Band will play First Night despite stolen equipment

The rock band Annuals said they will headline First Night Raleigh’s New Year’s Eve celebration on Thursday despite the theft of their equipment.

The band rehearsed with borrowed instruments Wednesday night after someone stole $5,880 worth of equipment, including keyboards, guitars and a microphone, from the group’s storage unit.

The band discovered the theft on Tuesday.

At first, they thought only the keyboards were missing and that maybe another group that shares the space had borrowed them.

“We started calling them, and they said, ‘No, we wouldn’t do that without asking,’” lead singer Adam Baker said. “So, then we also realize that some guitars were missing, too. It was pretty traumatic, honestly.”

Baker said the band has had equipment stolen before while traveling, but never in their hometown.

The band said when fellow musicians and friends heard what happened, they immediately offered to loan the band some instruments.

“Luckily, we have a lot of friends that are also musicians that definitely understand the position we’re in. Every musician has lost pieces along the way,” Baker said.

The stolen guitars were gifts, Baker said. The Annuals said the stolen instruments have a sentimental value because they used them in shows across Europe.

“It’s mostly just frustrating to have to deal with it now, but it’s not going to change anything,” Baker said.