Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Wow Jennifer Herrema v. The Alcohol Stuntband
Posted by Steve Haruch on Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 9:31 AM
As reported in the comments of a previous post, Monday night's RTX show at Springwater got kind of interesting. According to various accounts, RTX frontwoman Jennifer Herrema physically confronted Alcohol Stuntband singer Chris Crofton. Alcohol Stuntband guitarist Brandes Holcomb tells Cream via email:
[Herrema] wrestled the mic out of his hand and shoved him away. Chris went out into the audience to watch in a sort of "playing along" manner and Todd (our drummer) and I decided to start a song and ignore the crazy woman sitting back on our drum kit yelling nonsense about Chris's bald head. We broke into "Bell Witch" and she stood up and started yelling at Chris again—but into the mic while we played this time. Chris came up on stage and grabbed another mic to sing and she tackled/drug him into the crowd and made several clear attacks towards his injured shoulder—his arm was in a sling while we were playing.
Read more from the Stuntband's perspective after the jump. As of this posting, RTX's publicity contact has not returned an email asking for comment.
Last Friday, the Alcohol Stuntband played in Chattanooga with the Monotonix and Giant Tiger... and somebody from one of those bands (I can't recall whom) warned us from personal experience that the Royal Trux chick, whom we would be playing a show with on Monday, was crazy as bat shit. So Chris was more excited about the show than normal because he likes crazy people... and we were excited too as we had gotten comfortable playing a few shows with Chris and his broken shoulder/arm not playing guitar. We felt that we we're playing quite well together for the first time in a while and were truly looking forward to the show.Chris was talking about this as he and I were driving to the show (around 9:30) when Mike Raber, who books the Springwater, called Chris. He said RTX wanted us to play last. Chris said we'd talk to him when we got there and had talked to the rest of the band. Upon arrival we learned from several people that the reason she wanted us to go last was because she was "very superstitious" and did not want to start her show after midnight. We did not want to go last because we had previously told our own friends/fans who payed $8 (or whatever it was) when we were scheduled to play. We said we would like to stay in our previously assigned second-of-four slot and would play a short set if the Altered Statesmen would hurry up and start and play a short set themselves. The later, of course, didn't happen... but whatever, it is the Springwater.
We (the Stuntband) got on stage around 11, set up and started playing as soon as we could. The crowd grew larger and by the end of the 4th song we were rolling along pretty good. People were clearly enjoying the show. At this point, the RTX chick came up to the front of the stage and yelled that it was time for us to quit playing, etc. We just stood around for a second and then Chris made a comment about her resemblance to a strung out Courtney Love and she came up on stage and started yelling at him. He then mockingly pointed out to the crowd that she had been in the Royal Trux and she was also a supermodel. This infuriated her and she wrestled the mic out of his hand and shoved him away. Chris went out into the audience to watch in a sort of "playing along" manner and
Todd (our drummer) and I decided to start a song and ignore the crazy woman sitting back on our drum kit yelling nonsense about Chris's bald head. We broke into "Bell Witch" and she stood up and started yelling at Chris again—but into the mic while we played this time. Chris came up on stage and grabbed another mic to sing and she tackled/drug him into the crowd and made several clear attacks towards his injured shoulder—his arm was in a sling while we were playing.
Holcomb, by his own account, stood directly in front of Herrema during RTX's set and stared intently at her the entire time.
[After about 7 songs] I guess, the guitar player started rolling his chords up and [Herrema] started yelling, saying they were pussies and they wouldn't be getting paid for the show. I kept staring. She got up and stormed off the stage. I waited until I was sure they were done and went up to the guitar player and drummer and said their band was awesome. They were really...if you like that stuff. I turned around to walk away and had to turn down several offers to buy me beer. The bar wouldn't let me pay my tab either.I went up to the bass player to tell him his band was good even though the circumstances were a bit inauspicious. He told me that I needed to leave. I said ok but that I really thought the band was good.
I went and talked to some people about softball and then I decided I wanted to say something to her and then leave. I wanted to tell her, like I told you, that I would probably like to fuck her but otherwise I wasn't impressed. I was a bit drunk I guess and I thought this was a real zinger. I'm probably lucky I didn't get the right opportunity for that. Eventually i went over and introduced myself to her and she said she knew who i was. i told her i didn't know who she was - i really didn't know her name until this morning. she then went on this drunken tirade about everything that happened and how chris wasn't very "cool" and what have you. i let her talk and did the staring thing again. this lasted another 5 minutes or so. when she was done talking i told her i had no idea what she was talking about... which was true. ben martin of lone official (who was yucking it up with me 10 minutes earlier) was sitting next to her and he then told me that i was now freaking him out. i apologized to him and left.
