Band's gear ends up in river
FLOATING in the Fitzroy River; that's where the city's reputation for music events may end up after a Brisbane band's tale of "that time in Rocky".
In the river was where Midnight in Alaska's equipment, including a rare guitar and a $12,000 drum kit, ended up before the band had the chance to perform last weekend.
The five members checked into a motel after arriving from Gladstone in the early hours of Saturday morning.
After a sleep, they woke to find the hire trailer, containing music equipment also belonging to another band, was missing.
They went to police to report the theft and were later told that the trailer was found near the river.
Back in Brisbane yesterday, band manager Harley Clark said the band members found most of the equipment - guitars, amps and drums, covered in mud or floating in water after retrieving the trailer.
He said the hire van was also ransacked and had mud though it.
"Half of the gear was missing but the most valuable gear was in the river; they are idiots," he said.
Despite the misfortune, anger and frustration of members, the band was still keen to play a show, and was able to borrow gear from another band and restore faith in the town.
"We borrowed gear from one of the bands that played before us; they helped us out a lot," he said.
"The people that came were really cool; we had one guy that gave us $300 in cash as a donation."
Harley said the band had one of the best weekends and already made plans to come back before heading off to Sweden to record an album.
"It was one of the best weekends of shows we've had in Australia," he said.
"It has not made a bad impression and we are trying to make sure no one else thinks that.
"As much as it was the worst weekend, it was actually the best weekend too."
Friends and fans in Brisbane have also given donations and are organising fundraising shows in support.
