GAYNGS Win Lawsuit Against Bus Company

BY Gregory AdamsPublished May 24, 2011

Soft rockers GAYNGS have won their case against a bus company that hijacked the group's equipment last fall over payment issues. According to a press release, a Nashville, TN jury awarded the act more than $100,000 in compensatory and punitive damages after lawyers proved that bus company C.J. Starbuses and its owner C.J. Curtsinger "engaged in unfair and deceptive practices and that they maliciously prevented GAYNGS from performing its concert at the 2010 Austin City Limits Music Festival."

Back in October, GAYNGS were set to play a show at the prestigious Austin City Limits festival, but following a gig at Austin venue Emo's, the band noticed that their tour bus was gone. At first, they feared that the vehicle had been stolen, but they soon found out via a nasty phone message from Curtsinger that he had ordered the bus be returned to Nashville because he believed he was owed a ton of money.

"I'm tired of being jacked around. You can find somebody new to jack off. Your bus is on its way back to Nashville," he said in the message.

As it turns out, he had overcharged the band, which is why they did not sign a contract with the businessman to pay the inflated asking price. Following the debacle, the group sued for damages.

"I am extremely relieved that the jury understood the turmoil, both emotionally and financially, the band has gone through as a result being forced to cancel our ACL performance," band manager Nate Vernon said in a statement. "No amount of money can make up for being deprived of that show; however, the peace of mind which comes from justice is the next best thing."

It's unclear at this point whether the group will play next fall's Austin City Limits festival. In the meantime, they do have a couple gigs lined up this spring. Check out the info below.

Tour dates:

5/28 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge *
5/29 Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
6/1 San Francisco, CA - The Independent*
6/3 Los Angeles, CA - Natural History Museum

* with White Hinterland

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