Hellacious L.A.

A Scribe Amidst the Lions singer/guitarist Kristofer Towne says the band was unloading before a recent gig at L.A.’s Viper Room when… “Out of nowhere, a speeding car [was] careening into the parking lot at more than 30 miles an hour. The car hits the curb, almost runs over three or four people, nearly slams into [our] extra rental van for fans, and proceeds to crash into the rear of the band van!”

Towne says he and another band member avoided being hit by “just inches.” When police arrived, the woman was arrested.

“During all of this,” according to Towne, “there was considerable stress, as the venue was expecting us to load up and play while the police needed to get all the information and statements at pretty much the same time.” The band made their slot on time and, upon packing up to leave, members were informed that the woman who crashed was on her way to the Viper Room. “She had a ticket and everything!”

On the band’s next trip to L.A. – in their now-damaged van – another near-disaster occurred at the House of Blues.

“The first sign of trouble seemed to be [that] one of the outlets wasn’t working,” says Towne. “Once I plugged in my amplifier, pedal board, and synthesizer, an electrical fire started and the outlet strip went up in flames! A friend ran outside with the melting strip, and the manager went to find incense to cover the burnt-plastic aroma that was slowly consuming the plush VIP rooms.”

The HOB set, too, eventually went on as scheduled. A Scribe Amidst the Lions just released a new CD, Sunken Cities.