Two Gallants - Attacked, Tasered, Arrested ... At Their Own Show!
"An indie rock show descended into chaos Friday night in Houston, Texas, when a police officer investigating a noise complaint at the club Walter's on Washington allegedly attacked the band Two Gallants and its fans. According to various sources, Adam Stephens, singer/guitarist for the Saddle Creek two-piece, was shot with officer G.M. Rodriguez's Taser gun, as were the band's tour manager and two audience members--one, a 14-year-old boy. Two Gallants drummer Tyson Vogel and vocalist/guitarist Andrew Kerwin of opening band Trainwreck Riders were arrested.
Accounts vary as to the exact sequence of events. The Houston Chronicle reports Houston Police Department Sgt. Nate McDuell as saying that Rodriguez "approached management about the noise complaint, filed by a neighbor, and the volume was turned down-- but that as the officer was leaving, the volume went back up." The officer then took the stage and confronted Stephens. Stephens "then used a sexual obscenity and shoved the officer with his shoulder," according to McDuell.
Stephens told the Chronicle "that is 'absolutely' not what happened. Stephens said he was sideways and singing on the stage just before he turned around and saw the officer, who then shined a flashlight at him and said, 'Stop.'
"Stephens, who denied shoving the officer, said he responded, 'Why?' He said the officer moved closer to him and yelled, 'Stop!' Stephens said he again asked why and that the officer then grabbed him by the neck and forced him to the floor."
(above photo was taken by an audience member and is of the officer tackling both Tyson and Adam at the same time)Since when does a single officer take it upon himself to stop a show? This is absolutely incredible and I can't think of anything else to say at this point. Tyson and Adam are friends from San Francisco, so I just hope that they're alright after this disgusting incident." ::VIA
