by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Every time I hear about a band getting their gear jacked, I’m utterly heartbroken. Although we aren’t quite as bad as New York City or Vancouver yet, Montreal is definitely getting a bad reputation for sticky-fingered, pin-eyed lowlife thieves. Just ask the Sainte Catherines, Camper Van Beethoven and a plethora of other bands that have been royally ripped off in our fair city.

The majority of musicians here, no different than other cities, are financially strapped, and affording insurance (if you can even qualify for it) is out of the question. After paying for rehearsal space, gear, recording and so on, one B&E of a rehearsal space can be utterly devastating for a band. Just look around—the increasing number of pawnshops is directly proportionate to the increased popularity of hard drugs, so it looks like things are just getting worse. I’m not saying that all thieves are junkies, or vice versa, but…

The sad reality is that when the pawnshops receive equipment they know to be stolen, they just warehouse it, wait for things to cool down and sell it out of province on the net. But if you happen to see your equipment in the store, you have no legal recourse and must buy it back like anybody else off the street. This ass-backwards law, for some reason, is exclusive to Quebec.

The most recent victims to fall prey to this shit is the Adam Brown, after quickly setting up a show and supplying gear for Japan’s Zoobombs at le Divan Orange during Pop Montreal. Cymbals that were passed down by their drummer’s father, as well as pedals, snares etc., were stolen, either on St-Laurent out front of the club or in Pointe Claire later that night. If I haven’t penetrated your callous heart yet, let me also mention that the Adam Brown are probably the nicest bunch of fellas you’re likely to meet and have a history of helping other bands out.

“I know a lot of people may not think it’s much,” says the Adam Brown’s guitarist and stillepost.ca bigwig Shawny Petsche, “but we had a series of misfires that just kept happening that week and we were feeling like a defeated band already. Then, when that happened, it was like a punch in the gut. We actually did have a meeting about just packing it in after that.”

With plenty of people banding together, a benefit show was quickly organized last Saturday night at la Sala Rossa, with over 200 people showing up, digging deep and giving till it hurts to replace the stolen equipment. “It was just amazing. There was a guy who donated $20 and refused to accept any money back and then after the show he chased us down and made us take another $20. That really means a lot to us. It was easily the best show we have ever played and we raised more than three times what we were expecting. I’d just like to really, really thank the people that showed up and the bands that played. It was just amazing. After such an out pouring of generosity we’ll never be able to call it quits now.”

CHOP OFF THEIR HANDS! jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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