After spending two weeks on the road playing shows across the western U.S., Vancouver band Chase the Bear awoke on Sunday, Oct. 20, ready to head home to Canada.
They walked out of their hotel in Tukwila, Washington (near Seattle), and found their parking spot.
But their van, Baloo, a big black Ford E350, wasn't there.
Stolen van
"At first I thought maybe it was impounded; maybe we parked in the wrong spot," drummer and singer Conner Brooks tells V.I.A.
After checking with the hotel and local lots, they realized the van, filled with thousands of dollars worth of gear, was missing.
"At the time it was hilarious; we couldn't believe it," Brooks says.
The Seattle show had been the last of a trip that included dates across the region, including in Nevada, Utah, and Oregon. After travelling thousands of miles, the six-person band was returning to Canada for a couple of weeks before heading out for a couple more shows.
"We had this really great gig, probably the best on the tour, for sure," says Brooks.
The van, which they've owned for years, was in poor shape and only worth a few thousand dollars, but the gear inside was worth much more. Some of it is also more difficult to replace.
Guitarist Leo Gilmore had sold all of his other guitars to buy a $4,500 Gibson Les Paul, and Jordan Phillips, the other guitarist, had built his own Telecaster.
Luckily, family members were travelling with them for the show, and the band, after making their police report, returned to Canada.
Found van
On Oct. 22, Chase the Bear got some good news.
Balloo, the missing van, had been found in a parking lot in neighbouring Kent, Washington.
However, it wasn't all good news.
Much of the gear was gone.
Oddly, the thief had absconded with some of the equipment but left other items.
"They left the cymbals, the drum kit; they left the cash that was in our merch bin," Brooks says. "They left a Nintendo Switch."
He notes it seems random what they did take. The expensive instruments are still missing, Brooks says, but so is the band's custom sign that says "Chase the Bear."
Guitar pedals and heads are still missing, too, as are the bass guitar, snare drum, and more.
Brooks says they're checking online marketplaces and pawn shops to see if their gear shows up, but so far haven't had any luck.
Moving forward: Will the band's stolen gear turn up?
When they realized the van had been stolen, Brooks says the Chase the Bear members mostly found it funny.
"It felt like we were part of some dumb movie," he says.
Now, though, the weight of the loss is setting in.
"It's just tough getting back to real life," Brooks says. "We're left wondering if the gear is going to show up."
In the meantime, they're taking some action. They've done an interview with a Seattle news channel about the missing gear; they're looking online, and there's a GoFundMe in place to raise funds to replace items.
Seeing donations come in from the community has helped lift spirits, Brooks notes.
However, they do have some shows coming up (back in the U.S.) at the end of November that they have to prepare for.
"We're going to be relying on other bands for a little bit of stuff," says Brooks, noting Seattle band Yeti Set Go has already offered some gear.
They're also considering a fundraiser concert in Vancouver, but haven't found a venue yet. They're also open to sponsorships from gear companies.
In the midst of all this, the band also released a new music video.
"We've got a new song and music video, 'S**t Show,'" says Brooks. "If people want to check that out, that helps too."
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