ANALYSIS/OPINION:
What has happened to country music crowds?
It wasn’t that long ago that country fans seemed like the last of the good-natured music communities — sort of like Deadheads, but with better clothes.
Until about 10 years or so ago, it wasn’t unusual for fans (with the blessing of event security) to walk to the front of the stage and snap photos of performers before returning to their seats. Sometimes the performers would reach down and shake hands, or toss out souvenirs.
Suffice to say, even if fans missed the freebies, they didn’t turn ugly.
I couldn’t help but think of those concerts when I read about last Friday’s attack on country star Dustin Lynch and saw photos of him performing with blood streaming down his face — just the latest incident of violence at a country performance this year. How sad for everyone, especially Mr. Lynch.
For those who don’t know, the 29-year-old knocked around Nashville for more than a decade before signing a record deal in 2011. His self-titled debut album, full of nods to traditional country, earned him praise as a likely successor to superstar George Strait. It also earned him the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and a platinum record for the single “Cowboys and Angels.”
Now that he’s on tour behind his just-released sophomore album “Where It’s At,” his fan base has soared, as gauged by social media. He has more than 276,000 followers on Twitter and 1 million on Facebook.
It’s easy to see why he’s been in a good mood, which presumably led him to spray champagne on his audience while performing Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” this past weekend at the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival in Niceville, Florida.
A fan apparently took offense and threw a full can of beer, striking Mr. Lynch’s face. The injury looked nasty.
“On way to hospital,” Mr. Lynch tweeted after his set. “I’ll be OK. I appreciate all of you. FYI the guy who hit me with a beer can got away.”
Other family friendly shows have been disrupted by violence. In July, 55 people were arrested at a Keith Urban concert in Mansfield, Massachusetts. There was even at least one charge of rape. About 46 people received medical treatment, and the authorities had to call for a mass casualty response to get help from other communities.
“My team and I were horrified to learn of the events reported in Boston this past weekend and our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected,” Mr. Urban said in a press statement after the show. “This type of behavior stands in stark contrast to the spirit of our shows.”
That was about the same time a 22-year-old man was found dead — authorities said it was caused by extreme intoxication — after a Jason Aldean concert. And after a 55-year-old fan of Hank Williams Jr. was pushed and hit his head during a concert. He later died.
A country music magazine editor I know recently told me he regularly receives emails and letters from readers saying the entertainers’ songs about violence and alcohol abuse incite such incidents. Many music commentators echo those remarks.
But it’s difficult not to agree with the editor’s private response that traditional country songs have always had such themes.
Some also say that concert violence mirrors society. But FBI statistics show that violent crime is down below 2003 levels.
Perhaps remarks by country musician Aaron Lewis, who stopped an attack on a young woman during a May 31 show by his rock band Staind, explains why such incidents continue at concerts: “I did that because my gut told me it was the right thing to do. It makes me sad and concerns me when not everyone takes notice and tries to do the right thing in such situations.”
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