EL PASO – As anti-Trump missives lobbed by openly left-of-center artists go, the Facebook post sent by Filter’s frontman Richard Patrick during sound check for the band’s March 7 gig at Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso, TX might not have seemed all that incendiary.
“This is sound check!! We’re Playing El Paso!!! Get here later and it will be packed!! A lot of Trump bashing! Does anyone know Beto?? Bring Beto!”
But the casino’s management was not amused. Citing potential violence at the venue in response to the Facebook post (along with the band’s plans to include imagery of an upside-down U.S. flag during part of the show), casino officials pulled the plug on Filter’s performance.
The show, one of six free concerts offered by the casino as part of its “Customer Appreciation Week” promotion from March 4-9, went on as scheduled, with opening act Fall 2 Rise performing instead. (Since the event was free to begin with, there was no need for ticket-holder refunds.)
The venue posted a note explaining the situation to disappointed Filter fans arriving for the show. It read, “Unfortunately due to safety concerns associated with Filter’s performance tonight we will be canceling their show. We want everyone who comes to our venue to experience entertainment with positivity, union, safety, and joy. We all have our own political views and want to respect everyone’s opinion, but our shows will not be a platform for it. We apologize for the cancellation.”
The band made a separate Facebook post to register its disappointment as well. “Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso, TX, the Tigua Tribe’s Casino / Resort / Music Venue has cancelled tonight’s FILTER show, due to a humorous Facebook post written by vocalist, Richard Patrick, and the band’s plans to use the American flag turned upside down in their background video on stage.”
