LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — You’ve heard of Battle of the Bands, but as of Monday, Luzerne County is in a battle with a band called Low Cut Connie.
“They sent us a letter in the mail, from their attorney, officially notifying us that the gig was canceled and there would be no further statement in the matter,” said Adam Weiner, the founder of Low Cut Connie.
Low Cut Connie was scheduled back in April to be one of the bands to play in Wilkes-Barre’s annual Rockin’ the River free concert series.
Luzerne County manager Romilda Crocamo said the reason Low Cut Connie’s show was canceled was because the county’s “goal is to have a place where we can enjoy music, food, promote our community, have fun, be safe, and free of politics and propaganda.”
“For somebody to describe my messaging as propaganda, when I’m talking about love, acceptance, diversity, community, and friendship, that’s a tell on them,” said Weiner.
This is some of what Weiner says during his performances.
“I come out on stage and I say, ‘I love everybody here tonight,’” said Weiner. “I do speak on stage, about diversity, I look at the crowd and I say, ‘you’re like a big, beautiful salad bowl, each and every one of you is a little bit different but you’re all delicious together.”
Rich Howells is the founder and editor of a local music and entertainment publication called NEPA Scene. He says he was confused about Low Cut Connie being canceled especially because just last week a Paul McCartney band played at Rockin’ the River.
“All of the things that the band is saying they’ve been canceled for are messages that Paul McCartney, the Beatles, have been talking about for generations now,” said Howells.
Trish McCormick Williams plays in a local band called the Mesos; she, too, was confused by the county’s decision.
“I still believe that you can’t just go offend people with your art. I don’t think any of that applies to this situation, because if anything, the music from Low Cut Connie is very inclusive,” said McCormick Williams.
Low Cut Connie was replaced by an AC/DC cover band, which will be playing during this Friday’s Rockin’ the River.
