This always just breaks my heart. I’ve only got 4 guitars, most of which I barely play, but if any single one of them were stolen I’d be crushed. Imagine having all of your stuff EVER including guitars you’ve had forever, thousands of dollars worth of amplification and other gear AND your clothes and fucking everything you own stolen. THAT’s what just happened to Poison the Well. I can’t even imagine. Yet the guys have the goodwill and positive outlook to soldier on and say, “Pissed about our gear and passionate about this band as ever.” From their MySpace blog:

So this morning we woke up at our delightful Marriot Courtyard hotel (priceline, get into it) and walked outside to get in the van to head to Chicago for our second show of the tour. Only problem, it isn’t there.

Either someone is pulling some Merlin shit on us and just waiting for the perfect moment to unveil it and calm our shot nerves, or a talented scumbag stole our van and trailer with literally everything we own inside. Needless to say, we’re crushed. Our most beloved instruments are gone, and trust me, we’re gear nerds. After a great deal of scrambling and deliberation, we found a way to stay on tour, after a few days off to get some gear and a rental van together. Having something like this happen is the worst thing that can happen to any band short of someone dying, and we’re incredibly stoked to finish this tour with Billy Talent and play every night doing what we love. Our most sincere thanks to everyone who offered to help us in any way, our friends mean the world to us and everyone who has reached out today is absolutely mind blowing. Huge huge ups to Adam, Dave, and Jackie at Yeah!, the entire Ferret Records Family (Carl cause hes got the cash and Rick cause he calls the shots), Issac and the entire Indie Merch and Jakprints family, Tour Dog Leasing and Rental (thanks for driving to detroit to come get us), Jimmy and First Act Guitars, Russel Blair and Orange Amps, Derek at Ernie Ball, Tyme Rogers and Tech 21, Evan Obrien and Korg, Scott Uchida and Jim Dunlop, Jon “Shabba on the spot” Linton, John “Badge” Chidley. Some of these people have always helped us out and are further making our lives better. Some of these people barely know us and have helped us this with this shit time. If you want to help out, we’ll have a limited edition shirt online sometime soon that makes fun of our situation and is awesome, and all proceeds from that will go to wiping away our tears and some new tumbleweeds for the insides of our wallets. See you in a couple days. Pissed about our gear and passionate about this band as ever. Love, PTW

I like the idea of a limited edition t-shirt as opposed to a simple PayPal donation. I’ve definitely donated cash to bands that have been victims of crime before, and not that I really need another t-shirt — but somehow it feels less sketchy this way. As soon as we know more about when and where you can get this shirt / donate, you will.

-VN

*The above is, quite obviously, not Poison the Well’s van.