Indie rock group cancels Columbia show after singer is accused of ‘sexual coercion’

The music group Pinegrove has canceled an upcoming concert in Columbia because the band’s front man says he has “been accused of sexual coercion.”

Pinegrove, described as an indie rock/indie folk group, was scheduled to perform at West Columbia’s New Brookland Tavern on Dec. 2.

But that show, and the rest of Pinegrove’s upcoming tour have been canceled.

Evan Stephens Hall, the group’s lead singer and guitarist, made the announcement on the group’s Facebook page Tuesday. It was part of a long post that was as much of an apology to the woman making the accusation against him, as it was a message to fans.

“In an effort to take time to make positive changes in my life and out of respect for what she is going through, we are canceling our upcoming U.S. tour,” Hall wrote.

As of Tuesday afternoon, newbrooklandtavern.com still listed the Pinegrove concert on its upcoming events page. Pinegrove was scheduled to appear at New Brookland Tavern along with Saintseneca and Adult Mom.

It wasn’t an issue that more tickets might have been mistakenly sold, since the event was sold out. But New Brookland Tavern hadn’t announced plans for refunds.

In the Facebook post, Hall apologized for his actions, which “caused someone I care about deep emotional pain.” He said the “sexual coercion” accusation came from a woman he was involved with for a short, but intense period of time.

Hall doesn’t say what his specific actions or allegations against him were, but made some denials in the Facebook post.

“I absolutely never threatened her, I never leveraged anything against her. I believed all of our decisions to be based in love,” Hall wrote of the failed relationship. “Still, I am coming to terms with the fact that I monumentally misread the situation.”

Hall makes many personal revelations in the Facebook post, speaking in general about the relationship and his demeanor as person of influence. He says he is seeing a therapist.

“I am sincerely committed to improving my mental health and the way I treat everyone I interact with.”

Hall closes the post by apologizing to his bandmates, friends, family and Pinegrove’s 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.”

Perhaps one day that will include another trip to Columbia and a possible performance.

This story was originally published November 21, 2017 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Indie rock group cancels Columbia show after singer is accused of ‘sexual coercion’."