The Young Republic BANNED IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA!!!

Shortly after returning home from months on the road, The Young Republic’s manager Danny Ross was emailed the following message by Stephen V. Negrey, manager of the IOTA Club in Arlington, VA,
“Due to Julians behavior at Mondays show with Devon Sproule I will not consider The Young Republic for any future shows here at IOTA Club & Cafe. It is a shame because I like the band. I wish you all the best.”
The Young Republic, a notoriously well behaved group of young musicians, has been banished from ever performing again at the IOTA Club in Arlington. We here at the Sky Mountain Blog feel the need to report to the group’s fans about what happened.
On the last night of a three month tour, the band and their tour mate Devon Sproule pulled into the lovely town of Arlington, VA to play that night at the IOTA Club. It was a beautiful night, warm with a hint of summer tugging at the treetops, tempered by the cool Northern Virginia breeze. After the soundcheck and a pasta dish provided by the bartender the crowd started trickling in and the “trouble” began. The purported poor behavior stemmed from a 20 year old female member of the press who was not allowed into the 21+ club. Lead singer Julian Saporiti – a former writer for the TENNESSEAN – attempted to assist the young reporter at the door, but the door girl was very strict in keeping her out. When questioned, Saporiti had this to say,
“They wouldn’t let this reporter in who was on Devon’s guest list. Granted she was 20 but at every other club we’ve ever played, people and especially press have been allowed in after having their hands X’d so the bartender knew they couldn’t drink. The reporter said that she had no idea the show was 21+ because it didn’t say so on the site.”
The IOTA Club’s website does in fact say shows are 21+ but not on the front page or on the show calendar. Saporiti continues,
“When I use to write for the paper in town I was always allowed into every bar, as they understood that I had a job to do and would be giving them publicity. There’s a slight leniency in these situations. I asked the young woman working the door if she could just X the reporter’s hands and let her come in for the show, or even open the door for her so she could hear the performance. To the door girl’s credit, she did call her manager to ask his opinion, which uninformed of the details, was no.”
The reporter and her friend (who was of drinking age) was turned away. Julian gave her one of TYR’s CDs in consolation and Devon and the band thanked her for coming out and apologized that she was not allowed in. Saporiti goes on,
“Of all the places we’ve played I’d never seen someone ON THE GUEST LIST AND A MEMBER OF THE PRESS be turned away from a club. I know a club has to look out for the law, but there’s an understanding with every other place we’ve ever played and to not even let someone stand outside, that’s sort of cold. I felt bad because she came a long way on a weeknight just to see us and write a review of the show.”
When asked what the club might have taken offense to Saporiti explains what he thinks might have happened.
“We played a blues in our set that night and I dedicated it to the young reporter who was turned away at the door. That’s what really set off the door girl. She looked like she didn’t have the most pleasant disposition in the first place and maybe she was just having a bad day. But after the show she went out of her way to tell me how disrespectful I was for saying that on stage. I told her it was no big deal and walked away. She then came out when I was selling merch and continued to berate me about how out of line I was for trying to help that girl get into the club. I was really tired and worn out as this was the last show of the tour. I attempted to take the high road and said very little in response, but she just was not happy, felt insulted and kept jawing at me. It was just not a nice situation to be in for a visiting performer.”
When asked how he felt about his band’s first banishment, Saporiti light heartedly responded,
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s a little extreme I suppose and kind of silly. I have no problem with those people. The club was fine and they treated the band well. It’s their policy and that’s fine. We still played, I was just trying to get this girl in because I felt bad for her. It seems like that (door) girl was having a bad day already and was in a foul mood from what my bandmates told me and I guess rubbed her the wrong way and she blew it out of proportion. These things happen to all of us. I do find it funny that the guy who sent the email wasn’t even there to see any of this. I still think that if you are underage, you should be able to get your hands X’d if you’re family or doing something like writing about the show. I remember how much I appreciated that when I was working. Plus her friend would have had a few drinks and made the club some more money. Look, I’m a grown up, I apologize for making anyone feel uncomfortable because I’m just a singer, this is just a band and we go to these places to make folks happy. I still wish that girl had been able to get in though.”
So fans of The Young Republic, that is the story of how after 6 years and hundreds of shows, this band of music college grads was banned from a Northern Virginia club.

- Amy Stetson
Publicist