Bloody Sunday at the LAB: Metal band sprays pig’s blood during Asheville show; venue closed for cleaning

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Instagram photo posted by @kc_xiii

Instagram photo posted by @kc_xiii

A Charlotte band that describes itself as a “blackened crust” band sprayed pig’s blood on the stage and audience of the LAB’s back room music venue on Sunday, a move that has forced the popular music venue and gastropub to shut down for cleaning. The show was apparently an event to celebrate the anniversary of Empire Tattoo in downtown Asheville.

Photos and video from the show by Young and In the Way show pools of blood on the stage, and people sopping up the blood with rags and mops. The photos and video were posted on Instagram. More from the posters:

tkammeyer Sunday Bloody Sunday. #yaitw left the lab in ruins yesterday. Such a fun show! Thanx again to empire tattoo for letting us play your anniversary show.

ifwisheswerehorses_ @tkammeyer @joshpholt Thank you so much! You guys are AMAZING! @southernvelo I think the curtains and rug are done for. Lol. @oldflings yeah I stayed and got the stage as straight as I could. I had a blast! There was so much blood on the stage that I kept getting shocked from the wires. Seriously though I’m so happy! I’m the luckiest girl in the world! Can’t wait to do it again next year… 18h
(Read more at http://web.stagram.com/p/749276128195589401_271329556#WuhFewhVVckm5tXx.99)

Twitter followers of Ashvegas confirmed that blood was splatter across the room. More detail as I get it.

More about the band and its new album, from a June 4 post at avclub.com:

It’s been three years since North Carolina’s Young And In The Way released its hardcore-meets-black-metal debut, I Am Not What I Am. Now slightly less young YAITW has unleashed a new full-length, When Life Comes To Death, on Deathwish Inc., the label cofounded by Converge’s Jacob Bannon. It’s even more vicious and visceral than its predecessor, as evidenced by the crust-caked, gore-smeared video for “Final Dose,” which is being debuted here.

Instagram image link posted by @kc_xiii.

UPDATE ON JUNE 24: Empire Tattoo issues a statement via Facebook:

Though the actions and result of Sunday nights show were out of our hands we are sorry another local business is suffering. We have been in contact with Buncombe County health inspector over the matter and are aware that the “contamination” was confined to the back room of the LAB. We were also made aware by the health inspector that LAB was given “go ahead” to re open as soon as they wished without re inspection. Our mission for this party was to celebrate our business and customers with another local business. We hope for everyones sake we can all move forward from this in a positive manner. We appreciate everyones support on this matter.
Empire Tattoo

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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105 Comments

  1. Silent Crying June 30, 2014

    Yeah, that was lame. The stunt backfired. Those responsible scramble to find a justification for their epic failure.

    The worst part is that they were soooo full of the dumb they couldn’t even capitalize on their outrageous stupidity.

    They should go back to playing emo.

    Reply
  2. gus June 27, 2014

    boatrocker, your a douche! Not only are you a douche, you support douches so that makes you the King of Douches!

    Who the fuck listens to metal anymore? Go back to fuckin 1983, oh you weren’t born yet.

    I hope you, your fat tatood girlfriends and the rest of YOUR band die of AIDS on a pig farm listening to metal!

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 27, 2014

      Nice to meet you too, sweety. I was born well before 1983.

      I made my point/s about how sanctimonious Asheville can be with its self proclaimed Music Capital of all Creation, but apparently it struck a nerve. Your last nerve apparently.

      If given the choice between listening to 30 min of metal (about all I can stand nowadays) and 30 of that hipster schlock, jam band schlock or overplayed why didn’t Southern rock die on the plane, well it’s metal.

      As for the ‘I hope you die’ quote, well you’ve got a bit of growing up to do. Stick to the craigslist rants n raves section.

      Reply
    2. boatrocker June 29, 2014

      Wow, 2 days later after an articulate counter post, nothing is posted here. Does this mean that I can resort to badley spelld uneditted posts that use the fucky word to express stuff or is gus the kind of guy that hacks into one’s email address and shows up at my house?

      Did I miss something within terms of agreement for posting? If my original counter post is posted, then never mind and I forgive someone wishing death by AIDS on me and mine. I’m a bit older than 1983, by the way. Metal still beats hipster, jam band and dilletante acoustic schlock.

      Sanford might want to consider going back to the X, (ahem) if that’s how it works on this site. I’m sure they’d take him back. All of the remaining staff, that is.

