After a significant lineup shakeup, this year’s ‘Shell Shock II‘ festival has secured its new jawdropping headliner: a Slipknot tribute band by the name of SiC Tx, which describes itself as “The fastest growing Slipknot tribute in America.” They will fill the closing slot previously occupied by Evergreen Terrace at the festival, set for October 19th at the Level 13 Event Center in Orlando, FL.
Evergreen Terrace dropped out of the festival this past Sunday, citing concerns over Kyle Rittenhouse's involvement. Rittenhouse rose into the public eye after travelling across state lines with an illegal Smith & Wesson M&P 15 purchased by his sister's boyfriend for him and live ammunition from his suburban Illinois residence to Kenosha in August of 2020, ending in the killings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber by Rittenhouse, as well as injuring Gaige Paul Grosskreutz. He was later acquitted of several homicide charges related to the incident which remains polarizing to this date
The ‘Shell Shock II’ festival aims to raise funds and awareness for PTSD among first responders and veterans, and had booked Rittenhouse as a VIP guest, which raises the eyebrows of anyone who has worked with those who have faced trauma and suffered from PTSD as to the connection between the festival's presumed goals and its choice of VIPs.
Evergreen Terrace expressed their discomfort not only with Rittenhouse's participation but also with “other associated entities” connected to the festival, leading to their withdrawal. Subsequently, three other bands—Southpaw, Let Me Bleed, and American Hollow—also withdrew, seeking to distance themselves from Rittenhouse and political affiliations.
Earlier this week, the festival announced their new headliner via social media. The post featured a video with the text ‘Cancelled?’ flashing at the end, followed by animated laughter. It stated,
"We believe in a united front among our brothers and sisters who continue to fight the battles even after having served their country. This includes not only our veterans but also the first responders who stand alongside them, confronting the challenges and struggles that persist long after their service. Together, we form a strong and resilient community, dedicated to supporting each other through every battle.
Each year, numerous major music festivals occur, but few prioritize mental health, and even fewer (if any) specifically address PTSD. We recognize the serious mental toll and trauma involved. Alongside this initiative, all our jointly owned companies share a unified mission with our sponsors to support military personnel and veterans, law enforcement, and first responders, expressing gratitude for their sacrifices to our country.”
This post has since been deleted from their Instagram account. As of the writing of this article on October 5th, Shellshock has raised a total of $120 of its $10,000 fundraising goal on its GoFundMe for PTSD Awareness. One has to wonder that if they focused more on assisting veterans with PTSD, rather than honoring a VIP guest who caused death and trauma on U.S. streets before he was even allowed to vote. Masterful gambit.
