Punk Rock Garage Sale, which puts on monthly punk rock shows in Houston, on August 6 announced it would look to relocate events from White Oak Music Hall. Fairy doom metal band Faetooth announced on Instagram it would move its August 16 show to Bad Astronaut. Fans who bought tickets to the White Oak show will be refunded, the post said.
“Corrupt fraudster Ken Paxton held a rally at White Oak Music Hall. Facing backlash, White Oak Music Hall released a statement about the community that blew up in their face,” Punk Rock Garage wrote on Instagram.
White Oak Music Hall posted an Instagram statement addressing the situation but deleted it after criticism and calls for boycotts. “White Oak Music Hall is a neutral forum open to all individuals and organizations, providing a space for assembly, dialogue, expression, and community engagement.” The statement also cited campaign events for Democratic Texas politicians like Beto O’Rourke and late Houston mayor Sylvester Turner. Fans displeased with the deleted posts commented on the post highlighting Meet Me @ The Alter’s show.
According to Punk Rock Garage Sale’s Instagram post, Houston brewery and music venue Bad Astronaut agreed to take on multiple shows that would have been hosted at White Oak Music Hall.
Bad Astronaut and White Oak Music Hall did not respond to requests for comment by Friday afternoon.
The full Aug. 5 lineup included Paxton’s campaign rally on the mainstage and Meet Me @ The Alter and Emo band Leisure Hour performing upstairs. A firestorm of controversy followed.
Meet Me @ The Alter called out the venue before the show, letting fans know they had no idea the Republican campaign event would be happening.
“PSA Houston: there’s basically a MAGA rally happening in the downstairs part of the venue we are laying today,” the band wrote on an Instagram story on Wednesday. “Some freak politician who endorses Trump.”
Comments still on White Oak’s Instagram page show that many appeared to feel similarly.
“Super happy that my safety and the safety of everyone upstairs last night was put in jeopardy so white oak could get a bag and fake being neutral,” one person commented.
“Offering a platform to someone whose legislation has historically directly harmed your consumers was not a good idea,” another commenter wrote.
“Damn, white oak. You can delete but me and my wallet are gonna remember forever, another comment read.