      Reply
      1. Orton July 2, 2014

        “Wow, 2 days later after an articulate counter post, nothing is posted here. Does this mean that I can resort to badley spelld uneditted posts that use the fucky word to express stuff or is gus the kind of guy that hacks into one’s email address and shows up at my house?”

        No, it just means that you’re an exceptionally boring troll and nobody fucking cares. Carry on…

        Reply
  3. avlbruce June 25, 2014

    It could have been way worse. Google “The Station Rhode Island”.

    Reply
  4. jaredrutledge June 25, 2014

    if the commenters at metalsucks.net think your stunt is lame, then it’s verifiably lame.

    also i laughed at the damn spotify picture of YAITW listening to My Morning Jacket. WOW SUCH METAL

    http://www.metalsucks.net/2014/06/24/north-carolina-forced-temporarily-close-young-way-spray-audience-blood/

    Reply
  5. notallisbeingtold June 25, 2014

    here’s the thing, for the owner to be so willfully ignorant of the their stage show is preposterous. are you really gonna tell me that they had no clue this may happen? even upon their set up they could have said “hey, don’t do this” or “we don’t allow this as we sell food and drinks” but no, rather than own up to the fact that MAYBE, just MAYBE the owner and bookers KNEW IN ADVANCE and are now just dealing with mild public backlash at a situation THEY KNEW WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, which could have been avoided upon the bands’ set up. don’t act like they didn’t know, they knew and are back peddling over the whole thing. the unconfirmed rumor about LAB being sold is probably more truth than before and now they “have an excuse to sell” after this show.

    Reply
    1. Sorry June 27, 2014

      …aaaaand wrong.

      Reply
  6. BoBoBlister June 25, 2014

    Gotta love these bands and their “original” onstage gimmicks. If all I had to offer was shitty music and canned rage if be looking for gimmicks as well…..

    Reply
  7. Timothy Sadler June 25, 2014

    I wonder if this was staged in response to the recent uproar surrounding LAB ownership habitually throwing patrons out for “being weird” or acting “a little weird”. Either way seems like their karma coming back to haunt them.

    Reply
    1. ashevillain June 25, 2014

      Do you have a source/link to this “uproar”?

      Reply
  8. Dex Morgan June 25, 2014

    I don’t take lightly the folly of amateur imitators.

    Reply
    1. Donii June 28, 2014

      Says “Dexter Morgan” hahaha.
      Fucking dipshit.

      Reply
  9. boatrocker June 24, 2014

    I may or may not have directly adressed every post as of 9:15 pm, Tuesday, June 24 A.D. but do I still get a free coupon to my fav restaurant in town for performing a sweep?

    Reply
    1. luther blissett June 25, 2014

      You get a coupon for the new “dive off the Bowen Bridge into the French Broad” adventure experience.

      It’s totally metal.

      (Do less meth.)

      Reply
      1. boatrocker June 25, 2014

        Yeah, I do love free stuff.

        My position on this News of the Weird-worthy incident is that if Asheville can’t laugh at itself sometimes when confronted with a truly freakish display of uh, whatever ‘message’ that band tried to send, well then maybe this town takes itself way too seriously. Yes, I know money, property and missed opportunities to earn money are involved, but read on.

        My sweep from last night reflects my ‘trying to put it all in perspective by appealing to my fellow posters for wisdom by asking the pertinent questions that need to be asked’. No- I’m just kidding- actually I was just having fun with it.

        Remember the so called anarchist rampage that happened downtown a few years ago? Smashed windows in stores and cars? Somehow I sense more outrage over this event than said anarchist breakathon ever generated. I do find it weird- for living in this town I still don’t understand it sometimes.

        PETA with their spraying of blood on rich folks wearing fur, Earth First with spiking trees and whoever used to throw pies at famous rich jerks at least had some sort of political motivation, though I can’t say I agreed with any of them.

        Hey, at least it broke up an otherwise slow news week of beer and restaurants. I will at least call that metal as all get out.

        This would be my response to any responses about my weird response to a response to whatever they were responding to.

        Reply
  10. BuzzSaw June 24, 2014

    The band is long gone and laughing at the mess that they made, checking their social media updates along the way. Looks like the LAB caught the short end of the stick, but Empire Tattoo may be the sitting duck waiting for the gun shot. The band wins, the LAB/Empire/their employees lose. Oh, and all the government agencies that have to come in to approve the LAB opening up for business again, win. Also, the lawyers that will represent a local businesses to sue another local businesses will win. We are so Metal!!!

    Reply
  11. jared rutledge June 24, 2014

    i can’t imagine Jake Bannon (the label head) being ok with shutting a venue down for 2-3 days. maybe Healy should give him a buzz.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Maybe the LAB just needs time so clean the place up in order to sell it? (untrue rumor mill).

