her if she had a problem. She had just ordered a beer and was drinking it. Before her ordering the beer we had a brief exchange about where she was from and music around her area.
She responded to the man’s question and said “No, but I think you’re a douche bag.” To this she was cursed out and told to get the fuck out. She said “Seriously? Okay.” She did not resist, at all. She was not belligerent in the least. She got her things and walked past me. At that point I could not see what happened, but before I knew it I heard her get punched and the commotion that ensued. I went over to try and get her away from the fight but it continued. People who were outside came in and intervened and tried to separate the men from her. We were all threatened and told to leave, including Steve. A friend of the owner claiming to be the owner had clearly lost it and was also screaming that he was going to “Beat Steve’s ass.” I believe at that point Jr’s was a dangerous place to be.
Facts: The girl was served a beer before anything happened. A few minutes had passed before the initial start of the altercation. Would you serve someone at your bar who’d physically assaulted you or called you out? She was not asked to leave until someone behind me asked her a question that she answered. After that she was thrown out and she left without resistance. She was not drunk or belligerent. At most the people who had come to the show were 2 drinks in or sober.
Fact: One of the performers had to end his set because he was being harassed and was threatened by the owner and his crew. They were physical threats because of the music that was being played. They were unwarranted. Additionally, a friend of mine was told he would get hurt if he didn’t get out of a chair the owner wanted to sit in.
I was really hoping Steve would be completely honest in this interview. For whatever reason (I’m assuming loyalty or as far as I’m concerned, his own safety) he was not.
The bottom line is what happened shouldn’t have happened. If you care, don’t support Jr’s. If you don’t care, you don’t. The end.
Hey can I get your name or contact info? I am only interested in helping sort out this situation, not giving you shit. I’m Black Orchid Foods on facebook if you want to contact me instead. Thanks! -Robyn
“The girl who was punched hit one of the older men in the head with a beer bottle.” – quoted from Megan Biscieglia of Bad Braids, another eye witness. Yeah, she seems like a real saint. Oh, and your back was turned to the events? Why serve a beer to someone who assaulted you? Well, why would you serve a beer to a person that you were about to assault? Makes not sense, either. Stop inflaming the situation with half baked conjectures and labeling them as “facts”. And if we are going on hearsay: I also “heard”, she spit on one of the dudes faces.
She was punched. Sucks, but I go to JR’s on the regular to watch shows and yes, there is heckling from that side of the bar when the music is bad – but those guys STAY on that side of the bar. They don’t randomly get up and start punching patrons. Hence the reason that this has become such a “hot issue” all of a sudden. Otherwise Steve would have to arrange four or five of these interviews and press releases a fucking week. I support Steve and JR’s. Long live.
Macgruber, you can formulate your own opinions about what you think happened based on my account and the recounts from others. Ultimately, that’s all you can do because you were not there.
I do not know the person who was assaulted, so I couldn’t tell you if she was saintly or not. In my previous post I don’t elaborate on “hearsay” or gossip. I’m telling you what I saw and heard. To answer your questions, a. Yes, my back was turned when she was punched. I heard her get punched and the fighting that proceeded. b. That’s my point. If I were the owner, I would not have served someone after they disrespected me. This contradicts Steve’s comment stating she was looked in the eye by the owner and asked calmly to leave after she pushed him and called him a douche. No, she was sitting at the bar, had ordered a beer, and was drinking her beer, in front of me. c. What prompted the violence was her response to a question she was asked.
In full disclosure, if I was punched, I would smash a beer bottle, spit, and use whatever means necessary to protect myself. I don’t understand in what way her method of defense has to do with being saintly.
Robyn, I would prefer to stay out of this further. I have no reason to continue discussing it. At this time I feel that people who are interested in what happened can make an educated decision based on what others have said about it and do what they will with that info. Long live booking all kinds of shows for all kinds of people, treating people with common decency, and getting off of the internet. I’m done here. Peace!
