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Viet Cong release statement regarding name controversy: "we never intended for our name to be provocative or hurtful"

photo: Viet Cong @ Union Pool in January (more by PSquared)
Viet Cong

As you may know Canadian band Viet Cong have been the subject of some controversy over their name, especially since Oberlin College canceled the show the band were supposed to play, saying the name “deeply offends and hurts Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American communities.” Lots of people have weighed in on the subject (including Gang of Four’s Andy Gill who called the Oberlin cancelation “ridiculous” and “anti-progressive”) but the band has been mostly quiet, until now. Ahead of a number of SXSW appearance, Viet Cong have released a statement:

Our band, Viet Cong, has existed for a little over three years now. When we named ourselves, we were naive about the history of a war in a country we knew very little about. We now better understand the weight behind the words Viet Cong. While we don’t take any concerns about the name lightly, we feel it is important to let you know that we never meant to trivialize the atrocities or violence that occurred on both sides of the Vietnam War. We never intended for our name to be provocative or hurtful.

We truly appreciate the seriousness of the feedback we’ve received, and we will continue to be open to listening to issues and concerns from all perspectives.

With love from the band Viet Cong.

Viet Cong’s tour schedule, including SXSW dates and their two Northside Festival appearances in NYC, are listed below…

Viet Cong – 2015 Tour Dates
03/18/15 Austin, TX – House of Vans SXSW Official Showcase @ The Mohawk (3:15 PM)
03/18/15 Austin, TX – St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival presents ‘Laneway is for Lovers’ SXSW party @ Red 7 (5 PM)
03/19/15 Austin, TX – Consequence of Sound SXSW @ Hype Hotel (4 PM)
03/19/15 Austin, TX – Flood Magazine SXSW @ Cedar Street Courtyar (9 PM)
03/20/15 Austin, TX – SPIN SXSW @ Stubbs (12 PM)
03/20/15 Austin, TX – Fader Fort SXSW (5:15 PM)
03/22/15 Dallas, TX – Spillover Music Fest
03/24/15 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
03/25/15 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
03/26/15 Boise, ID – Treefort Music Fest
03/27/15 Seattle, WA – Barboza SOLD-OUT
03/28/15 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
03/29/15 Victoria, BC – Upstairs Cabaret
05/07/15 Lethbridge, AB – Electric Eye Music Festival
05/08/15 Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Festival
05/09/15 Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Festival
05/10/15 Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Festival
05/13/15 Dublin, IE – Workman’s Club
05/14/15 Amsterdam, NL – Bitterzoet
05/15/15 Hannover, DE – Cafe Glocksee
05/16/15 Arhus, DK – Pop Revo
05/17/15 Berlin, DE – Lido
05/20/15 Munich, DE – Milla
05/21/15 Cologne, DE – Blue Shell
05/22/15 Paris, FR – Maroquinerie
05/23/15 Brussels, BE – AB Club
05/26/15 Toulouse, FR – Connexion
05/27/15 Barcelona, ES – Sala Apolo
05/28/15 Barcelona, ES – Primavera Sound
05/29/15 Barcelona, ES – Primavera Sound
05/30/15 Barcelona, ES – Primavera Sound
06/01/15 Lyon, FR – Sonic
06/02/15 Luzern, CH – Sudpol
06/03/15 Marina Di Ravenna, IT – Beaches Brew Festival – FREE
06/04/15 Marina Di Ravenna, IT – Beaches Brew Festival – FREE
06/05/15 Marina Di Ravenna, IT – Beaches Brew Festival – FREE
06/07/15 London, UK – Field Day Festival
06/13/15 New York, NY – Northside Festival @ Music Hall of Williamsburg SOLD-OUT
06/14/15 New York, NY – Northside Festival @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
07/17/15 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
07/18/15 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
07/19/15 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
08/16/15 London, UK – Scala
08/20/15 Brecon Beacons, Wales – Green Man Festival
08/21/15 Brecon Beacons, Wales – Green Man Festival
08/21/15 Biddinghuizen, NL – Lowlands Festival
08/22/15 Brecon Beacons, Wales – Green Man Festival
08/22/15 Biddinghuizen, NL – Lowlands Festival
08/23/15 Brecon Beacons, Wales – Green Man Festival
08/23/15 Biddinghuizen, NL – Lowlands Festival

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