Pitchfork

Thefts of band vans and equipment happen all the time-- just ask the Decemberists, Sonic Youth, Brian Jonestown Massacre, or, more recently, Matt Pond PA. But rarely are the circumstances surrounding the crime as fucked up as what happened to San Francisco dream-poppers Film School yesterday.

Early Wednesday morning, the band slept soundly at a Comfort Inn in Philadelphia following a show at local venue the Fire the night before. They had taken precautions in choosing where to stay, and had picked the Comfort Inn because it featured a locked, well-lit, fenced-in parking lot with a 'round-the-clock attendant.

Nonetheless, a crook managed to break into the lot, break into the vehicle, saw through the Club lock on the steering wheel...and drive the Film School van straight through the parking lot fence! Good lord, how much crack was this person on?!

According to the band's label, Beggars Banquet, a witness (the attendant?) called the police while the theft was in progress, and the crime is being investigated.

If all that wasn't enough to drive the band crazy, it should be noted that the van in question was no Minutemen hoopty. Film School bought the new ride two days before their current tour began, at considerable expense. Unfortunately, their vehicular insurance doesn't cover theft, and the band members' personal insurance will probably only be a slight help.

In the immediate aftermath, the band has had no choice but to cancel last night's gig in Washington, D.C., as well as tonight's show in Providence, Rhode Island. They hope to be able to borrow and rent equipment for the dates beyond that, including SXSW, but those shows remain tentatively scheduled for now. A benefit concert will mostly likely take place once the band returns to San Francisco at the end of the month.

The remaining dates, all tentative:

03-10 Wellesley, MA - Wellesley College
03-11 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
03-12 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
03-14 Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
03-16 Austin, TX - Club de Ville
03-31 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
04-01 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

Anyone with any information about the theft is encouraged to contact the band through their MySpace page. Here are the details of the stolen items:

Ford Econoline 350 Van, with white California plates:
40GT256

Amps:

Fender Deville guitar amp
1970's Fender Twin Reverb silverface, master volume
1970's Ampeg SVT Bass amplifier head
Ampeg SVT 410HLF cabinet

Guitars:

1993 Gibson SG guitar black
1973 Fender Telecaster Deluxe w/humbuckers white w/marble pickguard
1976 Fender Precision Bass Serial #629010 no finish/natural

Effects Pedals:

2 Line 6 Delay DL-4 pedals
Electro-Harmonix Memory Man Deluxe pedal
MXR Distortion pedal
Cry Baby Wah-wah pedal
2 Boss GE-7 Equalizer pedal
1 Boss TU-2 tuner pedal
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff fuzz pedal
Boss TU-12 tuner
Pro-Co Rat distortion pedal
SansAmp Bass DI box
Core One Pedal board
Pedal Pad pedal board

Keyboards:

Kurzweil K2VX keyboard w/sampling option
Boss SP-303 sampler w/power adapter
ART powermix 4 minimixer
Yamaha sustain pedal

Drums:

1966 Ludwig blue sparkle 13", 16", 22"
1964 Ludwig supralite snare 14"
14" Zildjan A series hi-hats
20" Zildjan A series crash
24" Paiste 2002 Dark ride
1 SKB 22" bass drum case
1 SKB 16" floor tom case
1 SKB 14" snare drum case
1 SKB 13" tom case
22" SKB cymbal case
2 Pearl stronglight stands
1 Pearl hi-hat stand
1 Pearl Bass drum pedal