to flex her muscles in Ashland.
(File photo)
The Sprockettes tour is off to a memorable start.
The ladies rolled into the southern Oregon city of Ashland last Thursday hoping to liven up the town with an impromptu performance in Lithia Park.
Unfortunately, a few of Ashland’s men in blue didn’t think the ladies in pink were such a good idea.
The incident even made the the local newspaper.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
“Ashland police said a number of people called and complained about the amplified music emanating from their 1976 GMC bus that runs on “veggie oil”…
“We didn’t even get through our first song,” (Sprockette Caroline) Penner said. “The officer said if we allow you [to perform] it will happen all the time. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome if this happened all the time?'”
Not according to police.”
The story has sparked many comments from locals who are ashamed that their city kicked out the Sprockettes.
Also read the Sprockettes version of what happened on their official Tour Blog.
Thanks for reading.
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Much love to my ladies. Can\’t wait to see ya\’ll at TdF in Portland!
Hmm, sounds about right. I spent a year at SOU (long story) and I found that while some of the locals like to tout Ashland as some sort of \’mini San Francisco\’ I found it to be closer to a mini Lake Oswego.
Just a thought.
Second generation Ashland native here. There was a time when punk bands played right in the middle of the plaza, and Southern Oregon State College (SOU now) had fraternities and was on Playboy\’s list of top party schools. Twenty five years later and the local grade schools can barely stay open from lack of children in town. Retirees and tourists pose little criminal threat and enjoy a very tranquil environment. With little else to do the local police will certainly respond to any complaint by local citizens or business owners. While I sometimes miss Ashland while living in Portland, a short visit quickly reminds me how conservative Southern Oregon\’s liberal gem has become. I\’m sure that the Sprockettes would be very popular in Ashland. Hopefully they can return and, with a little heads up to the APD, may be allowed a full performance.
maybe if they had been reciting shakespeare the man woulda let them continue.