Butthole Surfers concert at Webster Hall ends in near riot

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Butthole Surfers concert at Webster Hall ends in near riot

July 30, 2008 4:57 a.m. by Ethan Stanislawski

Just got back from the Butthole Surfers concert in Webster Hall, and boy, was it something special. There were problems with the monitors being turned too low throughout the night, and after about an hour and a half of performing, Gibby Haynes got fed up. He then went over to harass the sound guy, and was warned repeatedly by security. The scene erupted when Gibby reportedly threw a punch (or a bottle) at the sound guy, which may or may not have broken his nose. I didn't see the punch thrown, but I certainly saw him get escorted off the stage, which prompted the inevitable bottle throwing from the crowd. In the Surfers first New York gig in nearly 7 years, the scene was straight out of 1987.

Gibby later showed up at the afterparty at the Beauty Bar to DJ, acting like nothing had happened. Guess that means he wasn't arrested, contrary to brooklynvegan's speculation. And all the while Paul Leary stood there with a smirk on his face.

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10 Responses

July 30, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.

Dennis D

What time did Gibby get to the Beauty Bar? I was there quite awhile and didn't see him there.

July 30, 2008 at 12:03 p.m.

Ethan

He got there at about 20 to 2.

July 30, 2008 at 12:31 p.m.

Thanks for your update. I was too far back to catch what happened. Don't blame him for losing his cool - the sound sucked all night. Couldn't hear anything but bass and cymbals. His vocals were inaudible almost the entire time. I've yet to have a good experience at Webster Hall for concerts. It's a shame they keep getting such great acts there.

July 30, 2008 at 12:31 p.m.

bucksatan

Great show but not enough volume. Yes, it seems the sound guy and Gibby were not happy with each other. First noticed Gibby giving him double fingers... then going over and giving him a smack. Sound guy followed up with feedback on the monitor. Then Gibby wound up and threw a Stella (?) bottle at him. Did not see if it hit - but it was a fast pitch.

July 30, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.

FMH

Sounds like Webster Hall is a douchebag breeding ground. How dare you disrespect Butthole Surfers with crap sound?!

July 30, 2008 at 7:41 p.m.

cowboy bob

It was a great show, but the sound was straight out of the early 90s. All distorted volume and no mixing. Pinkus was barely audible. A mess of a night, but fun nonetheless.

That said, the School Of Rock kids did a spectacular version of King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man and a great rendition of Barracuda...but their set went on waaaay too long and included too many mainstream songs you'd hear a cover band at a suburban bar play. In my opinion, they wore out their welcome before their set ended. And then to find out, we weren't done with them yet as they inexplicably showed up during various parts of the Surfers show to play and sing along. Listen, I got nothing against cute kids playing classic rock but when the Surfers are at work onstage - BACK OFF.

The 2nd band to open was arguably the worst band I've ever seen, or played in. Pathetic attempts at psuedo funk by way of Sublime mixed with Insane Clown Possee. Truly douchechilling.

July 30, 2008 at 8:03 p.m.

Kev

Yes, the Surfers were quite stellar, indeed. But yet another ball dropped by Webster Hall. This place can't differenciate between spikey-hair, velvet rope, douchebage night and a good ol' fashioned rock n' roll show. The security sucks and the sound sucks. I had fun throwin' crap, though!

July 31, 2008 at 12:20 a.m.

Chris

I was in the first 3rd of the room, in front of Pinkus, and that bottle did NOT break that sack's nose. he was fine... a little freaked out over the near riot he helped incite, but not bleeding.
yeah, webster hall sucks so much ass i can't believe it. i don't care who they get there, i'm never EVER going back. EVER. not to play, not to see a show... in fact, i'm kinda looking at bowery productions on the whole a little differently after this. i mean, they hired these nimrods, right? like the security?

July 31, 2008 at 4:36 p.m.

jlsonic

No sound tech got his nose busted!
And I still think that the sound was pretty good, and audience tapes of the show will prove me right.

July 31, 2008 at 4:36 p.m.

LAYGO

From the vantage point of directly across from the stage sound guy, with Gibby's back to me, I saw it go down. I was completely sober and had not one drink of alcohol (ask the folks at the Pour House as I drank a pitcher of water).

Gibby got into a shoving match, FAR from a fight. The sound guy was just trying to make Gibby flinch by throwing his hands back in forth as if trying to form the motion of a punch.

Gibby walked back to sing a lil more on "Gary Floyd" & when his part was done, he walked to with in 20 feet of the sound guy, wound up for the fast ball, and most definitely LOOKED like he threw a bottle, but Gibby's not dumb folks. The bottle never left his hand. What you saw was beer flying.

If you want an example of what he did, just watch this video from 1993-1994 when does THE EXACT SAME THING around the 3:07 mark.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9IpYTZx6Uv8