Alpha Wolf performs at the Warfield in San Francisco, Calif. on Oct. 30, 2024. Chloe Catalan/STAFF.

Updated Nov. 5, 2024.

A contracted security guard at Warfield Theatre in San Francisco has been placed on administrative leave following an odd mid-show confrontation with an artist that quickly turned physical.

The incident occurred Wednesday night at a concert headlined by hard rock band Dayseeker and featuring three opening acts: Alpha Wolf, Catch Your Breath and Kingdom of Giants. As the third band, Australia’s Alpha Wolf, performed its final song, lead singer Lochie Keogh accused venue security of mistreating all of the bands throughout the day.

“For the second time in the set, he grabbed the knit hat off the head of the guard at center staged and tossed it aside,” this publication reported in its review of the concert. “The guard responded by reaching back, grabbing Keogh’s ankle and pulling him down from a the stage riser, slightly damaging a piece of lighting in the process. From there, things devolved with guitarist Sabian Lynch hurling his instrument in the direction of the guard and Keogh hopping off stage to approach security. The music was immediately cut; the lights came on.”

RIFF reached out to Alpha Wolf’s management but had yet to hear from them as of 1:45 p.m. on Thursday. he headlining band declined to comment on the confrontation or about any incidents earlier in the day that could have fueled it, its publicist said.

The end of the incident was caught on video and shared to YouTube.

According to Goldenvoice and AEG Presents, which manages the venue, the incident is under investigation.

“We are aware of this incident and are investigating the events that led up to the unfortunate interaction,” AEG Presents spokesman Danny Bell said. “For now, the contracted security company has placed the individual on investigative leave. The safety and well-being of the audience, artists and staff are always top priority.”

Bell said AEG Presents will provide updates as the actions that led up to the confrontation are determined.

Several attendees at the Warfield concert have posted differing accounts on social media, some siding with the band and saying that security was not doing enough to catch crowd-surfers. Attendee Luis Cervantes, of Central Valley city Turlock, said Alpha Wolf’s Keogh repeatedly goaded the security guard at the front of the stage before the guard finally reacted.

“I was front row … [and] throughout the set the vocalist was talking bad about the venue staff, calling them [expletives],” Cervantes told RIFF. “Earlier in the set the vocalist had harassed the security guard [who later grabbed him]. While the security guard was in the wrong for his actions, he also did not deserve to be harassed by the performers.”

Cervantes added that when Lynch threw his guitar in the direction of the guard, it struck and injured a young woman in the crowd.