Comments (134)
Showing 1-50 of 134
Is this really that much of a surprise when you insult people like this?
"Chris made a comment about her resemblance to a strung out Courtney Love and she came up on stage and started yelling at him. He then mockingly pointed out to the crowd that she had been in the Royal Trux and she was also a supermodel."
like
dislike
she did interrupt another band's set and make it about her. what should she expect?
in other news, this holcomb character has terrible taste in women.
let the fun begin...
Holcomb always freaks out the ladies. he scared my wife so bad she quit playing bass.
You don't attack someone with a broken shoulder. She might have screwed up his shoulder permanently. She sounds like a diva, not very rock. Maybe she should start singing R&B. Tantrums are more acceptable in R&B.
Whether interrupting a set or there is no cause to speak to another person that way?I guess if you have a broken shoulder that gives you free reign to tell people they look like a "strung out Courtney Love",and I suppose your not allowed to hit people with glasses no matter what they say to you.Maybe Crofton finally mouthed off to the wrong person,its just funny it was a former 90lb supermodel regarded as the original "heroin chic".
this whole thing would have never happened if herrema wasn't wearing animal pelts.
Gee, if we had started at like 8:30 and played for 20 minutes, maybe none of this would have happened. Animal pelts indeed.
Jana, you ignorant slut. Your comments are so off base that it's comical. If she looks like a strung out Courtney Love and she acts like a strung out Courtney Love, then she is clearly not the "wrong person" to have "mouthed off to" about her appearance and behavior. She wasn't going to accept being ignored. She certainly deserved to be made fun of. She then chose violence as a response. You obviously have no understanding of the situation or even what you are talking about. Feel free to make yourself look even more foolish by responding. I enjoy watching such nonsense and it will give me something to do for the rest of the day.
is anyone else a bit confused as to why people keep saying "a strung-out Courtney Love."
as opposed to the real chill, super-composed and amiable Courtney Love?
Sometimes my daughter is not as strung-out as she normally is... but when she is strung-out, she's a real fuckbag and don't you forget it!
Are you so mad that your little "dick joke" buddy got punked by a girl that you have to call me names Joey Karate?What I meant by saying the "wrong person"to have "mouthed off to"was that Crofton thought everyone would just laugh it off because he is such an insecure prick anyway that hides behind his grotesque appearance and big mouth in order to get laughs.It didn't happen this time.The poor guy is just crying on the inside anyway,I would be if I looked like that and had a slap show that consisted of me mocking myself.Feel free to call me more names after you and Crofton cry it out.
You seem like a cool person. But i guess you would hate me because i'm bald and i poke fun at myself. Who cares if he got hurt just as long as your hero's ego isn't bruised. You made yourself look very lame in the last post. Long live the beautiful people.
I paid 8 bucks to see boredom shattered by one of the greatest displays of public humiliation i have ever had the pleasure to witness. The so called Alcohol Stuntband were properly emasculated before a half empty room of listless springwater patrons. What Holcomb didn't see, due to his regrettable choice of sunglasses, was Herrema cheering the Alcohol Stuntband on. She was clapping, yelling, heckling and showing half-hearted drunken support. And then...her face lit up. Ms Herrema had an epiphany. You were playing a song about teenage suicide and i was yawning. She looked at her band,looked at the miserable, lifeless room and said "fuck this." She then proceeded to do what most of us can only dream about: she DESTROYED BOREDOM!!
If you are gonna call yourselves The Alcohol Stuntband, then shouldn't you come prepared for drunkeness...and stunts?! Why throw yourselves on an already overbooked bill of 3 bands on a monday night, with a gimpy arm, and BORE people with such pure crap? To see the "former supermodel" take charge and make quick work of you seedy charlatans was priceless. She took the mic and even took advantage of your music to spontaneously ridicule all of you. Glorious. You baited her. I suspect she sprang on you because your remarks were not very clever.
Ms. Herrema's defiant and deft handling of the Alcohol Stuntband was like a dream. Holcomb and his little crumbs did indeed stand directly in front of the inebriated Herrema during the RTX set, staring like a fool, with his chest puffed up like a peacock, and all that chewy chewin' on his chewy gum like he was in "west side story," all Sharks vs. The Jets. surreal...pathetic...utterly fascinating. i couldn't take my eyes off the sorry scene.
Torn rotator cuffs are a drag, but you dullards should be grateful that SOMETHING happened.
