A Tyee reader who was there when the barricade collapsed at the Alexisonfire concert last night describes the mayhem and lays blame on "the intolerant crowd" in a comment posted to the thread for this article:
"The Alexisonfire performance for LiveCity Yaletown on Tuesday night got cancelled due to the crowd's violence. Not 10 seconds into the main vocalist's performance, the band stopped playing and asked everyone to move back. Turned out the first three rows of people were falling on top of one another, breaking the barrier (and their bones). Some victims ended up being carried away in the ambulance due to the bone sticking out of the body.
"When the band announced the cancellation, people responded negatively with comments such as 'Alexisonfire sucks!' and 'F--- the police!'. Clearly, they made the right choice...."
A press release issued by the city reads:
During tonight's Alexisonfire concert at David Lam Park, a section of a concert barricade in front of the stage gave way, causing several injuries.David Beers is editor of The Tyee.Mid-way into the band's first song, the crowd surged forward, causing a section of the barricade to collapse. The band stopped playing immediately, and asked the crowd to step back. The crowd was informed that the show was cancelled, and they dispersed quickly and co-operatively.
"Safety at Live City Vancouver our primary concern, and the response of Live Nation, our producer, was immediate," said City Manager, Dr. Penny Ballem, in a statement to the media earlier this evening. "When the incident occurred, everyone acted quickly, professionally, and took appropriate action. The security and on-site emergency medical response teams provided immediate assistance and care, the band kept people calm, and the crowd dispersed safely."
Approximately 19 individuals were injured when the barricade collapsed. Live Nation's planned emergency response was initiated, as on-site emergency medical staff and security responded immediately and 911 was called. All injured individuals were assessed and treated at the scene in the on-site medical facility that includes emergency doctors, nurses, and paramedics.
Nine individuals were taken to hospital for further assessment.
The concert barricade used at Live City Yaletown is standard for large concert venues and festival environments. Live Nation has used similar fencing for concert venues for over 20 years. It is unprecedented in their experience for such a failure to occur.
"We sincerely regret that individuals were injured at David Lam Park," said Dr. Ballem. "The city is gratified that the response was quick and professional, and relieved that the injuries are not serious. Finally, I want to thank the members of Alexisonfire and Live Nation for their quick action to ensure the safety of all involved."
The entire barricade will be replaced, and the site will re-open tomorrow for its regularly scheduled program.
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Fiat lux
2 years ago
Never heard of people being
Never heard of people being injured, or of any violence, at classical music and operatic performances.
Perhaps we should have more of them, instead of these offkey, tune and voiceless, jumping screechers.
Never could figure out what anybody can see in them.
Ed Deak.
Skywalker
2 years ago
We may be showing our age here Ed but...
...I find most of the pop music today regardless of what sun genre you put it is is vacuous, forgettable noise. Good looks and musical talent don't always go together. If it was not for music videos showing gyrating, scantily clad women to make you forget the song lyrics or the music most of the stuff would not sell.
ME2
2 years ago
Skywalker
Amen to that, Skywalker. But then, isn't that the dilemma the youngest generation, unaware of and therefore unschooled in what has gone before, always faces?
Before we blame the kids, we'd best examine where our consumerist culture, always pandering to sensationalist, instant gratification, has led us?
There is little doubt, IMO, that most (but not all) of today's music reflects our throw-away culture.
ME2
2 years ago
Skywalker
Amen to that, Skywalker. But then, isn't that the dilemma the youngest generation, unaware of and therefore unschooled in what has gone before, always faces?
Before we blame the kids, we'd best examine where our consumerist culture, always pandering to sensationalist, instant gratification, has led us?
There is little doubt, IMO, that most (but not all) of today's music reflects our throw-away culture.
Fiat lux
2 years ago
We had one of the neighbour
We had one of the neighbour boys over one day, when I had a tenor on. I think it was Placido Domingo.
The kid asked : "What kind of music is that, I've never heard anything like it before ?"
I said:"Where have you been ? This is the newest rock ! You should see this guy with his beard and hair down to his waist and the tattoos all over his arms and body, jumping all over the stage with the microphone jammed up his mouth !"
The kid was most impressed.
There was a time when people used to sing and whistle songs at work, sometimes on the streets. I know I used to whistle all the time, but there ain't no songs no more, nothing to sing, or whistle, only people walking around with wires stuffed up their ears and you can see their hair jumping to the drumbeat.
Bang, bang, bang, all you can hear, sometimes from cars at traffic lights.
Haven't had a radio on for 20 or more years.
Ed Deak.