      Reply
    2. Food Nerd June 25, 2014

      Laughable. Also, the venue CHOSE to shut down to clean the back room, they weren’t shut down against their will. Lost wages? Lost shifts? Talk to the managment.

      Reply
      1. indie June 25, 2014

        So Nerd, were you kinda thinking they should have promoted the pig blood as an attraction, rather than cleaning it up?

        Reply
      2. Harry June 26, 2014

        The venue shut down because of a biohazard. Why in the hell would a responsible restaurant owner WAIT to be shut down by the Health Dept. if they knew they had a serious issue at hand? They had to call in a restoration company for god’s sake. You can’t put patrons and employees at risk by not shutting down. The owners did the right thing.

        Reply
  12. Rebecca June 24, 2014

    When Pussy Riot played 31 Patton (now Asheville Music Hall) back in the day, they had all potential antics spelled out in their rider very clearly (including but not limited to super soakers full of pigs blood or psychedelics). One item was that if every piece of equipment wasn’t wrapped in plastic- sound board, etc. they wouldn’t step on stage. And if every item in rider wasn’t provided, they would turn around, get in their can and leave. As promotors, at least we knew what to expect and prepare for. It ended up being a pretty tame show- no blood, no acid filled super soakers- but it was still fun, rowdy, and a good time. At least they took responsibility for their shenanigans and warned club owners.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Yes Rebecca!

      Journalism. That equals the uncomfortable truth vs. well, you know. No job is worth lying for.

      Reply
    2. Sorry June 27, 2014

      Nailed it! Music venues often have their shows arranged by third parties, who may or may not be directly affiliated with the venue itself. They lay a few ground rules for their facility, but otherwise are unaware of the shows unless they themselves are fans, or through some other chance. This seems to be the case with LAB.

      Reply
  13. Food Nerd June 24, 2014

    To put some rumors to rest: The staff running the show at this venue was fully aware. They even provided a private area for preparation and watched. The venue is in a completely separate part of the building than the restaurant/kitchen. Nowhere near it. They weren’t “shut down”, they decided to shut down on their own. The article entails the fact that there was no health risk. Additionally, they did nothing to stop the set and said nothing at the end of the night when everyone was leaving the building. Yes, There was a bloody mess. But this was blown out of proportion and spun around in newspapers and media outlets today. Thanks to Dane and everyone for the supportive statements.. and extra thanks to the internet shit talkers for the publicity.

    Reply
    1. Food Nerd June 24, 2014

      This was taken from a FB thread from a dude involved with the band at the show.

      Reply
      1. Food Nerd June 24, 2014

        Or actually a guitarist WITH the band.

        Reply
        1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

          Always eat the guitarist first- they are convinced that they achieve immortality for it. See Donner Party- they were an awesome band back in the day.

          Reply
      2. boatrocker June 24, 2014

        Fwd that to Stu then. Is there a selfie?

        Reply
        1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

          Oops- that goes to Food Nerd’s first post.

          Reply
  14. NS June 24, 2014

    From Tony Kiss’ article:
    The LAB’s co-owner Mike Healy was not amused. Almost four dozen employees are out of work while a massive cleaning is underway, he said. “They have kids, groceries and bills, and now they are out of work for several days,” he said of his employees. “I will do everything that I can to compensate them.” But he would not discuss any legal action against the band or Asheville’s Empire Tattoo parlor, which booked the show, and could not be reached for comment.

    The restaurant-brewery is a popular downtown destination and regularly offers music in the back listening room, where the splatter happened. “There was nothing in their rider (agreement with LAB) about what was going to occur,” Healy said. “After the incident, they took all their equipment and wiped it down and left the place a disaster zone. Our staff was there until 2 or 3 in the morning cleaning and the next day.”

    The Servepro company has been contracted to clean up the spill, he said. “There was so much (blood spilled), that we might have to rip out out the stage,” Healy said. “It’s a very dire situation.”

    Reply
    1. Harry June 24, 2014

      I hope they nail all of the parties concerned; the tattoo parlor, that thought this was really cool, the band, apparently comprised of derelicts who have an affinity for death, and the label, that many times encourages this kind of behavior.

      Reply
    2. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      “From Tony Kiss’ article” = honor this.

      Reply
      1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

        What I really mean is someone FINALLY challenged Asheville NC’s Americana musical monopoly of ‘early 20’s NY based barely can play a guitar female
        singer songwriter with ti** who suckers local pickers to tour with them when she can only play an F chord with a capo- touring meaning losing $”

        Oops I suppose I’m a mysogynist now. Oh well, better than
        worshipping image vs, substance.

