The promoter has disputed Trapt’s claim that the shortened sets were due to a local sound ordinance, while the show’s sound engineer has also weighed in.
The promoter behind Trapt’s recent show in Fort Pierce, FL, has publicly addressed the controversy involving the band and opening acts Fear Of Infirmity and Dirty Crumbums.
The incident took place on Friday, November 6, at Guadalajara Night Club, where both opening bands alleged that their sets were cut short at the request of Trapt. As previously reported, Dirty Crumbums claimed their originally scheduled 30-minute performance was reduced to approximately 15 minutes. After continuing to play beyond the shortened time, the band alleged that their microphones and instruments were unplugged.
Members of Dirty Crumbums and their fans subsequently joined the audience during Trapt’s set to chant the band’s “DCB” acronym. Trapt frontman Chris Taylor Brown then reportedly had them removed from the venue by security. The band also suggested that Trapt had pushed for the shorter sets because they wanted to “get to bed early”.
Separately, a member of Fear Of Infirmity alleged that Trapt had blown a fuse in his guitar amplifier while soundchecking earlier in the day using Fear Of Infirmity’s equipment.
Now, promoter Michael Weisneck has offered his account of the evening, including the scheduling changes that preceded the performances. In a statement shared on social media, Weisneck explained that the show’s setup was delayed after Trapt requested that their cabinets and drums be mic’d up. The venue was unable to accommodate that request with its available equipment, so soundcheck was held until Trapt’s touring opener, Syngal To Noise, arrived with the necessary gear.
Weisneck also said a member of Syngal To Noise’s camp handled sound for the entire lineup and was paid in full, as were Trapt. The delays ultimately resulted in doors being pushed back from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the local opening acts’ sets reduced from 25 minutes to 20 minutes. According to the promoter, that adjustment was made because Trapt did not want to begin its performance after 10:30 p.m., despite originally being scheduled to take the stage at 9:45 p.m.
After local opener Limb Breaker kicked off the evening, Fear Of Infirmity and Dirty Crumbums performed ahead of the touring acts. Weisneck went on to dispute the suggestion that the opening bands had simply run too far over their allotted times.
He wrote:
“DCB was told 2 songs left at 9 minutes in, later, the vocal mic was cut at 18:45 – before the 20 minutes allotted. If you know the boys, you know they don’t have long songs. Touring party says Fear Of Infirmity & DCB played longer than slotted which resulted in them being unplugged. Personally, seeing their set length timestamp, I dont think anyone should be turned off before time is up then subsequently unplugged when they’re seconds away from being done.”
Weisneck also specifically denied that a hard curfew or local sound ordinance dictated the evening’s schedule.
“Also no, there was no hard curfew/sound ordinance to follow given by myself or the venue. Night club in Fort Pierce, speaks for itself. We good until closing time,” he stated.
Trapt also addressed the controversy in a separate social media post, characterizing the incident as a dispute with Dirty Crumbums and blaming PA issues for the delayed start. The band claimed the opening acts had 10 minutes cut from their sets and that Trapt still performed at its scheduled 10 p.m. start time.
The band wrote:
“Great show in Fort Pierce the other night, despite a band called ‘Dirty Butt Crumbs’ going viral courtesy of our great friends at FB for making a post about getting kicked out of the venue for being absolute children. PA issues pushed back the start an hour, so openers had 10 mins cut from their sets and Trapt played at 10 as was scheduled. You should have heard the clapping of the 90% of people in there who were trapt fans. Never seen such crybabies in my life.”
That account differs from an earlier statement by Trapt, in which the band claimed the promoter had shortened the opening acts’ sets to comply with local sound ordinance requirements. Weisneck’s latest comments directly contradict that explanation.
Meanwhile, Chris Hammill, who identified himself as the sound engineer responsible for the show, has also responded to the allegations. Hammill said he was brought in after the venue’s originally hired sound engineer failed to show up, and that he supplied much of the equipment needed to make the concert happen, including his stage box, microphones, cables and mixing console. He also credited Trapt’s crew with providing monitors for the performers.
Hammill pushed back against suggestions that he had sabotaged Fear Of Infirmity’s equipment, specifically addressing the allegation involving the blown amplifier fuse. He said he had never unplugged a guitarist’s amplifier without first asking permission and powering it down, and noted that blown fuses can result from a variety of equipment or electrical issues.
He also offered his version of the dispute over the shortened performances, claiming that Dirty Crumbums had been told its set was over at 8:30 p.m. but continued playing after he muted the main PA and started playing house music.
Hammill wrote:
“At 830, when their set was supposed to be done, I muted the mains, played house music, and the band proceeded to still play despite being told they were done. They even played after I was on stage taking off the drum mics and cleaning up for the next band.”
Hammill further alleged that members of the opening bands had disrespected the tour manager and sound crew, and claimed someone from the two groups had taken his Beta 57A microphone. He concluded by reiterating that he had helped facilitate the show and rejected accusations that he had deliberately interfered with anyone’s performance.
As reported earlier this year, Trapt have spent the fall performing their platinum-certified, self-titled 2002 debut album.
If you’re rocking with The Mosh Network, hit the link and add us as a Preferred Source on Google. That’s the easiest way to keep our latest metal, hardcore, and alternative news, tours, and releases showing up directly in your feed.
[Via ThePRP]
