Canadian band stopped at border
Toolbox
By Cristina Kumka Staff Writer - Published: August 4, 2009
The crowd expected them, but they never showed.
Toronto-based trio The Chameleon Project didn't perform at the Downtown Rutland Sidewalk Sales and Ethnic Festival Saturday night as planned because they were interrogated and fingerprinted at the U.S./Canada border for not having proper paperwork for entry into the United States, the band's manager Jay Cleary said Monday.
According to Cleary, the band members were treated "like criminals" by Border Patrol officers for not having a P2 Visa, a requirement for alien entertainers to gain access to the United States to perform under an exchange program between the two countries.
The Chameleon Project, comprised of Josh Laing on guitar, real-time sampling and effects, bassist Snappy Homefry and drummer Brad Park, weren't formally charged with any crime for trying to gain entry into the states for the Rutland show and the Vermont Roots Reggae Festival the night prior.
But they were told to not try to gain access again, according to Cleary.
"They (Border Patrol) told them if they came again they would put them in jail," he said.
Spokesman Kevin Corsaro of U.S. Customs & Border Patrol said Monday the band was denied into the United States after they admitted they were getting paid for at least one show.
The band was denied for not having the proper visa, Corsaro said.
"If someone is coming in to the country to work, they need a visa to work so we don't displace U.S. workers," he said.
"Any time we refuse someone, fingerprinting is a standard operating procedure."
Cleary, who was not with the band at the time, said the band turned around and didn't try to get into the U.S. again even though it cost them money to rent cars.
The band did have an official "showcase letter" stating they were performing at both shows — the one paid in Rutland and the unpaid reggae fest in Grand Isle County — but it wasn't enough.
The reason why the band didn't follow the rules: It didn't have the $2,000 it would have taken to get the visa and the band didn't know the extra step was now required under law, Cleary said.
"I don't think showcases are allowed anymore," Cleary said. "The rules of bringing American artists up are a lot more inviting."
After seven hours of driving from their home city to even reach the border, the band was left disappointed that they couldn't get the American exposure, something Canadian bands depend on, Cleary said.
"If there is any way to apologize to the people of Rutland, they are really sorry they couldn't make it happen," he said.
In Rutland, Mike Coppinger of the Downtown Rutland Partnership was scurrying to find another act at the last minute. The Partnership had yet to pay the band and was able to cancel hotel rooms paid for through donations so the city didn't lose money, Coppinger said Monday.
Local favorite Jared Johnson and the Voodoo Aliens Blues Band, a hit at the Center Street Saloon in Rutland Friday night, replaced The Chameleon Project.
From now on, Coppinger said, he would make sure bands he was looking to book for downtown events had the ability to stay in the U.S. for an extended amount of time.
Cleary said the up-and-coming band still hopes to play Rutland someday.
"They aren't totally discouraged," he said. "They just need to set up a whole string of dates to make the $2,000 fee worth it."
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
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