        Go Blood!

        Reply
        1. Frank June 24, 2014

          What are you talking about? Did you just have a stroke?

          Reply
          1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

            Catch up, puupy dog.

            Reply
  15. Jim Charlotte June 24, 2014

    Gwar called; they want their shtick back.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 25, 2014

      That was my first reaction but riling up folks with ridiculous posts sometimes takes precedent over my asking “WHY? WHY?”.

      Reply
  16. Danny June 24, 2014

    So much for surviving on the merits of your music alone. Yay, shock value and gimmicks!

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      From your Gen Y selfie, I’m guessing that you don’t mean what you say but wish you were Twittered first.

      Attica! Attica! Attica! – Look it up.

      Reply
  17. Sundance June 24, 2014

    Awesome. Put a bunch of servers, cooks and bartenders that live shift to shift out of work for days on end. You’re so metal!

    Reply
    1. Cwaster June 24, 2014

      Indeed- that is truly messed up. Having been one myself at one time I get it. Losing several shifts, especially in this town of ridiculously high rents and piss-poor restaurant worker wages can be a real problem. Seems pretty damn irresponsible of the band. I mean, spray pig blood all you want but do it at a club and not in a restaurant.

      Reply
    2. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      And who let them do that? A club owner who favors profits vs.
      ethics?

      Management vs. Labor. I’m going to post all about it until anyone under 30 admits that Green Day is not punk and ‘punk’ means something other than eyeliner and power chords.

      Reply
      1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

        Metal is a mindset and not a material too.

        Reply
    1. Michael June 24, 2014

      I didn’t know about the chicken incident. That is horrible and hilarious.

      Reply
    2. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Yeah.

      Reply
  18. DD June 24, 2014

    A band called WATAIN already does this. So not only are they talentless they also steal their ‘shock’ factor.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      How many LAB patrons can find Sweden on a map?

      Reply
    2. orulz June 26, 2014

      Watain did this literally 1 week ago in brooklyn and it was all over the news.

      This band from Charlotte was no doubt being copycats looking to get lots of press (which they have.) Unoriginal and disgusting. And, probably, good for business.

      Reply
  19. Food Nerd June 24, 2014

    I would be really surprised if there was a ‘contract’ of any sort, or anything remotely like a rider. I can also promise you, and I don’t say this to be an ass, but I really doubt they care about the venue. The fact that there’s a bunch of cool looking pictures of them covered in blood and local blogs are giving them tons of free press. This band just signed to Deathwish, which in that world is a pretty big deal. They’ll keep getting shows BECA– — USE of stuff like this. They don’t really tour–just play one offs and showcases but they have enough hype on them that they get plenty of media attention. Also, they’re a pretty good band on top of the shock.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Agreed.

      Reply
      1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

        Asheville just got suckered.

        Reply
  20. Jason W. June 24, 2014

    Bathing in blood seems to be a trademark of this band.
    http://youtu.be/d67_CZFKqdY

    Oh to be 25 and callow again.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Too bad callow bands don’t catch more bad press when it’s a local friend’s band.

      Reply
  21. Michael June 24, 2014

    GG Allin is spinning in his grave

    Reply
    1. chris June 24, 2014

      Shitting in his grave, more likely.

      Reply
      1. Melissa June 24, 2014

        That’s hilarious — and spot on!

        Reply
    2. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      The same guy who flung poop for press?

      Please.

      Reply
  22. Lesley June 24, 2014

    I doubt they mentioned the blood in their rider, but rest assured, every venue going forward will be aware of this. Bands that damage venues to this degree eventually stop getting gigs. Sadly, other “heavy metal” bands will also see gigs dry up as a result.

    Reply
    1. yourname June 24, 2014

      they did.

      Reply
    2. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      But what was their draw?

      Reply
  23. [+] June 24, 2014

    …. stage antics will be antics, and yes there is a recipe for the illusion of blood, a sticky mess but used in old school horror flicks, Karo Syrup and red food coloring, (but GWAR has the bang)this obviously would not work well with a venue or band equipment. Real pig’s blood would be a public health concern, I would rather see the dark bands actually stab themselves with spears or javelins – that would get a real shock value.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      For out of town bands to stab themselves, well, they’d have to make at least enough to visit the E.R.

      Reply
  24. Michael June 24, 2014

    How do we know for sure it was pig’s blood?

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Free range pig blood, obviously.

