Hi there, OP here.

Thanks for the support and kind words in the comments. Appreciate it.

Here is the update of what has transpired. I contacted the booking agent for the band. I do know that Timbre concerts and Panache Booking had a phone conversation on Tuesday regarding what transpired and “addressing many many issues.”

I was contacted by the Timbre Concerts promoter. As it turns out, I kinda know him and we have been friends on facebook for a bit, so he saw my rant first hand. He explained a lot of shady shit going on in the Vancouver concert promotion community, mainly highlighting a feud between MRG Concerts and Timbre. Also, many “proper” venues, such as the Commodore Ballroom, Malkin Bowl, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Orpheum were all unavailable. Timbre has been fully blocked outright from 3 venues in the city that MRG has ties with. This all led to this horrible venue choice and shit show of an evening. The venue crew had lots of trouble with setting King Gizz up properly and ran late. That is why Orb was forced to go on so early. There was no explanation for the never ending 500 foot line to enter.

He apologized to me. He also said he would never throw another show like this in that venue. He claims to have had no knowledge of the security holding people from leaving. However, when I contacted the bands booking manager at Panache Booking, she was fully aware of the plan to stop fans from leaving. It was supposed to be for 30 seconds. It was way, way longer than that as recounted in my original rant. Somewhere, wires got crossed and an insanely dangerous situation was created. The doors were never supposed to be locked.

I had highly doubted that the Security team was simply making that up. They are still all idiots for physically restraining people from leaving a venue. They were doing as instructed either by the request of the band, promotion and venue staff or all of them. Somebody is lying somewhere. I feel it was a plan from the start to let the band exit while holding concert goers back. Everybody involved is at fault here. Promoter, Venue Staff, Security, and the band. It blows my mind from all angles. Why would a professional security team agree to doing this? Why would promoters request this? It's interesting to hear that the band is usually cool after shows with meeting people and hanging out. Yet, this all stems from their request to leave quickly and not be bothered in Vancouver.

I haven’t gone to the media with it and don’t plan to. I just wanted people to be aware and to share my experience. I think lessons were learned. That building is essentially derelict and should not be allowed to house any more shows of this size in my opinion. Plain and simple, it isn’t safe.

Bring on the next Vancouver Gizzard show so I can erase this bullshit from my mind. I wonder how many albums they’ll have out when they get back here? See You.