Heavy Metal Doesn't Belong In Mesa, Councilman Says
August 3, 2007Gary Nelson of The Arizona Republic reports: Downtown Mesa [Arizona] will throb for 10 hours on Sunday (August 5) to the sounds of dark heavy-metal bands, and a city councilman isn't happy about it.
"It's not what we want our image to be," said Kyle Jones, who represents downtown on the council. "For me personally I'd just as soon we didn't have any of that kind of stuff."
The festivities, called Sounds of the Underground, run from noon to 10 p.m. at the Mesa Amphitheatre.
For an advance-ticket price of $29 ($34 day of show),fans will hear about 15 bands with names like SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, EVERY TIME I DIE, GOATWHORE and THIS IS HELL.
Jones said he has complained in the past about acts booked at the venue, but has been told the city can't discriminate.
Parks supervisor Rhett Evans said courts have ruled that tax-funded venues can't bar acts because of content. "Those tax dollars could very well be from the kids that are in support of the music that will be played on Sunday," Evans said.
Some downtown merchants complained in March that the clientele at a punk-rock show and tattoo convention created problems in the area.
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