02) This week’s primetime special: Escuela Grind
Drama can unfold shortly after the release of new music. We saw that in 2023 with Thy Art Is Murder, for example. However, over the last few weeks, so much has happened with the grind/powerviolence group Escuela Grind that our heads are still spinning from it all. We weaved through the internet back and forth and did our best to explain the controversy that erupted shortly after parting ways with guitarist Thomas Sifuentes.
Formed in early 2016 and based in Upstate New York and Pittsfield, MA, the group, known initially as Escuela until 2019, has been making waves since their inception. They’ve climbed up the ranks, made a name for themselves, and are now known for their high-energy and non-stop performances. The lineup consisted of Katerina Economou (vocals), Jesse Fuentes (drums), and Krissy Morash (bass/guitar). Now, the band has split with Sifuentes less than two months after their new EP, DDEEAATHHMMEETTAALL, arrived on January 12th via MNRK Heavy, and the decision was made while still on the road.
The trek started earlier in January and faced a challenge at their Dallas, TX stop on January 18th at Cheapsteaks. Vocalist Katerina Economou suffered injuries that required medical attention, leading the band to issue the following statement on social media:
“Dallas was so insane that @xsatanx was launched over a crowd, onto the floor in the middle of the pit.. (see slide 2) we didn’t get to finish our set.
Katerina has a small hairline fracture, and a bruised shoulder. They’re very lucky the doctor cleared them for the rest of these shows. we all know how bad this could’ve turned out, so everyone is grateful that it’s just gnarly bump
On another note, fuck the security guards who did no homework before working a hardcore show and disrespected every artist that walked into Cheapstakes. They treated every one of us like an enemy, and that’s not fucking cool. Venues and promoters, take note and make sure to educate your staff.
Also, plz teach them about pro-nouns”
Fortunately, at the time, the tour didn’t come to a complete stop as they went back into the full swing of things. Up until a month later, nearly one week ago, Lambgoat reported Sifuentes being replaced over “safety concerns.”
The former guitarist made a post via Instagram with the following statement:
“These next two shows will be my last with Escuela Grind. I was informed I’m being replaced after bringing up some safety concerns. It was a fuckin honor exerting every ounce of energy I had for you, all those shows. I was gettin busy ngl! The greatest times though, above all else, was meeting all of you! My new friends. You all pulled me in and sold me on this life again after many years away from heavy music. Until next time you murfuggers!”
Sifuentes responded in the comments section, further explaining:
“I brought it up, and tried to address how the other members didn’t care my safety/ hearing was jeopardized carelessly, and instead they wanted to make excuses for the other member. I was battled at every step for literally trying to not have it happen again. And in response, I was told I was whining and “killing the vibe”. Then was told, “we’re looking for a replacement anyways”. But that’s it. Nothing crazy no drama here, we prolly just don’t mesh. I’m stoked I got to play all these shows.”
For those who are just catching up, you might be wondering, “Where’s the controversy and what’s with all the drama?” While removing a member for such a reason may seem harsh, this alone wouldn’t have sparked the intense internet discussion surrounding the group. However, this was only the beginning.
A few days later, on Monday (19th), the controversy reached new heights. reddit threads and backlash comments on one of Escuela Grind’s recent Instagram posts brought further discrepancies about the band into the public eye. The constant social media arguments between fans questioning the real issue and others debating whether to continue supporting the group have intensified following another social media post. This time, it was from the band’s former driver, who made sexual harassment allegations in the below Instagram post:
“If anyone recalls I drove for a band for a bit. There was a lot of mistreatment throughout the entire tour, not just for myself, but I kept my mouth shut where I could, and just hung in there until I saw an exit. I looked crazy on the internet for a second pushing people until I got some form of apology. But, the apologies never came, I never got paid in full, you kicked my best homie out of the band, and you clowns are on your way home. So let’s fucking get it.
Jesse, how fucking dare you speak to people the way you do. Whether it be people “working for you”, your friends, your band mates. You are trash. You think the shit you do and say is just going to disappear. You can delete hate comments but you can’t delete my experience and you can’t get rid of the people you fucked over. You boasted about leaving people on the side of the road, informed me I was simply your employee when I brought up concerns about the van and trailer. You hired a fucking tour manager THAT SEXUALLY HARASSED ME EVERY DAY. Pathetic. Coward.
Chris Kotter, the tour manager. You talked at the side of my head for two and a half weeks and underestimated me every step of the way. You flirted with me nonstop despite me telling you every single day in every single way that I did NOT like you. No I don’t want to go camping or hiking, NO I don’t want to peg you, NO I do not think some people come along as sexual shamans, and it’s insane to me that the activist with a homemade “Gay Sex and Class War” patch would be such a fucking predator. I’d spit in your face if I knew it wouldn’t give you a hard on you fucking prick.
