When Alabama officials called fans of Widespread Panic “floppy,” some fans didn’t take to kindly to the generalization. The local representatives were disappointed that The Amphitheater at the Wharf in Orange Beach, AL had booked Panic, with Mayor Pro-Tem saying:
“We don’t promote that style of living and floppiness that’s happened, that they will bring… Some of the fans that we have had past experience with were just flopping down in grocery stores in the middle of the day, pulling out boxes of Popsicles and eating and trying to rehydrate. Flopping down in garages of vacant buildings and homes or unoccupied homes and camping out.”
Alabama Mayor Calls Widespread Panic Fans ‘Pure Mayhem’
So, distraught by the stereotyping, local fan Michael Butler has gone about renaming Panic’s upcoming concert “The Flopper’s Ball.” While there isn’t actually a new event, Butler has dubbed the band’s May 22nd concert as a formal affair.
About “The Flopper’s Ball,” Butler said, “Everbody is (being encouraged to) attend the show dressed to the nines. Girls will come wearing their best sparkly dresses, and guys are coming out in tuxedoes… It’s a way of putting a positive spin on the whole thing. There is no intention to fuel any fires. We love Orange Beach. It’s not about sticking it to the man. It’s just a respectable, classy show of style.”
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Naturally, the event is gaining some traction in the Widespread Floppers Facebook page, because, of course it is. You can see the event page here.
By holding themselves to a higher standard, Butler is hopeful that local officials will see the improvement and that Widespread Panic will continue to perform at Orange Beach for years to come.
[Via AL.com]