Total Loss for Shane Smith & The Saints After Bus Fire
All members of Texas music band Shane Smith and the Saints are safe and accounted for, but their bus and gear trailer are completely destroyed, along with most all of the contents after it caught fire Thursday (11-21) en route to a show Thursday night in Lubbock. However, the show must go on, and at time of posting, the band is still planning to honor Thursday night’s performance at Cook’s Garage, and is en route to the show.
“They were in Coleman, TX en route for the show tonight, and were waved down by passers by that there was something wrong,” says the band’s booking agent, Jeb Hurt of Red 11. “So they pulled over, and as these things tend to happen, they got out, were able to see that there was some flames coming out from underneath the bus, and within a matter of minutes, the bus was engulfed. Shane said that by the time the fire department got there, it had done what it had done. The bus was burning out. It was just a matter of minutes.”
Shane Smith and the Saints owned the bus and trailer, and had purchased it just under a year ago. Along with the loss of the bus comes the loss of all of their instruments, their merchandise, and personal possessions.
“Everyone’s safe, and nobody was injured, everyone got out. But I don’t even know if we got everyone’s cell phones out. It looks like so far it’s a total loss,” says Jeb Hurt. “The flames extended to the trailer, and the trailer ignited, and the interior contents of the trailer ignited, and then the rest of the damage was from the water and putting the fire out. They did have insurance, but who knows what’s covered here and there. You can’t insure emotions and attachments, but the good news was everything was taken care of in advance of something like this happening, financially at least.”
As soon as the bus was out and everyone had calmed their nerves, the band members immediately began to try and figure out how they could still honor their commitment to the fans in Lubbock, and immediately started trying to line up gear and transportation to make the Thursday night show.
“In typical Saints fashion, they were able to get back to Brownwood, TX, they were able to get into an RV, and are en route to Lubbock for the show at Cook’s Garage,” Jeb Hurt says. “They are trying to keep all three shows on the books this weekend, and right now that is the plan.”
Shane Smith and the Saints have shows booked at the Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City on Friday (11-22), and at The Cotillion Ballroom Saturday (11-23) in Wichita, KS. When they take the stage, they will have one hell of a story to tell, and luckily everyone is okay to tell it.
The five-piece Shane Smith and the Saints is based out of Austin, TX, and has been a big part of the Texas music scene for nearly 10 years now. They just released their third full length album Hail Mary earlier this year. Hailed for their energetic live shows and moody sound, they’ve garnered a strong following in Texas music and beyond.
November 21, 2019 @ 4:57 pm
Thats awful, I’ve met them a few times and they are the nicest guys, always took the time to talk and hang long after the show ended. Glad they are all ok.
November 21, 2019 @ 5:38 pm
Damn… Not being one of them, it’s still hard to wrap your head around this one. Hopefully they can get things replaced, and find viable replacements for the things that were unique and otherwise irreplaceable. Unrelated to the incident, in my opinion, unless something truly amazing comes along in the next month, Hail Mary is well ahead in points for album of the year.
November 21, 2019 @ 6:44 pm
These guys are so good. Glad to hear everyone is ok. Instruments and equipment can be replaced.
Massively underrated kick ass group 👍
November 21, 2019 @ 7:32 pm
Absolutely terrible but thank God everyone is ok.
November 22, 2019 @ 6:40 am
Never heard of then before this so I looked them up on You Tube- I like them!
Sorry to read about their bad luck.
November 22, 2019 @ 8:04 am
This is terrible, but I’m glad everyone is ok. That is the most important thing. Is there any sort of fundraiser for the group? I know one of the FB groups is doing something. I’d be happy to chip in to efforts. If not, I’ll go and buy some of their merch.
November 22, 2019 @ 8:56 am
There has been some talk of fundraising and such. I will have an update on this story if and when one is available. I am in the loop with their management and publicity team.
November 22, 2019 @ 12:01 pm
I’d absolutely throw in for direct fundraising to help them. And I’m also with Mack on the album of the year so far. Been a huge fan, will be, wanna help. Please let us know if something is available aside from just buying merch.
November 22, 2019 @ 1:49 pm
Just saw them at Cheatham Street Warehouse a couple weeks ago (and the following night with WCG at Floore’s) and just about had a heart attack when that bus pic turned up on my instagram feed. So glad they are OK.
November 23, 2019 @ 4:44 am
I flew out from Florida for both of those shows! I had wanted to see them and WCG for years, and it was worth every penny.
If a big benefit show happens I would definitely consider making another trip out there to support it.
November 22, 2019 @ 1:56 pm
Hadn’’t heard of them but once I heard about this tragedy, I went to their website and bought their album. Not much help to them, but a show of support. Might be a nice way for folks to show their concern. I wrote to them and got an email back saying
“ Thank you for ordering, Terrence! It’s so appreciated by the guys, the outpouring of support has been phenomenal.”
Country Music still is a family!!
November 22, 2019 @ 3:27 pm
Great to know that they are all okay. This band is so committed to making and performing great music. I remember seeing them last year and one of them was performing onstage with a broken leg having been injured in a mortorcycle accident a week or two before. They won’t let this fire stop them from doing what they do so well.
November 22, 2019 @ 5:02 pm
Hope the show went off well at Cook’s Garage, such a cool venue, hoping they got a good crowd.