Pitchfork

An indie rock show descended into chaos Friday night in Houston, Texas, when a police officer investigating a noise complaint at the club Walter's on Washington allegedly attacked the band Two Gallants and its fans. According to various sources, Adam Stephens, singer/guitarist for the Saddle Creek two-piece, was shot with officer G.M. Rodriguez's Taser gun, as were the band's tour manager and two audience members--one, a 14-year-old boy. Two Gallants drummer Tyson Vogel and vocalist/guitarist Andrew Kerwin of opening band Trainwreck Riders were arrested.

Accounts vary as to the exact sequence of events. The Houston Chronicle reports Houston Police Department Sgt. Nate McDuell as saying that Rodriguez "approached management about the noise complaint, filed by a neighbor, and the volume was turned down-- but that as the officer was leaving, the volume went back up." The officer then took the stage and confronted Stephens. Stephens "then used a sexual obscenity and shoved the officer with his shoulder," according to McDuell.

Stephens told the Chronicle "that is 'absolutely' not what happened. Stephens said he was sideways and singing on the stage just before he turned around and saw the officer, who then shined a flashlight at him and said, 'Stop.'

"Stephens, who denied shoving the officer, said he responded, 'Why?' He said the officer moved closer to him and yelled, 'Stop!' Stephens said he again asked why and that the officer then grabbed him by the neck and forced him to the floor."

The photo that accompanies this story shows Rodriguez tackling both Two Gallants simultaneously, before the officer reached for his Taser. More photos, as well as video of the event, can be found here and here.

In the scuffle that followed, the Taser was discharged several times, a 90-year-old stand-up bass belonging to opening act Langhorne Slim was destroyed, and Rodriguez allegedly sustained minor injuries.

The Chronicle quotes McDuell as saying, "An officer gets attacked by dozens of people in a club who have been drinking. If anything, the officer was abused."

The band claims that they noticed no injuries on Rodriguez's body.

Stay tuned for updates on the situation. We hope to talk directly to the band members today.

Despite the setback, Two Gallants are continuing on with their current American tour, which ends this weekend in the band's hometown of San Francisco. They head to Europe in November and December.

Dates:

10-17 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture *
10-19 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
10-20 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *
10-21 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
10-22 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
11-01 Portsmouth, England - Wedgewood Rooms $
11-02 Bristol, England - Thekla Social $
11-03 Brighton, England - Audio $
11-04 Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms $
11-05 Manchester, England - Night & Day $
11-06 Newcastle, England - Academy 2 !
11-07 Glasgow, Scotland - King Tut's Wah Wah Hut !
11-08 Leeds, England - Joseph's Well !
11-09 London, England - Scala !
11-10 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
11-11 Antwerp, Belgium - Petrol Club !
11-13 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega Small Hall !
11-14 Lund, Sweden - Mejeriet !
11-15 Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser !
11-16 Gothenburg, Sweden - Pusterviksbaren !
11-18 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso !
11-19 Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje !
11-20 Tourcoing, France - Le Grand Mix !
11-21 Rennes, France - UBU !
11-22 Paris, France - Nouveau Casino !
11-24 Bilbao, Spain - Azkena #
11-25 Madrid, Spain - Moby Dick # (early show)
11-25 Madrid, Spain - Moby Dick # (late show)
11-26 Limoges, France - Woodstock Boogie Bar #
11-27 Evreux, France - L'Abordage #
11-28 Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie #
11-30 Zurich, Switzerland - Abart Music Club #
12-01 Lausanne, Switzerland - La Romandie Club #
12-02 Bologna, Italy - Covo #
12-03 Vienna, Austria - Flex #
12-04 Frankfurt, Germany - Mousonturm #
12-05 Münster, Germany - Gleis 22 #
12-06 Stuttgart, Germany - Schocken #
12-07 Dresden, Germany - Groove Station #

* with Two Gallants, Trainwreck Riders
$ with Richard Swift
! with Cold War Kids
# with Eric Bachmann