Members of Kill Hannah posted on Facebook and Twitter this morning that their van – along with their trailer, gear, and merch – was stolen overnight from their Philadelphia hotel parking lot.   (Update: Official press release for Kill Hannah’s stolen gear, including descriptions.)  While a traumatic experience regardless, this comes little over a year after a bus fire claimed all of the band’s personal possessions while on tour in Europe.  At that time, their trailer was spared.

Philadelphia has hardly shown brotherly love to visiting musicians of late.  Band Mae were also recently victims of a similar crime – likely by the same responsible party, as the thefts occurred at the same hotel.

It seems lately that every month the blogosphere passes around the story of a band whose fifteen-passenger van and white trailer made them a sitting duck for someone trying to make a quick profit: Anberlin,  Poison The Well, A Static Lullaby, Men Women And Children, as well as many lesser-known acts.

Aside from pricey equipment and auto parts, however, these thieves are stealing livelihoods.  Many touring musicians carry literally everything they own with them on tour.  (Surely people who own more than 3 outfits would wear them – right?)  They may not even have a permanent residence, using their parents’ house or crashing with friends in between tours.  It gives one something to think about when debating whether or not to drop $10 on a band’s CD, or if that T-shirt is really worth it.

Bands give up a lot to tour and entertain.  A certain amount of hardship comes with the choice of an artist’s life, but it seems especially unfair when circumstances happen to make things that much more difficult.

Fans are usually the first to leap to action to help their beloved bands.  As they did last October, Kill Hannah fans are collecting donations to help the band replace their gear.  Mae also set up a donation link to help offset costs to replace their van and trailer.

Kill Hannah are still going forward with plans for their annual New Heart For Xmas show as well.

I admire the bands who have pressed on through these calamities, playing on borrowed gear and trusting the generosity of friends, family, and fans to replace the material things.   It’s much harder to replace the security and trust that is broken when something like this happens.