Watch: Hardcore Vocalist Calls Out Venue for Merch Cuts During Live Set
Being in a touring band comes with lots of upsides, but there are plenty of downsides as well. One frequently-derided element of live music is the existence of merch cuts, when a venue takes a percentage of a band’s merchandise sales because they allowed the band to perform there.
While it has caused significant frustration to many artists in the past—such as when Behemoth bassist Orion said that it’s “becoming like a mafia”—it’s just generally accepted as a necessary evil in the industry. Apparently not for Australian metalcore band Alpha Wolf, who are touring the US right now.
In a video posted by Twitter user @slntlucy from a recent Alpha Wolf show, vocalist Lochie Keogh ranted between songs about the venue taking a 20% merch cut from the show.
“Before we go, I want to mention every band on this tour is still merch over there. We’re all trying to get the same shit done. It doesn’t matter whose merch you buy. Any bit of money you spend helps. Especially when these dirty fucking venues are taking twenty-percent of it from the bands playing tonight. It’s like we’re not making any fucking money anyway. You’d think venues doing that could afford some good fucking air conditioning, but apparently not.”
Alpha Wolf are on tour for the rest of August and they’ll probably sell you merch out of the back of their van if you ask them nicely.
8/3 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
8/5 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
8/7 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter
8/9 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
8/10 – Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
8/11 – Montreal, QC @ Fairmount Theater
8/12 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
8/13 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
8/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry
8/16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Enclave
8/17 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
8/19 – Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre
8/20 – Nashville, TN @ Basement East
8/21 – Springfield, MO @ The Riff
8/23 – Kansas City, MO @ The Rino
8/24 – Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street Collective
8/25 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
8/26 – St Paul, MN @ Amsterdam
8/27 – Milwaukee, WI @ Mirmar Theatre
8/28 – Des Moines, IA @ xBk
8/30 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Stache
8/31 – Louisville, KY @ Portal
9/02 – Columbus, OH @ Big Room Bar
9/03 – Cincinnati, OH @ Legends
9/04 – Knoxville, TN @ BrickYard
9/06 – Jacksonville, FL @ Archetype
9/07 – Columbia, SC @ New Brooklyn Tavern
9/8 – Denville, VA @ Blue Ridge Rock Fest
