Neumos: Buju Banton concert cancelled

Here's a letter from Neumos Owner Steven Severin:

After much debate, Neumos has cancelled the Buju Banton show.

Our mission of providing for the free expression of art must give way in this situation to our responsibility to the health and safety of our patrons and the community. The publication and dissemination of the lyrics for one of this artist’s songs has created the potential for violence that we will not tolerate.

To our patrons who were looking forward to this show, we apologize that you will not be able to see an artist you wanted to see. To those in the community that were deeply offended that we would bring an overtly homophobic artist to the heart of capitol hill we apologize.

We are mindful that this action comes at significant social costs. As a performing arts venue we take pride in allowing artists to freely express their views without censorship or prior restraint. We believe that dissent and disagreement are vital and healthy parts of a community. The song, “Boom Bye Bye” written by Buju Banton over a decade ago when he was fifteen clearly goes beyond such dissent and disagreement, is abhorrent and cannot be defended by anyone. We sympathize with and understand the strong emotions that the publication and dissemination of the lyrics have incited in our community. Because of this, the show cannot go on.

Steven Severin
Neumos/Wake Up Productions/Liberty Lounge
Owner/Talent Buyer

Neumos: Musician who urges death to gays to perform

Musicians who sing songs urging people to shoot gay men in the head, pour acid over them, and burn them alive is just fine for Neumos (925 E. Pike Street, Seattle), a popular Capitol Hill venue for music performances.

Apparently, Neumos thinks bringing a bigoted musician and his followers to an area with the city's largest population of gay residents and establishments frequented by Gays is a good idea. Fortunately, many disagree.

A pre-concert protest is being planned to take place outside of Neumos on Wednesday, September 27th at 7 PM. The concert starts at 9 PM.

A meeting to plan the protest has been called for Tuesday, September 26th at the Seattle LGBT Community Center (1115 East Pike Street, Seattle) at 7 PM.

HereÂ’s what the protest organizers, Seattle Stop Buju Banton, have to say:

[Buju] Banton's big hit song, "Boom Bye Bye," incites the execution-style killing of gay and lesbian people. He urges listeners to shoot gays in the head, pour acid over them, set them alight, and burn them like car tires. "Boom Bye Bye" is probably the most murderous incitement recorded by any singer in the world, and Banton still performs "Boom Bye Bye." The record remains on sale. He re-released it on his recent Greatest Hits album. Banton is still making money from his incitement to kill gay people.

Banton does not merely express his disapproval of homosexuality. He calls for all homosexuals to be killed and incites his listeners to go out and murder gays and lesbians. This goes way beyond an acceptable expression of opinion. Lesbian and gay people have a right to live their lives free from threats to kill them. Inciting violence against any human being for any reason is totally unacceptable.

By giving Banton any kind of platform, Neumos is colluding with a performer who wants gays and lesbians dead. It is our belief that no mainstream club would book performers who call for the death of other groups of people. Even if Banton agrees not to sing his "Boom Bye Bye" song at the Neumos, it would still be wrong to have him on the stage. Singers who incite the murder of gay people (or anyone else) should be shunned, not rewarded. Take the example of a singer with neo-Nazi sympathies, who had previously released a song calling for the gassing of Jews. Would Neumos host them if they promised not to sing their anti-Semitic diatribes? We think not.

Fearing violence, the Washington Association of Churches has issued its own statement calling for the cancellation of the concert:

We understand that Mr. Banton continues to perform "Boom Bye Bye" in his live performances and that violence against gays and lesbians has ensued in the wake of his appearances. Because of that, other communities and performance venues have recently canceled his performances.

We therefore urge people throughout Washington State to urge the management of Neumos nightclub to cancel Mr. Banton's performance as well.

We do not believe that our collective ethics, morality or religious values in Washington State can allow us to remain silent when someone calls a for murder to a reggae beat in an effort to disguise it as speech or art.

Mr. Banton's performance of "Boom Bye-Bye" in our community should not be protected as free speech -- because it is truly an amplified call for bigoted and hateful mayhem.

THE LYRICS

(The Jamaican patios lyrics to "Boom Bye Bye" are followed, line by line, by translations into Standard English)


Anytime Buju Banton come
Anytime Buju Banton comes

Batty bwoy get up an run
Faggots get up and run......

Chorus:
Boom bye bye
Boom (gun shot) bye bye (Goodbye, as in you're dead)

Inna batty bwoy head
In a faggot's head

Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Rude boy don't promote any nasty (queer) man

Dem haffi dead
They have to die.....

Verse
Send fi di matic an
Send for the automatic (gun) and

Di Uzi instead
The Uzi (gun) instead

Shoot dem no come if we shot dem-
Shoot them, don't come (to help them) if we shoot them......

Guy come near we
If a guy comes near me

Then his skin must peel
Then his skin must peel
(Note: In Jamaica, pouring acid on an individual is a common
revenge tactic)

Burn him up bad like an old tire wheel
Burn him up bad like an old tire


ACTION

To contact Neumos about their decision to book Buju Banton, call 206-709-9467 or e-mail info@neumos.com.

Event organizers are also urging people to contact their local elected officials to request additional police presence on Capitol Hill during the concert.

Details for Joshua Radin's free performance in Bellevue

Great entertainment can be expensive. So please take advantage of Joshua Radin's free performance at the Hilton Bellevue on Sunday, September 24. Set time, hotel address and specifics are below.

