Bar threatened with boycott after booking 'racist and homophobic' rappers to perform during Pride Week
A Sacramento bar is standing by its decision to book rappers who are described by critics as openly “racist and homophobic” during the city's Pride events, despite incoming threats made by customers and fellow musicians to boycott.
Goldfield Trading Post, a midtown Sacramento country bar, have booked Adam Calhoun and Demun Jones's "Crazy White Boy Tour" on June 7 and 8. The two sold-out shows will coincide with Sacramento Pride, according to the Sacramento Bee.
The musicians perform "hick-hop," a musical combination of country and rap, and the contents of their lyrics have certainly raised concern.
Calhoun, a popular right-wing personality on Facebook and YouTube, has often shared videos that are disparaging of the LGBT community, and has a song titled "Racism," in which he uses the N-word and lists black stereotypes.
Meanwhile, Jones’s lyrics, according to the Sacramento Bee, are less controversial, save for his 2018 song "Sound on the Water," which include lyrics insulting other rappers by using a pejorative term against homosexuals.
Bret Bair, who owns the Goldfield Trading Post with Eric Rushing, as well as the Holy Diver, The Cabin and B-Side, says that he often hosts musicians that he does not agree with, such as performers who sing about drug use and shooting police officers.
A controversial band performing June 7th and 8th at Goldfields Trading Post in Sacramento during Pride Weekend has some upset. The artists, Demun Jones and Adam Calhoun make YouTube videos which some say are offensive to the LGBT community. @FOX40 pic.twitter.com/JqsTy5f7BB
— Doug Johnson (@DougJohnsonFX40) May 29, 2019
"I don't agree with some of his stances and opinions obviously, but he's an artist and he's allowed to say what he wants to say," Bair told the Sacramento Bee. "Look, he sold out two shows so he obviously has a fanbase here. Do I agree with that fanbase? Maybe, maybe not. I have a business and music venues and book artists of all music genres."
Customers were quick to voice their displeasure over the booking on social media.
"They book racist and homophobic acts,” read one review. “Totally disrespect the community where they've chosen to make their money. Stay away."
“Booking openly homophobic acts during Pride week? In a space that was once a local LGBT mainstay? Have some common sense,” another commenter complained.
"To any of my music peers in Sacramento that haven't yet seen this: Goldfield booked some homophobic s***bags to play two shows during Pride week,” musician Vinnie Guidera of Vinnie Guidera & The Dead Birds wrote on his personal Facebook page. “Don't give them your money, and don't make them money by giving them your talent. Don't hang there and don't play there."
The establishment's Yelp reviews also promise a boycott over the booking of the controversial rappers.
Meanwhile, a competing bar, The Snug, called out the "openly racist and homophobic" act and promised to donate all sales of a to-be-announced Pride cocktail to the Sacramento LGBT Community Center.
Still, Bair remains unfazed by the backlash.
"People who are protesting this probably aren't Goldfield customers. It's the truth," Bair said. "There are so many genres of music and so many subgenres that people are going to support what they want to support."
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