Boise Marquee In National Spotlight

When does a theatre marquee listing a band’s appearance on a specific date attract national attention? When the band is Explosions In The Sky and the date is Sept. 11.

The instrumental band is scheduled to play the Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho, on the 10th anniversary of the al-Qaeda terrorist attacks against the United States that destroyed New York City’s World Trade Center, killed more than 2,700 people and heavily damaged the Pentagon.

Apparently, no one gave a second thought to the juxtaposition of the band’s name with one of the most solemn calendar dates in recent history. That is, until the show went up on the venue’s marquee.

NBC New York posted a photo of the marquee on its website, calling the event a “poorly timed concert.” The accompanying text noted the band released the album Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever one month before the attacks. The album’s artwork featured a plane shining a light on an angel accompanied by the text “this plane will crash tomorrow.”

Photo: NBCNewYork.com

But while NBC New York criticizes booking the band for Sept. 11, folks in Boise don’t seem to be all that upset. Local television station KTVB, which happens to be an NBC affiliate, asked residents to comment on the issue, but apparently didn’t find anyone really upset about the show’s timing.

“I get why people would be sensitive about it, it is a tragic day in our nation’s history, but I feel like we let it get to us way too much,” Boise resident Teresa Barros-Bailey told the TV station.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian’s booking manager, Joy Hart, said having the band play on the evening of Sept. 11 was merely a “coincidence” and that there hadn’t been any complaints about the show.

Photo: Chris McKay / ConcertShots.com
Chastain Park, Atlanta, Ga.

“It’s unfortunate that this band has to be equated to those events,” Hart said. “They formed in 1999 and I’m sure this is something that they deal with on an ongoing basis.”