Pinegrove Cancels U.S. Tour, Citing Accusations Of Sexual Coercion

Montclair, N.J.-based indie rock band Pinegrove has called off its upcoming U.S. tour following accusations of “sexual coercion” against lead vocalist/guitarist Evan Stephens Hall. 

Following an appearance at the “Snowed In” festival at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, Pinegrove’s U.S. tour was supposed to kick off Nov. 26 at Thalia Hall in Chicago. Dates were booked through the end of the month, with stops on the routing including St. Louis, Nashville, Atlanta, New York, Boston and Philadelphia.  

Barry Brecheisen/WireImage/Getty Images – Evan Stephens Hall of Pinegrove
Pinegrove performs at Pitchfork Music Festival at Chicago’s Union Park on July 16, 2017.

In a lengthy statement on Facebook that said, “I want to begin by saying that my actions have caused someone I care about deep emotional pain and I am so sorry,” the frontman explained that the accusations came from someone he was “involved with for a short but intense period of time.”

He added, “I absolutely never threatened her, I never leveraged anything against her. I believed all of our decisions to be based in love. Still, I am coming to terms with the fact that I monumentally misread the situation. I am trying earnestly to follow this line as deeply as it goes to reflect on all of the things I could have done, and can do, better.”

The statement also brought up interactions Hall has had with fans and reflected on the privilege he’s had as both a male and a recognized performer. 

“I have been flirtatious with fans and on a few occasions been intimate with people that I’ve met on tour. I’ve reached the conclusion now that that’s not ever appropriate – even if they initiate it. there will always be an unfair power dynamic at play in these situations and it’s not ok for me to ignore that.”

Hall said the tour was canceled in an effort to take time to make positive changes in his life and to respect what the alleged victim is going through. He noted that he started therapy earlier this month and plans to continue appointments indefinitely.

“I am sincerely committed to improving my mental health and the way I treat everyone I interact with,” Hall said. “I am being held to account by the people close to me but the point of this post is not about me – it is an apology to the person I hurt and to the people I disappointed: my bandmates, my friends, my family, our fans. I’m so sorry. I have never felt remorse like this before. I will think about how I could have been better in this situation for as long as I live.”

Pinegrove is still scheduled to tour Europe in March, starting at Trinity Centre in Bristol, England.

The most recent box office report sent to Pollstar for Pinegrove was a Feb. 22 gig at London’s 800-capacity Scala, which sold out and grossed $12,510 (local currency = £;10,000). The band is represented by APA in North America and Primary Talent International worldwide (excluding North and South America).