Update 2: Rest easy, looks like Beach Slang are not calling it quits. Frontman James Alex just posted a statement on the band’s Facebook page confirming that they are not breaking up. “I am gigantically sorry,” the singer-guitarist wrote, apologizing to fans. “I am going to make good on making it up to you. Cross my heart… If you’re still in, we are.”
Read the entire statement (which opens with a very on-brand anecdote about the Replacements) below. And look forward to Beach Slang’s second studio album, which, if everything goes according to plan, will likely (and thankfully) be out this fall.
“Westerberg was playing his favorite guitar […]. Suddenly, he grabbed it by the body and slammed the neck down on the amplifier and splintered it completely. Afterwards, soundman Brendan McCabe approached him in shock: ‘Paul what the hell did you do that for. How could you wreck that guitar? You loved that thing.’ ‘Well that’s the difference between me and you Brendan,’ he told him. ‘You cherish things you love. Me? I destroy them.’”
The first time I read this part of Trouble Boys, I thought, “Fuck, maybe there’s really something to that. Maybe there’s romanticism in destroying the things you love.” Or maybe I’m just a messed up kid who thinks he never deserved any of this. I don’t know. After I left the stage in Salt Lake, thinking I was ending Beach Slang, I was walking down the street, back to the hotel, when a girl from the show ran up to me, hugged me so sincerely, and said, “Don’t do this. We need you.” Straight away, I realized I was wrong. There is nothing sweet, there is no light, and there is nothing romantic when the thing you love is broken.
Salt Lake, for the car crash last night and Boise, for fumbling on you, I am gigantically sorry—even bigger than that. I am going to make good on making it up to you. Cross my heart.
This, and all of you, mean too much to me. I love you with thunder. I love you all the way.
So, yeah, Seattle, we are still coming to your good city, wild-eyed and ready, our hearts bashed back into shape.
If you’re still in, we are.
For us—all of us,
James Alex
Update 1: A Twitter user has uploaded footage of James Alex saying “We were Beach Slang” and demanding that the audience’s money be returned to them. It’s short and sad. Watch below.
— Tricep Meat (@matthewqnanes) April 29, 2016
Rumors are running rampant that Philly Replacements revivalists Beach Slang broke up onstage last night at their show at Salt Lake City’s Kilby Court. Fans who were at the show describe a scene where frontman James Alex announced onstage that this would be their last show and the crowd would be given refunds at the door. Below, some tweets from audience members:
@Maxquinn James told their tour manager, at least 3 times over the mic, to give everyone in the crowd their money back.
— Ben (@BenHibsh) April 29, 2016
@Maxquinn band had to start at least three songs over. One James said “we gotta get this tempo right.” Very snarky.
— Ben (@BenHibsh) April 29, 2016
@Maxquinn Ruben literally lobbed his guitar after starting the last song – a Replacements cover – the walked off stage.
— Ben (@BenHibsh) April 29, 2016
@Maxquinn James was saying it was their last show all night. Was saying Ed and Ruben were awful quiet during the show.
— Ben (@BenHibsh) April 29, 2016
@HiMyNameIsSeton yeah, it was pretty strange. The crowd was stunned. Nobody knew what to do.
— Ben (@BenHibsh) April 29, 2016
@HiMyNameIsSeton Hate to say this, but Beach Slang most likely broke up in SLC tonight. Very awkward show. Guitars thrown. Walked off stage.
— Ben (@BenHibsh) April 29, 2016
Beach Slang kept saying tonight was their last show ever and I still can’t figure out if they were lying or not.
— Jerrica (@JerricaSalazar) April 29, 2016
They went to play a Replacements cover and then all of a sudden they said bye and walked off the stage ???
— Jerrica (@JerricaSalazar) April 29, 2016
Waking up to reports that @beachslang broke up on stage last night. WTF? I SAW YOU 4 DAYS AGO & YOU WERE ALL GOOD! https://t.co/vyMsob8qNQ
— Steven Hyden (@Steven_Hyden) April 29, 2016
An onlooker named @hiraeth90 posted to Instagram with a description of events, writing, “we all though it was a big theatric joke and after speeding through their set their other guitarist literally threw the guitar down and stormed out of the stage and James said that that was the last show following by him hitting his guitar against the stage and walking out… Did I just witness the final Beach Slang show?”
SPIN has reached out to Beach Slang’s representatives for comment.
