Neko Case walked off stage mid-show at The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee, on Thursday night after management allegedly refused to remove an armed guard, according to multiple Reddit reports.
According to one fan who attended the concert, there was “an older white ‘armed civilian’ with jeans and a cowboy hat and a huge customized pistol on his hip” at the side of the stage. The New Pornographers member reportedly cut her set after four songs, telling the audience she had once been “raped at gunpoint” before leaving.
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“There are men on every side of this room with a gun, and I am not comfortable playing this show, I’m sorry,” she said, according to a different fan who says they recorded the incident. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been raped at gunpoint, but you don’t want people hanging around with guns. So, I am very sorry about this, but they’re not leaving, so I guess we are, thank you.”
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Another fan who claims they were in the front row added, “It was clear that seeing the open carry armed security guard surprised/upset her — she was backing up, shaking her head, ‘No,’ and there was a flurry of venue folk talking around her. However, people started clapping, and I got the impression that she tried to rally and go on once she was spotted/recognized. But clearly it was too triggering [for] her.”
The Caverns eventually gave word to the crowd that the band was not returning and that they would refund their money.
Representatives for Neko Case declined a request for comment.
