Recurring THON band and State College bar scene favorite ‘Total Whiteout’ had its entire equipment trailer stolen last week, leaving the band at a total loss and $40,000 worth of gear to replace. But after a huge fan mobilization effort and an impromptu fundraiser that raised over $7,000 , the band has recovered around 75 percent of its stuff.

It all began last Tuesday when a trailer containing all of the band’s equipment was cut from the back of a van and stolen outside of a band member’s house in Wayne, PA. The loss was estimated at $40,000 and the group had to cancel its gig that night.

“We just want everybody to know that we are okay, and that the only thing we care about right now is getting enough stuff to get back on the stage and play for you guys. This has been our best summer ever as a band, and we’re going to do everything in our power to not let this heinous act ruin the remaining few weeks of our first true summer on the scene,” the band wrote in a Facebook post. “Insurance isn’t covering any of our stuff, and we’re unable to play the Ocean Drive tonight, but again, if the cowards that took our stuff think that they were going to keep us from pursuing this dream, they can firmly kiss our collective ass.”

The band has many Penn State ties and is a staple during THON weekend. The group, which includes Penn State graduates and former Blue Band members, makes a point to play in State College as often as possible.

Fans and Penn Staters alike answered the call and began scouring Craiglist, eBay, and music shops for gear that might have been resold. A Give Forward fundraiser netted over $8,000 in just two days while the band continued to search. Two days later, the news came — a fan had spotted some of the equipment on the side of a Philadelphia road. In all, about 75 percent of the gear was recovered.

Lead vocalist Eric Henkels posted this (in part) on Facebook:

“I’m humbled, truly, and stunned by all of your guys’ response…my phone has never rang more than in the last 2 days, and every single phone call and text was an offer to help.

“We are just another group of musicians, just another band trying to entertain people and have a good time doing it. The fact that our attitude and our show have reached you guys…it’s just exactly why we do this, and as this whirlwind week continues, we just thank our lucky stars to have so many incredible people in our corner.

“For the 70 of you that have donated (to the Give Forward Fundraiser), we are making T-shirts and signing posters, and we WILL track you down and give them to you for free. We will NOT take no for an answer, people. We WILL find you, and we WILL give you free shit. Believe that.”

It’s hard not to be a fan of a band that loves THON and free shit, and I’m excited that the guys were able to get their stuff back (all in preparation for THON 2014, of course). If you want to check out our Total Whiteout reviews from the last two THONs, here’s 2012 and here’s 2013.