STRUNG OUT RETURNS TO PERDITION
Strung Out Returns to Perdition
The last time Strung Out came to Virginia Beach began a string of some very bad luck for everyone involved with the band. Now, some seven months
after, they are hoping not to have a repeat performance of their last engagement.
"Every time we've been here it's always been amazing, but there's always some crazy drunk mishaps," said Bass Player Chris Aiken. "Last time we were
here was a lot of drunken mishaps, tire mishaps, beach mishaps, waffle mishaps, but this time we're here to rock and have a good time and hang out
with all our friends out here in Virginia Beach."
It was October of last year when the band came for two shows at the beach. It was October of last year when the drunken mishaps started the train
wreck that wouldn't seem to stop. Drummer Jordan Burns said it was a great show, though there were some pints being put away.
"For the people that were here, they know it was a crazy night," he said. "It was basically one of the band's, certain people in the band's, most
drunk show ever. It was out of control, the place was packed, and all the guys were just simply fucking wasted. The crowd went insane. It was a mess
but somehow we made it through."
Burns said though they made it through the set, the insanity continued into the streets of Virginia Beach outside the Peppermint Beach Club.
"It was afterwards that things started getting crazy," he said. "There was stupidity that happened and to try and sum it up, our guitar tech got
arrested. I mean he was so drunk that night he stupidly...umm...did something stupid and he got arrested for it and it was a really, stupid, petty
crime that he should have been released in the morning for and they ended up holding him for a week."
Favio Montes, Strung Out's guitar tech was the culprit in the heinous crime.
"I was all drunk as fuck and I fucked up two bike tires," he said. "That's it though."
According to Montes and Burns, two bicycle tires were slashed during the drunken stupor, which led to the arrest of Montes. But that wasn't where the
entanglements with the local authorities would end. Strung Out ran into another confrontation with the Virginia Beach police.
"The one cop was such an asshole," Burns said. "We were the only people on the whole entire street. We were loading our equipment and they cited us
with a $120 parking ticket and that was the first night. We thought we were going to pick up Favio the next morning and they wouldn't let him out of
jail and we had to leave and go on to the next show."
Favio, stuck in jail, while the band moved on to the next destination, would continue to encounter troubles with the Virginia legal system.
"First they wouldn't give me bail because I was from California," he said. "Then when I went back the second time for my trial and everything, they
tried to give me six months in jail, fines, three years probation, and alcohol and anger management classes."
He believed that his personal appearance coupled with latin heritage ultimately created a great deal of prejudice against him from his imprisoners.
Burns agreed.
"I think they looked at him and they made an example of him," he said. "He had a mohawk, he's all tatt'd out, and he's Mexican."
"That's what it felt like," Favio laughed. "That's what it really came down to. Because when the cop came, that's what he said. He's like 'where's the
guy with the mohawk and the tattoos' looking for me, pointed me out, came over, acted like a dick. I went and saw the magistrate and he comes up to me
and he's like 'what happened to your hair?' That's the first thing he fucking says to me so fuck the Virginia Beach police department."
But as the band strived on without Favio, their run of bad luck continued.
"The next show (after Virginia Beach) our drum tech blew his ear drum so he ended up in the hospital," Burns said. "Then, the next day was when our
van and trailer with all of our equipment got stolen."
Following their show at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, the band stayed at a cheap motel in North Philly, in a questionable neighborhood and their truck
and trailer disappeared. Though they were both recovered later, everything inside both was gone. Guitars, drums, amps, PA equipment, recording
equipment, personal effects, gone...to never again be recovered. All this while Favio still sat in jail in Virginia.
"It sucked because everything Favio owned was in the van and trailer," Burns said. "That included all of his bags, his brand new computer, tools, and
a brand new Gretsch guitar."
Most bands after losing so much in a matter of days would call it a day. But Burns said all this misfortune did not deter them from completing the
tour.
"We didn't stop," he said. "We continued and we did finish out that whole tour. Evergreen Terrace helped us out tremendously, so did I Am Ghost, and
we finished the whole tour and felt good that we just didn't get shut down. We did what it took to keep going, and yeah, it felt good to do that and
pull it off."
When they were finally finished, their sponsors were very supportive and provided them with equipment to replace the stolen gear. Ultimately, it was
the support of the fans that made the difference.
"Our fans helped out big time too," Burns said. "We had a big benefit show at home.and raised a bunch of money and bought everyone back new pieces of
certain things they needed. We actually surprised Favio with a brand new Gretsch guitar, the same exact, identical one that he got ripped off and he
was in tears. It was awesome."
Favio owned up to shedding a few, and said the band was completely supportive in his battle with the legal system.
