Punk Band Show Shut Down Downtown
Ripcordz Montreal Punk Show shut Down by Police and fire Services at the Distraction
Table of Contents
A highly anticipated live performance by Montreal-based punk rock veterans Ripcordz was abruptly halted Friday night when Sault Police, accompanied by Sault Fire Services, entered The Distraction, a popular basement venue located on East Street. The unexpected intervention led to the immediate cessation of the concert, leaving band members and attendees disappointed.
Incident Details and Witness Accounts
The incident occurred during the Ripcordz’s set at the Distraction, a venue known for hosting local and touring self-reliant bands. According to Ripcordz vocalist and guitarist Paul Gott, the show began positively before authorities arrived.”The show started off great. The Distraction is a great little club,a basement space where they put on shows mostly for local bands,” Gott stated in a phone interview. ”We were there and evidently somebody had phoned in a complaint. That’s what the cops told me when I asked.”
gott described the scene as police entered the venue and addressed the venue’s owner. “One local band played and another was in the middle of their set and they just shut it down. They said ‘no more music.'”
When questioned about the nature of the complaint, Gott indicated that the police did not provide specific details. “They didn’t say who made the complaint and they didn’t say exactly what it was about. I kind of assumed it was noise but they didn’t say,” he explained.
Focus on Permits and Safety Regulations
Gott observed police engaging with the venue’s owner, focusing on operational compliance. “The cops started asking her about permits and they asked her about fire safety regulations. We’ve seen these things before. Sometimes you just look at these things and you can tell the cops wanted to shut it down and that’s what happened,” Gott commented.
An estimated 20 officers and firefighters were present at the Distraction, where approximately 50 people were in attendance.
Ripcordz’s History and Tour Impact
Ripcordz, a band formed in 1980, has a history of performing in Sault Ste. Marie, having played at various venues in the city since 1992 without prior incident.gott expressed his fondness for the city and its audiences. “It’s one of our favorite places to play, actually. Great crowds, great people,” he said.The abrupt cancellation of the Sault Ste. Marie show had a meaningful impact on the band’s tour.”I’m disappointed that we travelled 1,000 kilometres not to play. That was the first show on our tour. But I’m more disappointed for the people who turned out and for the people who put in the effort.They did this so that people can come in and just enjoy themselves for a couple of hours,” Gott shared.The band’s tour was scheduled to continue in Thunder Bay on Saturday before proceeding to western canada.
Future Plans and Venue Status
While the band intends to return to Sault Ste. Marie, Gott expressed uncertainty about whether they would be able to perform at The Distraction again.
as of Saturday,The Distraction’s owner was unavailable for comment,and it remains unknown if any fines will be issued by Sault police or Fire Services. Sault Police and Fire Services were also not promptly available for comment regarding the incident.