Be proud, brush yourself off and know that you were players in perfect evening of pure theater.
Bravo!
She isn't my hero,I just thought it was funny.Oh and I'm so sorry that I hurt your feelings after you called me an "ignorant slut".I didn't say anything about bald people,but doesn't his show consist of him making fun of himself and exaggerating his self admitted grotesque appearance?At least know what the guys show is about if your going to try and defend him,talk about lame?
Wrong person. I never called you a slut, but you seem a little defensive about it.
jana smith has spoken the unspeakable about C. Crofton.
also, jana, the slut comment is a chevy chase/SNL reference. come on, now.
wh: It's a Dan Akroyd SNL reference. Sorry, but details about 1970s SNL are important!
"Show some fuckin hospitality and let touring band play when they want."
We wouldn't Chris Crofton to disappoint the mad mob of fans that go to his shows nowadays would we?I mean if he doesn't play on time think about what could happen,the two people that still think Chris is funny would be so upset they might actually become "suicidal teenagers".
The Alcohol Stuntband is one of the greatest Nashville rock acts of all time. You fuckers have no idea what you're talking about.
Snedeker,you changed my mind,just kidding.Surely your being sarcastic,if not go to the clue store and get yourself a fuckin clue dude.
jen herrema is a bad ass. always has been. always will be. so sorry i missed this shit.
does anyone have a copy of the s/t Royal Trux album? i lost mine in a car accident 8 years ago and have yet to replace it.
If I only could have made sweet, sweet love to the beautiful, well adjusted Jen Herrema, none of this would have ever happened. Jennifer, call me. please.
footage of Jennifer Herrema and pea-cock dude from Alcohol Stuntband getting it on in the parking lot after the show at springwater...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GBaoxnZH1Ug&feature=related
I don't think I'm the best looking guy in the world, but grotesque seems a little extreme.
"When used in conversation, grotesque commonly means strange, fantastic, ugly or bizarre, and thus is often used to describe weird shapes and distorted forms such as Halloween masks or gargoyles on churches."
If this doesn't end in some sort of rock-off I will be sorely disappointed... perhaps West Side Story versus Hole???
I'd pay $8.50 for that.
everybody in that band is grotesque compared to that drummer of theirs. he's a babe.
its the shitwater for chrissakes. how is this "happening" different from any other night there?
oh, its royal trux chick. i guess chris better get checked out for scabies while he's getting that shoulder looked at.
chris pyle is his name. (rtx drummer)
yes he is a dream.
god i hate that i missed this show.
LET THE TOURING BAND/ HEADLINER PLAY WHEN THEY WANT TO PLAY! FUCKS SAKE!
It doesn't feel really good when people put down the way you look does it Chris Crofton.You had no problem telling her she looked like a "strung out Courtney Love"in front of a room full of people,but you seem to get upset when someone says something about the way you look.You must be so insecure that you have to put other people down to make yourself feel better about the way you look.
Brandes/Joey, like attention much? Lame lame lame. You obviously had a bone to pick with the woman before you knew anything about her. You went into this gig being a bunch of pricks and looking for a fight. I suppose you think she deserved all of your disrespect and abuse because she thinks she's the shit...well guess what. SHE IS THE SHIT you dirtbag amateurs. I mean you guys make asses of yourselves on a regular basis, but you've outdone yourselves this time.
Even after having your wannabe diva asses handed to you by the real thing, you try and spin the story to your advantage like a bunch of 14 year olds (kind of like standing at the front of the stage during their set). My favorite part is where you try to justify why you were even on the bill...because Chris likes crazy people. Well how does he like crazy people now? Oh, and when you wouldn't play later because you already told your vast amount of friends and fans what time you were going on...I love that part too. Oh but she interrupted your set and tried to make it about her. I guess she didn't get the memo that the whole night was about you. And I don't know if I'd really be bragging about not knowing who she is. There are bands in this town that would have considered that gig an honor.
The best part of this whole ugly scene is that you guys will daydream about that night for the next twenty years at your day jobs, and she'll have forgotten about you in a matter of days. She's got 15 years worth of bigger, badder stories to tell.
Alcohol Stuntband's account of this situation is really absurd. It seems they are on the legal tip, trying to ensure that they don't get their ass sued for ASSAULT. They 100% assaulted Jennifer from RTX. While most the crowd couldn't see they all took part in kicking her while she was on the ground, beat her pretty good. Just think one girl who's been making music for 20+ years, last time I checked... get's heckled by some local opening band and she try's to shut them down and then they all beat on her...just pathetic. Alcohol Stuntband should be blacklisted...totallly not cool. She's a hero, drunk but a hero. Fuck those other dudes, they'll get what's coming to them.
