Tragedy takes apart Portland band Exploding Hearts

TONIGHT
2 Benefit Shows
The Briefs, The Spits, Electric Eye, The Diskords
Meow Meow
527 S.E. Pine
503-230-2111
All ages
The Epoxies, King Louie, The Minds, The Riffs

1 S.W. 3rd
503-226-6630
21+
www.explodinghearts.com

On the morning of Sunday, July 20, a local punk band named Exploding Hearts was returning to Portland from a gig in San Francisco. The tour van held manager Ratch Aronica and band members Terry Six, Matthew Fitzgerald, Jeremy Gage and Adam Cox. Just north of Eugene, the van rolled, killing Matthew, Jeremy and Adam.

On their record label’s Web site, www.dirtnaprecs.com, fans have been posting condolences to the families and friends of the deceased band members and sharing fond memories to remember Matthew, Jeremy and Adam as the good men they were.

A fan, identifying himself only as “Joshua,” explains the exceptional talent that Portland has lost and will miss desperately: “The Exploding Hearts had a sound that was both retro and sincere, familiar and inventive. The melodies on Guitar Romantic [the Hearts’ recent debut album] are never far from my mind, and I have no doubt that in no time at all the whole of the musical underground will hail these three dearly departed young men as musical geniuses.” The lost boys of Exploding Hearts will be remembered well.

The Vanguard staff expresses its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of Matthew Fitzgerald, Jeremy Gage and Adam Cox. May they rest in peace.