Good English fallout: From the good to the bad

Before becoming infamous, Dayton-area band Good English was seen as a group really making headway in the indie rock circuit, playing clubs and festivals as far away as Seattle, Austin and New York City.

With two tours under their belt, Good English released a self-titled album in March and looked to do more roadwork in support of said album this year with several shows already booked.

That was until now. The band is suddenly getting national attention for the drummer's comments in defense of her childhood friend and now convicted in Stanford sexual assault case.

Leslie Rasmussen took to Facebook to post an explanation of her letter to Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Pensky. The note was taken down within minutes, but not before it was captured and disseminated further throughout social media.

>> Good English band member responds to criticism of her defense of Brock Turner

In the post, Leslie Rasmussen further emboldened the role alcohol played in the crime.

She also passively indicted social media in how she has been perceived.

"I understand that this appeal has now provided an opportunity for people to misconstrue my ideas into a distortion that suggests I sympathize with sex offenses and those who commit them or that I blame the victim involved. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I apologize for anything my statement has done to suggest that I don't feel enormous sympathy for the victim and her suffering."

The story has been featured in publications ranging from US Weekly, New York Daily News, Alternative Press, Yahoo Music and more.

Some of the headlines include:

"Indie Band Good English Blacklisted in New York After Drummer Defends Brock Turner"

"Band dropped from gigs after drummer supports Stanford rapist"

"Indie band Good English dropped from multiple shows after statement on Stanford rapist"

Then there's the social media response, which has been swift, and at times, cruel. You can't go to any website mentioning the band without reading the comments. Some are posted as compositions of calm and rational collected thoughts. Others are downright abusive.

Many of those comments led, at least in part, to several shows, including five in New York, being canceled. Tuesday morning, one such venue, Bar Matchless in Brooklyn, posted the announcement on their Facebook page.

"Very wise decision. It's one thing to support a friend, but to imply that victim is partially to blame is wrong," posted one person.

"Thank you. People like Leslie Rasmussen need to be sent a message that Brock Turner is exactly what a rapist looks like," wrote another.

At least two Dayton festivals have dropped the group from their lineups as well, including the Dayton Music Art and Film Festival.

>> Good English shows cancelled after drummer defends Brock Turner

The trio, comprised of the Rasmussen sisters -- Elizabeth (guitar, vocals), Celia (bass, vocals) and Leslie (drums, vocals) – released their first full-length album, "Radio Wires," in 2013. They compared themselves to such luminaries, both indie and otherwise, as Sleater-Kinney, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Queens of the Stone Age.

Good English's web presence has all but dried up with Facebook, Band Camp, and the official site all deactivated.

Leslie Rasmussen was asked to comment on this story and the band's future, but the request was not immediately returned.

About the Author