Weaselfest still on… for the moment, and with luck

Weaselfest still on… for the moment, and with luck

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In the ongoing drama in the wake of the punch heard ‘round the (punk-rock) world at SXSW, Ben Weasel has announced that the 25th anniversary celebration of Screeching Weasel at Reggies on Memorial Day weekend will go on—at least until there’s further word that it won’t.

“Screeching Weasel fans around the world who are wondering if Weaselfest will happen, please be assured that everything is being done to ensure that it goes off as planned,” according to a note recently added to the Reggies Website.

Apparently Foster is trying to put together yet another new version of his groundbreaking band and replace several of the opening acts that have dropped off the three-day bill as a protest of his actions in Texas. Several other road gigs for the group had to be canceled, however, after all of Foster’s current bandmates quit following the altercation at the Scoot Inn. And it may be even more difficult to put together a new version of the Riverdales than it will be to put together a new Screeching Weasel, since Dan “Vapid” Schafer was as essential to Foster’s second most popular combo as John “Jughead” Pierson was to Screeching Weasel.

Meanwhile, it appears increasingly unlikely that Austin police will file charges against Ben “Weasel” Foster, since they do not even have an incident report on file. But the threat of a civil lawsuit still looms from either or both of the women Foster hit, the patron who provoked him and the co-owner of the club who came to her friend’s defense.

Stay tuned for more as the Weasel turns.

Earlier reports in this blog about Weaselgate: