Adelaide Venue Under Fire After Staff Make Sexist Comments To Perth Band Boat Show
Yep, this shit is still happening.
Adelaide venue The Gov has come under fire after one of their sound technicians made a sexist comment to a member of punk outfit Boat Show.
The Perth band were supporting Dear Seattle and Hockey Dad at the Hindmarsh nightspot on Saturday, when an in-house sound tech apparently asked them “How’s the glass ceiling going for you?”
The incident was immediately called out by Dear Seattle on Facebook, who wrote that the comment left the Boat Show member in tears.
Boat Show shared Dear Seattle’s post on their own Facebook page, confirming the comments were made towards them. Both Facebook pages were quickly flooded with comments from angry fans, who demanded the bands “name and shame” the staff member in question.
The Gov owners Melissa and Jo Tonkin eventually responded to Dear Seattle’s post, writing that they “unreservedly apologise” for the “dumb comment” made by their sound technician, Mike.
“On behalf of the Tonkin family, owners of The Gov for the last 25 years, we unreservedly apologise for the dumb comment made by our sound technician Mike on Saturday night, towards a female artist,” they wrote. “There’s no excuse for comments like these in the workplace, or anywhere.
“The Gov has been a long-time supporter of musicians, male, female and otherwise. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive venue. Perhaps that is what is most disappointing.
“Once again, The Gov is deeply sorry, and hope to welcome back Dear Seattle, Boat Show, and Hockey Dad again in the future.”
Boat Show or Dear Seattle have yet to respond to The Gov’s apology.
Boat Show are renowned for their fierce feminist politics, and many of their tracks — including last year’s break out song ‘Cis White Boy’ — focus on the shitty sexism and discrimination that they face within the music industry. ‘Cis White Boy’ was specifically written about men in the punk scene making them “feel really small”.
“There’s a lot of guys in the scene who can’t handle strong women, and in the scene they try and make you feel really small,” they told LISTEN last year. “They actively make you feel like you don’t matter.”
Listen to ‘Cis White Boy’ below.
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Photo Credit: Jeff Andersen Jnr via Boat Show Facebook