Tyler, the Creator was scheduled to go on at 5 p.m. That explained why Austin’s Scoot Inn, an outdoor venue hosting SXSW shows, was at capacity, and why the line to get in was still two blocks long. I had hoped to see the band on before Tyler, F*cked Up, figuring two hours was early enough to maybe sneak my way into the mosh pit. How wrong I was. I walked back to my car slightly dejected, though after learning what happened next, well, let’s just say things got a different kind of f*cked up, and I’m glad I left. Via Billboard:
Police say Odd Future rapper [Tyler, the Creator] was arrested Saturday without incident and has been charged with riot, a misdemeanor in Texas. His bond has been set at $3,500.
Police say the 23-year-old Los Angeles resident incited a large crowd of fans at the annual music conference and festival to push their way past venue employees controlling access to an at-capacity show more than once during a Thursday performance. Officers at the scene said in a warrant that Tyler yelled for fans to push their way inside twice, and that a bartender had to protect a woman from injury in the resulting push. (Via)
Spin has more:
And just like that, hundreds of people came rushing through the gates. I happened to be directly in their path when they did, and it felt like being hit with a wave: I pinged off this person and that person before stabilizing myself and catching my breath. I noticed the futile attempts of the security guards: a shit-kicker Joe Arpaio-type at the door tackled someone; another, meeker dude tried a clothesline that didn’t work. It was of little use: the handful of guards were pushed aside like twigs in a flood. Someone came rushing to the sound booth where I’d moored myself and yelled at the sound guy to turn the music off. He did. I looked behind me and, to my horror, saw that they were locking the gates. (Via)
Tyler was arrested at the Austin airport, proving that no matter how much you try, you can never leave SXSW. Meanwhile, the Subway employees who claimed to be handing “free pizza,” which turned out to be flat pieces of cardboard painted red and white, remain on the loose.