      Reply
  25. D.Dial June 24, 2014

    That’s a disgust.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      The same way angry Wilson kids rag on reggae in town, eh?

      Reply
      1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

        Go metal. Yeah, go metal.

        Reply
      2. boatrocker June 24, 2014

        Oops, add an ‘e’.

        Reply
  26. hmmm June 24, 2014

    I am just wondering if it was in a contract, yaitw was going to do this. and the venue didn’t look over well enough?

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      I for one would love to know what LAB’s contract guarantees a band if they do indeed possess one.

      Reply
  27. Chris Power June 24, 2014

    I was wondering why LAB posted on facebook that they were closed for cleaning. I mean who would do that during the busiest time of the year?!?!

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Spraying for emo hipsters?

      Reply
  28. ummmm June 24, 2014

    My guess is the permission was in a contact signed without looking over in detail.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Or local bands won’t touch the LAB any more unless they need new band pics?

      Reply
  29. theOtherBarry June 24, 2014

    A know a guy who knows a guy who knows the GWAR recipe for fake blood. They spray 50 – 100 gallons worth at every show. And it won’t get the club shut down for health concerns.

    I could hook them up, is all I’m sayin’…

    Reply
    1. Vlad June 24, 2014

      Please, post the Gwar recipe. Open source its mystery. Quality fake blood dripping from all things!

      Reply
      1. theOtherBarry June 24, 2014

        Post it?!? You think I want those interstellar cannibal corpse rapers coming after me? I offered to put the metal idiots in touch with a guy who knows a guy, that’s all.

        Reply
        1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

          Now you’re just teasing us.

          Reply
          1. cyclops1 June 24, 2014

            GWAR used gatorade for the last decade, that’s why everyone looked purple afterwards. not sure what they used for blood before.

            Reply
          2. theOtherBarry June 25, 2014

            I met them 25 – 30 years ago when we were all just art students. They had a specific formula for the blood, I remember, but I suppose it just got old having to mix it for every show. Gatorade certainly would be easier…

            Reply
  30. lala June 24, 2014

    These guys are playing a vegan place(Strange Matter) in Richmond Va in July…

    Reply
    1. ummm June 24, 2014

      half the band is vegan.

      Reply
    2. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      So go stage a protest.

      Reply
      1. Z June 25, 2014

        I’m only curious….but does boatrocker have absolutely no life at all but where he sits and replies to every comment in here?

        Reply
        1. boatrocker June 25, 2014

          No, only to perform a sweep when I feel the time is right. It’s my first one here, by the way. Feel free to read any other comments I’ve posted.

          Hmmm, an out of town band refusing to get on bended knee and worship Asheville’s self proclaimed music Mecca label by tearing it up? Count me in.

          Does Z stand for zealot?

          Reply
  31. lololol June 24, 2014

    Haha and they won’t allow hip hop shows to go on there, but pig blood tossing metals bands are okay? HA!

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Yep.

      Reply
  32. Sean June 24, 2014

    Ah, now we know. Thanks, Ashvegas!

    (Too metal for Asheville…)

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Would the LAB have a problem if there was a ukelele in the band?

      Reply
  33. bcw June 24, 2014

    Pretty disrespectful to the venue on the part of the band to not make them aware that something like this was part of the ‘show.’ Ugh. I wonder if the band will be held accountable to pay for part/all of the damages/cleanup? At least it wasn’t unplanned pyrotechnics.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Good luck suing a band that plays at the LAB.

      Reply
      1. Sorry June 27, 2014

        Dude… you’re kind of a dick. Anybody ever tell you?

        Reply
  34. Krashville June 24, 2014

    Take that, art school pussies! Beers on us when we’re done bathing in pig’s blood…

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      Let’s see a famous actor show up there unless it’s Ozzy.

      Reply
  35. Michael June 24, 2014

    But seriously, I’m guessing this band won’t be coming back to LAB. Wonder if LAB is making them pay for the cleanup and/or if legal action will be taken for damages from lost revenue?

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      See the follow up comment for bcw.
      Don’t hold your breath.

      Reply
  36. Michael June 24, 2014

    They used pig’s blood? Amateurs.

    Reply
    1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

      True. Use our own blood, but don’t disclose what blood type you happen to have running through the veins.

      Reply
  37. Doc June 24, 2014

    This “foodie” thing is getting entirely out of hand…

    Reply
    1. Melissa June 24, 2014

      HA!

      Reply
      1. boatrocker June 24, 2014

        Hand is actually an iffy dish as there are so many tendons and ligaments to remove- go for the forearm or bicep.

        Reply

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