No, I wasn’t there. You were texting and not fully alert. It was a small show and ten or so people who were OUTSIDE when the punch occurred didn’t see anything either – however are unfortunately trying everything in their power to tarnish a long established venue. Any rational person knows that you don’t defend yourself by spitting. As for the swinging of the bottle… She wasn’t pinned in a corner, pummeled on the ground or confined by anyone. One punch and that was it. The bottle was malicious and intended to inflict bodily injury (just as the original punch was). A bigger person would have just left with all the dignity they could muster. So, I stand by my above post. I have know Steve for almost two decades now. I trust him entirely as do the forty plus people that came to support JR’s last night.
I think the singer was using too much reverb / delay.
Isn’t it sexist to begin with to talk about a girl getting punched in the face as if its any different from a guy getting punched in the face?
go fuck yourself whiteknight loser.
If it was a man refused to leave and had shoved me then I would have no problems with hitting him back, the fact that it was a woman doesn’t matter, you attack someone you get hit, it is known as equality, something a white knight mangina like you will understand.
Can somebody please explain this to me because I’m at a loss or am clearly missing something? Bar Owner Dude & friends heckle & threaten a person on stage because their music is too somber. Person X at a show gives a dirty look to the dudes heckling their friend. Dudes ask Person X what their fucking problem is. Person X gives a smart ass remark so dudes punch them in the face & surround them. All the while Dudes scream super offensive sexist & transgender insults. Person X defends themselves in a 4-on-1 unfair fight by breaking a bottle over a dude’s head. Dudes own the place & end the show, screwing over bands yet to play & throw everyone out because of the scene that they themselves caused.
Two witnesses with nothing to gain retell the exact same series of events. Someone who puts on shows there says they did not see everything transpire. But they filled in missing pieces from asking around & proceeds to tell a varied story that makes it sound as if Person X started the fight. Punks rally around the promoter saying “stop the haters.” When in fact 99% of people never blamed the promoter. Anyone who says this isn’t good for our scene, that we are sick of sexist & other fucked up shit being accepted in punk is called PC & dismissed. Dudes get no blame, nothing changes & they continue to profit from punks continuing to support their bar via beer sales. Do I have this right?
This has been explained a million times. I don’t know why you people aren’t understanding. The shows are Steve’s thing, not the owner’s. As Steve pointed out, the owner often LOSES money from having shows here. Now Robyn, can YOU explain something to ME? How is it that you think the owner is paying his rent off of $2 beers that people buy at shows? Lolololol. Thanks. Boycotting JR’s does not hurt the owner, it hurts the bands that play there and the people who work hard to put on shows there. The owner doesn’t give a fuck, and is completely irrelevant.
Honestly I don’t care if the owner makes money or not. I highly doubt that all of their drinks are $2 & assume you are just exaggerating to make some attempt at a valid point.I think having punk shows at a place where we don’t just accept that someone can get attacked at the whim of some wingnut is the most important thing here. The owner is not irrelevant, he & his thug buddies are the problem & they are there during shows. Steve could be the nicest guy ever but he can not control them. Say you don’t give fuck about an innocent person getting attacked. Say you don’t give a fuck about transphobic & sexist comments screamed at an attendant. Purely as a logistical matter that the owner can & did shutdown a show, screwing over bands who did not get to play should be a concern. This all started because he did not like the sound of a band. You really want this guys opinions of music to interfere with shows there? I can’t get down with that. There are soooo many show spaces, the scene should get a fucking spine & stand up for once & not just take being treated for crap just to grovel for an additional show space.
Look, I am not researching & speaking out about this situation because I like problems. It’s a headache for everybody. But I would like our scene to get each other’s back. What if those witnesses other than Steve are right & this person really did nothing but give the dudes a shitty look for heckling their friend? What if it was your friend that got punched & degraded? What if it was your friend’s band that drove from another state & did not get to play because of the actions of some asshole bar owner? I don’t think we should only give a shit when it is our friend. I’m from the segment of punks that does not accept treating each other like poorly, who will not support racist, sexist or homophobic shit going down at shows or in our community. Why does it have to be only about what we would lose? Why is access to a room more important than having a community that looks out for one another?
not the full truth
come to Jr’s for the truth… Meet the owner and speak with him. We are a local corner bar with a good reputation besides this. Please take a chance and come seek out the truth.