A local band, Sponge, reported that their trailer was broken into and several instruments were stolen after a concert in Silver Spring, Maryland, earlier this week. The band performed at The Fillmore Theatre on Tuesday and was staying at the Holiday Inn in College Park.
The following morning, the band discovered the break-in in the hotel parking lot, where six instruments were taken from their trailer.
Photos shared by the band on social media displayed the damage, including a broken padlock and empty guitar cases scattered on the ground. Guitarist Andy Patalan explained, “They sawed off the locks and just cracked it enough to get the small items out of the back.”
Among the stolen items were four electric guitars and two bass guitars. In response, the band is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the instruments, hoping that someone might spot them at local pawn shops or music stores.
Patalan expressed the band’s desire to recover the instruments without any questions asked, noting that one guitar, in particular, held sentimental value: a vintage 90s Reverend Commando that he described as “kind of irreplaceable.”
The band provided descriptions of the stolen instruments:
- 1990s Reverend Commando, orange/pink sparkle, offset body, cream pickguard
- Reverend Pete Anderson Signature Eastsider S, satin black, with a Railhammer Hyper Vintage bridge pickup
- Reverend Warhawk, avocado/green burst, white pickguard
- Black Fender Stratocaster, made in Corona, CA around 1997-98, serial Z0152378
- Black Fender Jaguar bass
- Black Fender Precision bass
The Prince George’s Police Department has confirmed that they are investigating the burglary.
Sponge, an alternative rock band from Detroit, Michigan, is known for their 1990s hits such as “Plowed,” “Molly (16 Candles),” “Wax Ecstatic,” and “Have You Seen Mary.” They are currently on tour as the supporting act for Candlebox’s “Can’t Quit You Tour.”
After performing in Maryland, the band was scheduled to continue their tour in Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday. In a recent social media post, they expressed gratitude to Candlebox for lending them guitars to ensure the show could proceed.
Patalan mentioned that Reverend Guitars is also sending them some guitars to use for the remainder of the tour. He added, “We’re doing our best to try to protect what we’ve got just to keep going. We’re living on a shoestring budget traveling. We don’t have a road crew or anything, traveling in a van across the country.”
This incident marks the second time Sponge has faced theft while on tour. “Not again, because, like I said, a few years ago, it happened to us,” Patalan remarked. “It feels heartless.”
Despite this setback, Patalan affirmed that the band would not let it deter them from touring or returning to Maryland, stating, “No, we’ll sing a cappella if we have to.”
Their tour is set to continue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, with the final show scheduled for October 30 in Sayreville, New Jersey.
