> Lawrence hardcore band the Esoteric recovering from Tuesday morning house fire
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The Esoteric lost most of its equipment in a Tuesday morning house fire that left them without a home studio or rehearsal space and left three of the members without a place to live.
JJ DUNCAN/ROCKKANSAS.COM
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When three of the five musicians in Lawrence band the Esoteric showed up at the Holiday Inn at around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, it wasn't a pretty site.
Guitarist Eric Graves was still a little bewildered after having gone drinking that night and being called by singer Stevie Cruz around 3:30 a.m. to tell him their house was on fire. He was accompanied by drummer Marshall Kilpatrick, still in his thermal underwear, and Cruz in a women's jacket and no shirt. Fortunately for them, the Red Cross had shown up and given them vouchers for groceries, clothes and two nights at the hotel, Graves said.
It wasn't easy to get to sleep after the incident, Cruz said.
"I think I only got about an hour of sleep," he said. "Whenever I would close my eyes I kept seeing those flames. It really freaked me out. I think I'm still a little traumatized by it."
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Friday, Feb. 25
Last Caress (the Esoteric's tribute to the Misfits) @ The Replay (Lawrence) :: 10 p, 21+, $2
Saturday, Feb. 26
Last Caress (the Esoteric's tribute to the Misfits) @ The Cedar (Wichita)
Friday, March 4
The Esoteric / Given with Honor / Born from Beneath / A River Forth @ The Boobie Trap (Topeka) :: 9 p, all-ages, $5 for 21+, $6 under 21
Tuesday, March 8
The Esoteric @ PJ's Restaurant and Pub (Manhattan) :: 9 p, 18+
Thursday, March 10
The Esoteric / Nodes of Ranveir / The Cast Pattern / The Escape @ El Torreon (Kansas City) :: 7 p, all-ages, $8
Donate to the band
Donations are being accepted through PayPal on the band's site: www.the-esoteric.com
Photos
:: The Esoteric house after the fire
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Cruz said after smelling smoke around 3 a.m. he investigated the odor and was blasted with heat when he opened the kitchen door to expose the flames and smoke that would soon engulf the entire house. He yelled to Kilpatrick to get out of the house and soon the two were watching their home go up in flames from the street.
The fire began in the basement, which possibly would have left Graves trapped had he been in his room that doubled as a home recording studio. The fire soon travelled up to the kitchen before Cruz found it. Graves said the sight of the fire left him dazed.
"When I got home I thought I was dreaming," he said. "I thought there was no way this was happening."
Walking through the house it's hard to see where anything could be salvaged. Appliances and furniture are blackened, speaker cabinets are burnt and water logged and CDs are melted into their racks. To walk through and salvage some clothing and other items not decimated by the fire, the three have to brave charred steps to pull out their belongings.
But the music wasn't a total loss for Cruz, whose records were a key part of popular Lawrence dance night Neon on Thursdays.
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Guitarist Eric Graves, singer Stevie Cruz and drummer Marshall Kilpatrick are trying to remain optimistic after losing their house to a fire Tuesday morning.
JJ DUNCAN/ROCKKANSAS.COM
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"I was going through my music and I saw my iPod case melted to my stereo system," he said. "So I pried it up and opened the case and got my iPod out. I hit play and it started playing the Misfits and that was a huge relief.
"We've been rehearsing to do our Misfits covers but it kind of freaked me out because I hit play and the first words are "Burning bodies hangin' from poles," (from "Halloween"). I'm still a little traumatized by things."
Fortunately for the Esoteric they signed with Prosthetic Records only a couple of months ago and the label plans to help the band with equipment for its upcoming tour. Cruz, Graves and Kilpatrick were renting the house but had no renter's insurance and have been assisted by friends, the Red Cross and their record label. They are taking donations through PayPal from those who wish to help at www.the-esoteric.com.
Fans can also help but supporting the Esoteric on upcoming shows Friday, Saturday and next weekend. Those shows are listed above.
Cruz said the fire is tragic, but it will motivate him to devote his energy to the band.
"It makes what I'm doing that much more relevant," he said. "I can't stay around Lawrence all my life, I have to get out and tour. The only think I can do now is to rock."
JJ Duncan can be reached at (785) 295-1100 or jj.duncan@cjonline.com
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