As if beginning a band wasn't hard enough--the travel and financials aren't exactly luxurious--our local acts have to deal with this shit.

Stpetersblog's Ted Flynn is also a member of Petrograd in Transit (whom you many have heard me write about them a few times, or two).  Via the Splog's latest post, Ted and his fellow bandmates were burglar victims via their rehearsal space at Audio Lab, 1201 W. Hilsborough Ave, Tampa.  From the details Ted gives, this has to be an inside job, likely some dopshit metal gear head who's only redeaming quality is a mullet worthy of humiliation and my entertainment.

From Stpetersblog:

Those of you who know anything about the ultra white hot post-rock scene in this city probably also know that Audio Labs is the home of Petrograd in Transit, as well as a whole crapload of other good Tampa bands.  Well, ok, there’s the requisite overabundance of Cookie Monster Brutal Viking Metal bands in there, too, but I guess a crime like this makes us all brothers and sisters.  Or something.

Somewhere around nine rooms got broken into.  Cut locks.  Broken doors.  And one sad, mostly useless surveillance camera more or less put out of its misery.  I don’t know everything that got stolen.  My beer got stolen, for starters.  One thing I do know for sure that was stolen was Petrograd in Transit’s bass player’s bass.  This is no ordinary bass, people.  It’s a vintage Kramer bass with an aluminum neck and a split headstock.  That shit is space age, and it looks exaclty like this:

If you have any tips, feel free to Myspace the band or me.  This bass is so distinct that if you see it not in the above man's hands, just bash whomever is holding it.  Keep in mind this is not just a crime against a band, it deprives all of us local music fans of a fantastic show.  Petrograd had to cancel tonight's show at Kelly's.   Seriously though, if you are involved in the local pawn industry, please spread the word.  Also, keep an eye out on Craigslist or ebay.