Katerina, it’s disgusting to me that you would stand up there on stage every night and pretend to be a voice for the girls, gays, and theys but you didn’t advocate for a single one that I saw. ♀️ Weird. You allow Jesse to ruin your band’s reputation and honestly everyone’s mental health that I saw. But, I’m just a fucking driver, what do I know.
If y’all would have taken 5 minutes to get to know me, like I spent the entire two and a half weeks getting to know y’all you’d know I was more than qualified to handle your shit.
ALL THE RUMORS ARE TRUE ”
Comments on the above post received at least one person confirming the experience, having similar issues with Jesse with additional negative comments on one’s personal experience with the band.
Later down the comment thread, in response to the driver stating:
“Oh, and Alexandria. You are an absolute sweetheart and I really enjoyed working with you.
Tom, Ryan, and Krissy. I wish you all the best. I mean that. Love and respect y’all. How funny is it though that the dude with a [penchant] for “clown bitches” is runner up for most courteous in the van.”
Bassist/guitarist Morash chimed in, defending the band, claiming:
“We were happy to let you go because not only did you lie about being able to park trailers, you let your emotions effect your driving capabilities, aggressively driving behind/yelling at other cars (we have had friends get their vans SHOT at for this) you were not getting rest for long drives and chose to party with other bands and drink before we left venues. You nearly wrecked into oncoming traffic after breaking too late on LA freeway however you couldn’t even accept suggestions for driving safer in the future (you apparently know how to drive and no one needs to tell you otherwise). I’m literally the reason why Jesse had to talk to you about behavior in Fresno and you buckled, gave up & insisted that we thought you would steal things from our van while trying to leave??
we bought airb&bs to make sure you were comfortable but yet you had a problem with not getting to choose which bed you slept on? We had a bed in the back for you to rest in as well during the day. We were nothing but accommodating towards you.
To insist Chris is a predator when he did not touch you or even ask to peg you is insulting when i watched you get things out of him for your own benefit. Patting his head when he would do things for you.
Day 3 in DC after damaging our van, we still showed you love and compassion. Jesse sat and talked to you for hours in the cold because we believed in you. To turn around and not consider any of this shows your true behavior and it is disheartening
I am not feeling the love and respect you are portraying to a small group of this band on social media. I bit my lip and waited to even say anything about this because it wasn’t anyones business and i considered you were maybe going through something in your personal life.
while i’m still grateful for taking time out of your life to help us i hope you find other ways to deal with your incompetence in the future. “
Somehow, this resulted in grindcore musician Stephen Peniston deciding to break his silence revealing Jesse Fuentes being a freemason. On Peniston’s now-private Instagram, Peniston shared a photo (available to view via Lambgoat) with the following statement:
“Is it such a surprise that a dude who has stolen thousands of dollars from acts such as Goolagoon, Mellow Harsher, Sick/Tired, and dozens more; churned and burned guitarists who didn’t want to be corporate entities in music; hurled “F*****” and “N****” at folks and in conversation only to defend himself with “I’m a a tex-mex queer. It’s okay.” isn’t a great person?
Anyways- I’ve sat on this photo for 6+ years. Here’s Jesse with Escuela’s financial investors at Jesse’s Free Mason induction ceremony.”
Despite a week’s dispute and confusion, Escuela Grind have since made one more Instagram post, briefly addressing the matter while thanking Sifuentes. The post also has the comments disabled:
“Thank you to everyone who came out to the past six weeks of shows. This was our best run ever as a band.
We want to take this opportunity to thank Tom for his two years of service in the band. He always loved our fans and was such a force, it will be difficult to replace him.
We are excited to head back out on the road in 10 days with the homies in Capra and new touring team. We’re working to grow and improve, both as musicians and a touring unit, and will continue to lift people up, and be advocates for the girls, the gays, the theys, and the lifers.
Remember, the only way we grow is by hanging out and talking to each other. We’re looking forward to seeing you all again.”
Where do things go from here? Another tour with support from Capra remains booked, scheduled to kick off in less than two weeks, and a replacement guitarist has yet to be revealed. We’re sure there will be more updates to come.
Tour Dates:
03/01 Richmond, VA @ Cobra Cabana
03/02 Savannah, GA @ Southbound Brewing
03/03 Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone
03/04 Roanoke, VA @ Flying Panther Skate Shop
03/05 Erie, PA @ Basement Transmissions
03/06 Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
03/07 Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
03/08 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
03/09 Portland, ME @ Geno’s Rock Room
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