I don't think I'm the best looking guy in the world....
maybe you are smarter than you look after all.
If this doesn't end in some sort of rock-off I will be sorely disappointed....
it did end in a rock-off. your band lost.
faust gave the best description. amused made a fab pointing to the reality. boba has summed it up.
nothing else could further articulate the sad, sad situation.
Everyone, frankly, should be ashamed.
Just for the record, because I do not aim to speak for anyone else in the band, the above is my account of the situation. A friend at the Nashville Scene asked me for an accurate, step by step account of the evening from my perspective and I gave it to him. I was happy to do so. It was after all, a rather interesting evening. I did not lie, I have not tried to justify anything and I honestly couldn't care less about what happened or what people think. I was excited to play the show. I had fun and I found the whole thing to be quite amusing. We had a blast laughing about it in the parking lot afterward. I'm still having fun with it. My only regret was that it became violent and that violence was instigated and perpetuated by Jennifer Herrema. Make no mistake about that. Anyone who says any different is badly mistaken.
I liked every band on the bill, especially Imaad Wasif. I really thought the RTX band was good. They were incredibly tight considering the chaos amongst them. I found their singer to be self-centered and her performance to be quite lackluster. And so it goes with belligerent drunks. She clearly wanted more attention and I gave it to her. I loved every minute of it. It seemed to make her uncomfortable though. Oh well, careful what you ask for I guess.
And yes, Jennifer Herrema is more famous and popular than our rather unambitious band. Good for her. I sure as fuck know who she is now. I'm still not impressed though. Yes, I will talk about this for years. I have a real job and a real life that is far more important than any band I play with... but rock-n-roll moments like this are the spice of life and I wouldn't dare forget it. I hope she never forgets it either... although I'm sure she already has.
Finally, anyone who takes any of this seriously or actually considers Ms. Herrema a hero should probably get into some sort of therapy so that they may find a more productive way to spend their time and attention. I know a great therapist, just drop me a line if you want her number.
By the way, has anyone seen my guitar? It seems to have turned up missing from that night.
You don't care what anyone thinks,oh my god your such a rock star,can I have your autograph please?Its funny how these local bands think they are the main act in this town,maybe thats why so many bands don't want to play here.Let the headliner play when they fucking want you idiots.Did you hit your crack pipe before or after the show Brandes?
This all could have been avoided if Raber would quit booking four fucking bands on a Monday night.
We need to call our City Council members and insist on an ordinance that would ban more than 3 bands on a bill Sun-Thurs (8 of 8th would get an exemption). If they'll pass retarded sprinkler laws, surely they'll get behind this. If we could somehow frame it as an attempt to crack down on immigration, we could probably get Eric Crafton to sponsor it.
If you dislike Alcohol Stuntband, fine. Go ahead and trash them. I happen to know Chris and Dave, and I will continue to support their endeavors, be they musical or comedic. They're genuinely nice, unpretentious guys. Upset about drama at the springwater? Get in line. Unfortunately, you just happened to pay 7 or 8 bucks for it when it's usually free.
If you want an argument about how punk rock someone is, go complain on that post where over 150 comments are about a 3 or 4 sentence review at fucking rockettown. Granted, I wasn't at this show, but it sounds like Ms. Herrema is a shithead to her own band as well.
And having been talked into being the last band on the bill at that bar too many times to mention, I wouldn't fault them for wanting to keep the bill as it was originally set up either. Everything starts late at the springwater, that's nobody's fault, that's just usually when the crowd actually gets there.
"Granted, I wasn't at this show, but it sounds like Ms. Herrema is a shithead to her own band as well."
You weren't even at the show but your making assumptions that she is a "shithead"?How silly is that?What did you talk to Chris Crofton and thats what he told you?If you don't like how shows are booked at the Springwater then you don't have to play there Highonlife.
Actually, I was commenting on the fact that Herrema was threatening her bandmates with not getting paid. That comment was made by Brandes, who most certainly was there. Read it above.
I never complained about the booking. Mike's helped me out tons of times and has always been helpful about it. Most of the time it's bands who want to shift the lineup around up there, just like that night it seems. Somebody's gotta go to work in the morning, somebody's not getting off work until 10, waiting for more people to show up, etc. etc.
But all that aside, I DO like playing the springwater, never said that I didn't. So if you're gonna call me out, do it for something I said that's blatantly incorrect instead of something you inferred.
Vote here for best Band of the Week
Slideshows
Top Commenters
