BREAKING NEWS: Phosphorescent’s stolen van recovered, complete with gear!

Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent.

In a matter of days, Matthew Houck and his band Phosphorescent have had their lives turned upside down and now, suddenly, uprighted again!

The band publicist announced Tuesday morning that the Brooklyn-by-way-of-Athens, Ga., band’s rental van, stolen from a Greenpoint, Brooklyn, street last Thursday night, hast turned up, complete and unharmed.

Phosphorescent’s publicists at 7-10 Music just blasted this note from the band:

this is insane!
the police have recovered the van
and
all of our gear is in there
and appears to be un-damaged

speechless right now,
more soon, love phos

note from label/management: we will of course return everyone’s generous donations. thanks so much for your love and support!

If you missed the backstory to this amazing turnaround, click through to the jump.
Let’s take a step back. Here’s how 7-10 Music broke the news to the world last Friday:

Last night, after an amazing show at Pier 54 in New York City, Phosphorescent’s rental van -along with all of their equipment – was stolen from outside a residence in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Last night’s show was the first night of their scheduled six-weeks US Tour.  Among the stolen items was Matthew Houck’s custom, irreplaceable 1955 Gibson ES-125 guitar, vintage amplifiers, and a vintage pedal steel with losses totaling around $40,000.  If anyone has ANY information or leads on what might have happened, or if you see any of this gear in pawn shops, on Craigslist, etc, please call the NY Police Department, Vector Management, or anyone you think might be able to help recover this gear.  The van rental company is insured – they are covered for their van and are therefore not greatly concerned with recovering it.  Phosphorescent DOES care though, greatly, about recovering any of this gear possible, and about right now figuring out how to rally up and make this US Tour happen.  Anything anyone can do to help would be simply amazing.  We have set up a Paypal account for anyone wishing to donate funds to help replace gear – anything helps.  We will be sending updates about the upcoming tour dates ASAP.  Thanks in advance for any goodwill and assistance and thank you for your support over the years.

PAYPAL DONATIONS CAN BE MADE HERE.

Vector Management:
Nick Stern
p: 212.317.2323
nick@vectormgmt.com

STOLEN EQUIPMENT LIST:
MOST OF THIS GEAR IS IN STANDARD BLACK ROADCASES
STENCILED WITH “PHOSPHORESCENT” OR “PHOS”
IN LARGE WHITE LETTERS

GUITARS:
1955 Gibson ES-125 Hollow-body Electric
1968 Gibson EB-3 Bass with slotted headstock (brown)
197? Fender Stratocaster – Custom, Blonde wood finish. No brand names or markings anywhere.
197? Emmons Pedal Steel Guitar – Push-Pull Model

AMPS:
1973 Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface) w/ Indian Sun Worshipper Tapestry affixed to grillplate
1978 Music Man 112 RD500 Custom Amp w/ 10″ Speaker
SWR Workingman’s Bass Amp
196? Fender Deluxe Reverb

PEDALS:
(1) Line 6 DL4 Delay Pedal
(2) Fulltone Full-Drive 2 Mosfet
(1) Electro Harmonix Holy Grail Plus
(1) Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff
(2) Electro Harmonix 80’s Memory Man Deluxe
(1) MXR Power Amp Pedal
(2) Boss TU-2 Tuner
(1) MXR Phase 90, CSP-026
(1) Fender Tuning Pedal

DRUMS:
DW “Collectors Series” Drum Kit – Black Matte finish
22″ kick drum
16″ floor tom
12″ rack tom
14″ Yamaha, Anton Fig snare drum, with maple hoops
(1) Ludwig boom cymbal stand
(2) yamaha boom cymbal stands
(1) DW9000 Hi-Hat pedal, DW7000 kick pedal
(1) Yamaha, double braced snare stand
(1) Ludwig double braced snare stand
(1) Ludwig drum throne/stool.
(1) 20″ Zyldjian Constantinople ride cymbal
(1) 17in Zildjian A Custom crash cymbal
(2) Zildjian Constantinople Hi-Hats (paired)

OTHER ITEMS:
Black Arai Profile Full-face Motorcycle Helmet
Durango Boots – Brown Harness Boots

MERCHANDISE:
Approximately:
150 Vinyl (To WIlle/Pride/Here’s to Taking it Easy)
150 CD’s (To WIlle/Pride/Here’s to Taking it Easy)
100 PHOSPORESCENT “LION” T-shirts

Fans stepped forward quickly to help out. And Houck was gratified by the outpouring of support. On Monday, he was effusive in his praise for all the support:

Waking up Friday morning
To find that the tools for your trade
Everything you’d pieced together and worked for
And collected for over a decade (!)
Was gone
Just like that
Was one hell of a feeling

Anger, disgust, sadness
Etc etc etc…
I think
There’s no need
To elaborate on this part

But here’s the part
That does need
Some elaboration:

Thank You
Everyone

So many people,
Friends and strangers
Have stepped forward
So quickly and with such generosity
It has transformed this thing
Into a truly amazing and heartwarming
Affirmation of community and love and spirit;
Good vibes and support arriving from far and near
And I want to express how humbled and
Tremendously appreciative
We all are

We had to reschedule
The first two shows;
Toronto, Buffalo,
We were really looking forward to getting up there
and we will get back up there as soon possible

But the rest of the shows are on!

We are re-grouped
And re-saddled
And ready to ride

Want to give a big shout out to
Tom and Garrett and everybody down at Main Drag Music
And Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear
And Eben Bull and Mike Bones from Sian Alice Group
For loaning, fixing, and building (!) amps and guitars for us to use
And I cannot say thankyou enough
To everyone who sent donations and well-wishes
Your kindness and open-hearted support
Has re-awakened in me
That sense of community and spirit
That can get clouded and covered
When, from time to time
On this cruise
You may find yourself
A little jaded and weary

Columbus Ohio,
And all points forward –
We’re on our way

We’ll be seen yall soon
We can’t wait to see you all out there
And thank you in person

Or to quote that awesome guy
from the mountains on the internet;

Double rainbow!
All the way across the sky
It’s a Double.
Complete.
Rainbow.
Whoa!
Whoahhh
Ohhhhhh

Love,
MH