If this story wasn’t so sad, I could have run with a very lame Vacation plot crammed full of Clark Griswold’s fish-out-of-water hijinks. But because robbery is never funny, and because touring is never relaxing at the best of times (especially when you are far from home and reliant on limited travel possessions for your job and sanity), this news is just plain devastating and depressing. Last week, Chicago noise addixxx Pelican got four bags of belongings stolen from their rental van in Rome while out sightseeing. (The band is currently touring around Europe with Torche.)

I’m pissed when someone steals one of my popsicles from the freezer at work, so I can’t even imagine how shitty it must feel to lose a bunch of personal and professional items. There are always many worthwhile causes vying for your hard-earned money, but if you happen to be particularly flush with extra pocket change this week, donating a few bucks to Pelican would produce a significant karmic rebound. Here’s the statement from the band:

Our otherwise excellent tour of Europe hit a severe stroke of bad luck this week. Two days ago we had a spare half hour to spend in Rome before heading to the venue, so we decided to go see the Coliseum. We parked nearby and went to take a brief twenty minute walk around the area. When we returned to our van we found that it had been broken into, despite being parked on a major street in broad daylight. Four bags were stolen, the contents including computers, passports, wallets, ipods, our soundguy’s microphone collection, and, most devastatingly, a number of personal journals and two portable recording devices containing hours of song ideas that are now lost forever.

The calculated loss of this theft is several thousands of dollars. Unfortunately our band only earns us a very meager living and some of us are already in the hole from years of trying to make a living as musicians. This incident therefore poses a devastating loss and puts us in a very compromised financial position. Although we realize that there is a worldwide financial crisis going on, if there are those of you who have the means and desire to help out our gratitude would run deeper than words could express. We’ve set up a Paypal account at the address pelicanrobbed@gmail.com. Anything you can offer, even simple condolences, would go a long way. Thanks so much for reading.

Remaining dates:

10.06.08 - Stuttgart, Germany - Club Schocken * 10.07.08 - Paris, France - Glazart * 10.08.08 - Tourcoing, France - Le Grand Mix * 10.09.08 - Vitry-le-François, France - Orange Bleue * 10.10.08 - Cologne, Germany - MTC * 10.11.08 - Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique * 10.12.08 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Waterfront * 10.28.08 - Mt. Clemens, MI - Hayloft 10.29.08 - Columbus, OH - Ravari Room 10.30.08 - Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall 11.01.08 - Allston, MA - Harper’s Ferry 11.02.08 - New York, NT - Bowery Ballroom 11.03.08 - Milford, CT - Daniel Street 11.04.08 - Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar 11.05.08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat 11.06.08 - Harrisonburg, VA - Blue Nile 11.07.08 - Charlottesville, VA - Outback Lodge 11.08.08 - Raleigh, NC - The Brewery 11.09.08 - Atlanta, GA - The Drunken Unicorn 11.10.08 - Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits 11.11.08 - Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds 11.13.08 - Tampa, FL - Orpheum 11.14.08 - Orlando, FL - The Social - Anti*Pop 08 11.15.08 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room 11.17.08 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone Cafe 11.18.08 - Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasant’s 11.19.08 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean 11.21.08 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon 11.22.08 - DeKalb, IL - House Cafe

* Torche