Just when you thought social media brought only despair and hopelessness for the future of humanity, Brisbane’s local music community have banded together to show us it can occasionally be used for positive things as well.
Unfortunately, gear theft is not a recent phenomenon. We’ve written extensively about bands having their gear and even their merch money stolen backstage at venues, from their cars and vans, and even their studios.
Most of the time it’s sayonara and the musos are forced to take to crowdfunding to get their gear back. But as The Music reports, sometimes social media, some concerned fans, and a little bit of detective work can make miracles happen.
According to The Music, after Melbourne duo Kllo launched their new EP at Brisbane’s Black Bear Lodge on Friday night, Gold Coast producer and performer Whisperer took to the gig’s Facebook event page to share some bad news.
According to Whisperer, real name Connor Grant, a hard-case containing $2,000 worth of equipment had been taken from the venue’s green room. Grant accompanied his post with captures from Black Bear Lodge’s CCTV camera, which showed a woman carrying the case out of the venue.
As luck would have it, the woman was identified within the hour. “We have managed to track down the girl in this image and she will be returning the case,” Grant wrote (via The Music). “Once I’ve gotten the gear back I will remove all the posts.”
“Thank-you so much to everyone that shared this image around — an hour ago I was certain I would never see my gear again so it’s crazy that I’ll be getting it back.” Sydney outfit Lepers & Crooks certainly know that feeling.
As we reported in August last year, Lepers & Crooks embarked on an insane, Sherlock Holmes-style mission to recover their gear after it was stolen from their van, the LSD Machine, by a “straggler” who showed up at their after-party following a show.
The boys immediately got to work, spreading word of the robbery amongst locals at the town market, eventually identifying and tracking down the thief, reclaiming their gear, and making it to the next town in time for their gig.
Photo: The Music