"Oh man," he joked. "These guys helped me out so much through everything. Through the actual court thing, the whole band helped me out with money just
to get over to Virginia. With all my legal fees, my money, y'know everything...everything. They just helped me out and were behind me fucking 100%."
Strung Out flowed $2500 to their sound guy to help replace his lost equipment as well, who also teared up from the unexpected kindness. Burns said
that though the incident at the beach was poor judgment, the punishment did not fit the crime.
"The thing is no one in the band, or even Favio himself I'm sure, doesn't condone what was done, but it was a petty crime. It was a total of $50, call
it $100 damage at most and I just couldn't understand how do you not get out of jail on a petty crime like that. What they did to him was just
ridiculous. The whole ordeal cost him over $7000 in lawyers and plane tickets flying back and forth. The Virginia Beach police department here is not
too nice."
Now back in the state that caused him time and money, Favio decided to go back on his oath.
"Well, I said I wasn't going to drink but I don't think that's going to help," he laughed. "I think I'm still going to drink. I'll hide back in a
corner and I'll be all right."
The band was happy to be back in the Commonwealth, but even happier to be away from the craziness at the oceanfront, in a more intimate setting away
from all the fanfare of the resort area.
"I'm actually glad that we're not down by the beach and that we're away from everything," Burns said. "We got cool parking here. It seems like it's
going to be a bit of a different vibe. We've always had good shows here and I think when things happen you don't ever necessarily take it out on the
people that want to come see your band. People were always saying 'are you guys gonna come back to Philly?' and it's like, 'well yeah...you guys, the
fans didn't screw us.'"
The stop at Steppin' Out in Virginia Beach was part of their U.S. tour with Pennywise, which wrapped in June. They had just returned from a European
tour with some heavier outfits.
"We've been touring with a lot of hardcore bands," Burns said. "We had Evergreen Terrace out with us on that last October tour. We just got done
touring with Ignite and Terror over in Europe. It was awesome. We shared a bus with Terror and we had just met those guys and we had a blast."
The event was also a kind of east-coast, west coast family reunion as well. Guitarist Rob Ramos is cousin to legendary frontman Jimmy G of Murphy's
Law, who also played the bill. This show also marked the start of Murphy's Law's three month, sixty-five stop tour of the U.S. but the band has
designs to continue touring all year if they can.
"We just started our tour off and it's amazing," said guitarist Felipe Lithgow. "Our last show is August 16 with Rancid and then from there our goal
is to continue as long as everybody lets us continue to do this. Hopefully, to continue to New Years."
Lithgow, originally from Miami, said he digs being in the area and at the beach, and may prolong their stay.
"We're going to stay in Virginia for 2 or 3 months, bro," he joked.
Local punk band No Brass had the opportunity to open for Murphys Law and Strung Out and were excited to share the stage with two of the country's
premiere punk acts.
"It's a dream come true to get to play," said drummer Max Korman. "Strung Out, I've been listening to for a long time and just to be able to play with
them alone is like awesome and then Murphys Law put on one of the best hardcore shows. Jimmy just came up and introduced himself like he was just some
guy at the show, like totally down to earth guy."
Vocalist Jason Cruz and bassist Chris Aiken were found jamming in the back of their recently recovered trailer outside Steppin' Out. They were working
on a song they dubbed "Backyard Trailer Blues." Aiken was excited about the upcoming Australian trip that followed the tour with Pennywise.
"It's like our ninth or tenth time out there," he said. "Australia is like our second home. We go down there almost every year now since 2001. We have
a great fan base out there, a lot of solid friends, good guys, and it just keeps getting better and better out there for us."
Aiken said they try to hit the Barbary Coast whenever they can. It had only been seven months since they had last been down under and their first two
shows of their 23 stops will be in New Zealand.
"We were just out there last November with Bad Religion which I think really helped us and now we're going out there this time with our label mates,
No Use For A Name, so it should be a good Fat Wreck Chords tour, y'know. We're doing every city out there, all the major cities and all the smaller
cities."
A new album is definitely in the works for the band. The back of the trailer is just as good a place for creativity as any, according to Aiken.
"We're just working on ideas right now as you came up and witnessed," he said. "Me and Jason are just working on random thoughts, random ideas,
y'know, and just hanging out. We'll definitely be working on a new album, but we'll keep you guys in suspense until then."
Inspiration for crafting songs is a unique process for performers. Some need a familiar place, some thrive in the studio, some find comfort elsewhere.
"We always just record songs at home or on the road," Aiken said. "Sometimes when you're on the road you get the most inspired, sometimes when you're
at home you get the most inspired, so just always have a guitar nearby to go with it."
"The best thing said all day," Cruz chimed. "Always have a guitar nearby. Let's end it on that."
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