"WE will NOT be playing the Troc again," wrote Jian Ghomeshi, the long-haired singer/drummer for the Canadian pop quartet Moxy Früvous, in a statement posted on an online bulletin board, alt.music.moxy-fruvous.
Ghomeshi, whose band played a sold-out Troc on Feb. 6 after a long history of sell-outs at the smaller TLA, said the move to the larger venue - made possible by repeated play by concert sponsors WXPN - was not worth the abuse he felt his fans endured.
Addressing the band's fans, Ghomeshi wrote: "We were all frustarted and upset at the way people were treated by the staff of the Trocadero on Saturday. I hate the notion of some one paying to see us perform and leaving with a bad taste in their mouth[s] due to unnecessary rude security staff and harsh club policies. I sincerely wish to apologize on our behalf."
After a typical Moxy Früvous show, band members mingle with the Früheads, as they're called. But this didn't jibe with the Trocadero's policy, enforced after every show, of clearing the crowds out when the house lights come on.
"We in the band were completely unaware that our fans were being kicked out of the venue as soon as the show ended. We came out to say our 'hellos' and realized the room had been emptied," Ghomeshi wrote. He and other band members talked with fans on the sidewalk outside the Troc, making sure to keep the door proped open lest it lock behind them.
The problem might have been the unlikely intermingling of the Troc security staff, used to dealing with rowdy stagedivers, and the Früvous fans, who tend to be an oder, more mature crowd.
A Trocadero representative declined comment because the show was actually booked by New Park Entertainment. Jesse Lundy, who promoted the show for New Park, would not discuss Ghomeshi's message, except to express his displeasure that such a big deal was made of the incident. (New Park is handling two other WXPN shows at the Troc, The Nields on Feb.20 and Dan Bern on March 25.)
Lundy's sentiments were echoed by Jack Ross, the band's manger, who attended the show. He said neither he nor the band wanted to make it "more of a public issue other than what Jian said to his fans." Ross declined further comment, saying they have "energy focused in other directions," namely for recording the new album.
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