Radin will play songs from his critically-acclaimed debut We Were Here as part of 103.7 "The Mountain"'s new "Sunday Brunch Session" series. It's possible Radin, who appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's late night talk show this week, will sign autographs afterwards, though we cannot confirm it at this time. Do take your copy of the CD, available for purchase at Easy Street and Sonic Boom record stores, to the event on Sunday just in case.

This is a top notch artist who will undoubtedly climb the success ladder in the years to come, which is why a free intimate performance is highly recommended by us here at the Seattle Gay News who strongly support Joshua Radin. Also, Radin appears on The Last Kiss film soundtrack, and autographed three copies of the CD along with members of rock group Snow Patrol for an exclusive SGN giveaway. You can enter to win one of these CDs at any Sonic Boom Records location (Capitol Hill, Fremont, Ballard).

"Sunday Brunch Session" with Joshua Radin
Presented by 103.7 (FM) "The Mountain"
Sunday, September 24 - 12:30pm to 2:30pm
Hilton Bellevue - 300 112th Avenue SE in Bellevue

Free show, free parking. First come basis. Brunch and/or drinks available for purchase.


Photo of Joshua Radin, courtesy of Columbia Records.

Joshua Radin to give free, special performance in Bellevue

Seattle Gay News is very pleased to announce a special performance by up and coming artist Joshua Radin next weekend at the Hilton Bellevue. See tomorrow's issue of our publication for specific day and time, in "The Music Lounge" column.

As part of radio station 103.7 "The Mountain"'s new "Sunday Brunch Session" in Bellevue, Radin will perform material from his debut album We Were Here, already earning a four-star review from Rolling Stone magazine.

Radin, who contributes two songs to The Last Kiss film soundtrack, has interviewed twice with the Seattle Gay News. And, he will join rock group Snow Patrol in doing something very special for us, so make sure you pick up a copy of this week's Seattle Gay News, hitting the streets tomorrow afternoon, for this announcement in "The Music Lounge".

There is no cost to see Joshua Radin at the Hilton Bellevue this weekend. Brunch will be available for purchase. Seattle Gay News is proud to continue its support of this truly gifted artist. Ear-sample Radin's music on his MySpace page: www.myspace.com/joshuaradin

Re-visit this blog site in the coming week for more information on this special event. We Were Here is available for purchase at all Easy Street and Sonic Boom record stores.

Photo of Joshua Radin, courtesy of Sony-BMG Records.

Grab a Jackass: Number Two movie pass tonight at Manray

You know you want it. So, come and get it.

Seattle Gay News is giving away free movie passes for the outrageous new film Jackass: Number Two tonight at Manray Video Bar (514 East Pine). Starting at 9pm, bartenders will hand them out to those old enough to walk inside. You must be 21+ to enter.

Every Tuesday is "Alternative Tuesdays", where we play music videos by the coolest alternative artists. So, we invite you to stay and watch videos by The Killers, Goldfrapp, Coldplay, Guster, Franz Ferdinand, Wolfmother, and more. Speaking of Wolfmother, they're featured on the Jackass: Number Two film trailer that we'll be showing tonight as well. The movie opens nationwide on September 22.

Besides free movie passes, admitting you and a guest to an advance screening next week, we've got other "Jackass" goodies that we'll be giving away too. Come have a cocktail with a fun, alt music-loving crowd. Gay or straight, everyone is welcome to have a good time.

Jackass: Number Two image, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

Jackass: Number Two movie pass giveaway

Seattle Gay News will be giving away free movie passes to an advance screening of Jackass: Number Two, starring Johnny Knoxville and his crew of outrageous stuntmen, Tuesday night at Manray Video Bar (514 East Pine) starting at 9pm.

The film is the newest addition to the Jackass franchise, following a popular MTV series run and the first motion picture installment. Much like it's self-titled predecessor, Jackass: Number Two finds Knoxville and his all-male co-horts abandoning good behavior and taking the world on, one wild dare at a time.

Movie passes will be given out during "Alternative Tuesdays", a weekly club night for alt pop and rock fans sponsored by Seattle Gay News and Manray Video Bar. From 9pm to 1am, VJ Nik plays music videos by the coolest alternative artists, including Wolfmother, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, We Are Scientists, Head Automatica, Beck, Coldplay, Morningwood, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and Bjork.

Each movie pass admits two people to an advance screening of Jackass: Number Two on Wednesday, September 20. You must present a pass to be admitted into the theatre. Jackass: Number Two is rated "R".

Besides free passes and random goodies, we'll be showing the official film trailer with the theme song performed by Wolfmother. It's a hoot!

Jackass: Number Two poster art, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

"The Last Kiss" free movie passes at Neighbours tonight

Free movie passes for "The Last Kiss", starring Zach Braff (TV's "Scrubs", Rachel Bilson (TV's "The OC"), Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson, two-time Emmy Award winner Blythe Danner, Jacinda Barrett and Casey Affleck, will be given away at Neighbours (1509 Broadway) tonight beginning at 10pm. Entry to the club may be required to receive a free movie pass. The film is rated "R".

A & E writer Lorelei Quenzer reviews "The Last Kiss" next week for the Seattle Gay News.

Photo of "The Last Kiss", courtesy of Dreamworks Pictures.