Southpaw FLHC remain adamant to continue on in the wake of the lingering controversy surrounding their alleged ties to Nazism. You’re likely aware now that the group’s drummer Harrison Linder was seen wearing and actively promoting apparel from Curb Stomp Manufacturing online earlier this year. That clothing company has been singled out by the Anti-Defamation League for incorporating various Nazi-related imagery and messaging on their clothing and more.
While the initial callout of the band this past January largely flew under the radar, the photos in question resurfaced amid the release of the band’s new album “The Standard” last month. This time around, a number of bands withdrew from the group’s summer and fall touring plans in response, with venues and promoters quickly canceling the band’s shows. Ultimately the band’s touring slate was scrapped. The group went on to issue this statement, in which they denied being a racist band.
They further claimed that Linder was unaware of the message behind the merch he was wearing. While the band further argued their point through a video statement, the reaction to their explanation has been mixed.
Recent posts shared online by the band this week, tout rising stream counts for their aforementioned album “The Standard“. Rumors have also been circulating that Southpaw FLHC were dropped by their label Spinefarm Records in response to the aforementioned controversy. Theprp.com reached out to Spinefarm for comment on the matter last week but did not receive a response back as of press time.
Vocalist Daryn LaMontagne issued a second video yesterday, August 15th, stating [transcribed via Lambgoat]:
“You know what’s wild is this shit’s been going on for like a week straight now because y’all have nothing better to do with your lives. Don’t y’all stupid motherfuckers realize that if we were really a racist band, we would just admit it? What the fuck do we have to lose at this point? We started with absolutely nothing, built relationships throughout the entire United States, booked our own tours on our own through networking and supporting other bands across the map, whether they fucked with us or not, took it to the highest level we possibly could on our own, became a “signed” band, lost it all, and we are still here and it’s not fucking stopping. Don’t you think by now we would just say it?
Do you really think that I give a fuck about the opinion of these sheep on the internet? Y’all motherfuckers live on the internet. I live out here in the real world. I don’t know what the fuck y’all got going on out here, but I’m outside in the real world going to shows, supporting bands, whether they fuck with me, whether they fuck with us or not. I’m still supporting the cause, still putting my time and energy into the same game that gave us so much.
What are you actually gonna do when I roll up to the spot and put on a pop-up show for free, and host an event in a random parking lot with permission to be there and the police can’t do anything about it? Nothing. Are you willing to die on this hill? Because I can tell you this much, I’ve sacrificed my life for this game. I’ve given everything that I possibly can. It’s all in the record.
I’ve been evicted for this shit. I’ve slept on the floor with cockroaches for this shit. Collectively, I’ve lost years of my life with my own child for the love of this game. Did y’all really think that by my drummer making a mistake. because he was uneducated about what he was wearing. that you’re gonna stop this shit?
I’ve learned a lot about all y’all because you’ve shown your true colors online. Rather than stepping to us or me or my drummer as a man and asking a simple question and having a conversation like grown adults, you chose to hop on the bandwagon and air out your opinions online. And I keep receipts of everything. A lot of y’all are gonna have to eat your words real soon, so you picked your side, stand on it. Best of luck to you.
Be blessed.”
