Pitchfork

Airlines these days. No electronics, no liquids, and now, no Ariel Pink/Holy Shit tour.

Due to "all of this terrorist bullshit" (quoth a MySpace bulletin statement), all of the bands' necessary touring luggage was lost, leaving Ariel Pink and Holy Shit stranded in Europe without equipment to play shows.

According to Holy Shit's Matt Fishbeck who spoke with Pitchfork via e-mail, both Pink and Corey Lee Granet, the bands' most experienced European tour-goers, were forced to abandon the tour due to a lack of tapes and an abundance of stress.

The remaining members of Holy Shit are attempting to stick things out. The aforementioned MySpace bulletin asked readers for assistance with accommodations between Hyres and Paris, France (Fishbeck said the message worked beautifully for lodging there, and even clothes!), transportation, and recommendations as to what to do. Now, however, Holy Shit (sans Ariel) are trying to work things out for two London gigs tomorrow night (one for Resonance FM and one at Proud Gallery Camden), and could use help there with gear and crash space. A hot meal probably wouldn't be looked down upon, either.

Anybody with something to offer should e-mail Fishbeck here. He will respond with a gear list if necessary. Other contacts include Ariel Pink, Granet, Kate Stewart, and Emily Jane. The status of HS stints further along the European trek (Barcelona, Paris...all TBA) is still pending.

Shortly after Fishbeck contacted Pitchfork, we heard from associate Kate Stewart. She explained, "The 'foiled terrorist attacks' (which will prove to be so convenient to our government) created such havoc and chaos at the airport in Heathrow that our bags failed to join us on the same plane to France. The only possessions we were allowed were Ziplock bags containing our passports and money."

She asks that any readers working with the British Airways baggage claim department please have the missing luggage sent to L.A., especially Ariel's backtracks and Fishbeck's Omnichord.

We've also learned that the "underwear situation does not look good. Several of us (who shall remain nameless) have developed a serious rash." Shitty.

The bands were able to play France's Midi Festival last weekend with equipment borrowed from Gang Gang Dance, First Nation, and Haucshka. Ariel even gave an a capella performance.

Stewart also warned that Apartment, a gallery in Berlin, promised shelter, pay, gear, and a "celebrity-studded" crowd to the bands in exchange for a show. The venue pulled out of the agreement last minute after the bands refused to provide credit card numbers. "If anyone knows anything about this shop's business practices happening to other artists it might be good to look into," she said.

We wish everyone involved the best of luck, and are currently giving the middle finger to terrorism.

Whether or not this will have an effect on Ariel Pink's September tour of Australia is up in the air.

Dates:

09-27 Melbourne, Australia - East Brunswick Club
09-29 Newcastle, Australia - Second Summit Festival
10-01 Sydney, Australia - Spectrum
10-03 Melbroune, Australia - Missing Link Records (in-store)
10-05 Adelaide, Australia - Rocket Bar