band line-up change mystery further complicated.

There have been some conflicting rumors and general confusion surrounding Surefire's drummer situation. (Where the hell is Justin? Why has someone with an alleged hand injury been incapacitated for several months? Why won't anyone shed some light on this, and furthermore, why does the band avoid acknowledging his absence?) Recently there has been more compelling evidence to suggest that the guy "filling in" is permanently in the band. It comes to us in the form of... the flyer for the Vicious anniversary show that took place a week ago.

There's a certain infatuation Surefire has with being translated into illustration; each show is an opportunity to be illustrated and they see to it that full advantage is always taken. If I were any less familiar with them, I might have had them pegged as a narcissistic band. Below, exhibit 1 -- a testament to the amount of effort and strain that goes into the design of their elaborate show flyers and promotional art. Also, our "evidence". Pictorial renderings are sometimes hard to interpret, so the nature of this article of "evidence" is more complicating than it is telling. In this particular rendering, I had trouble placing the band members. There'd been lengthy disputing among the company of myself and myself in assigning identities to each of the persons shown.

examine: exhibit 1.

Without a second glance, you wouldn't have noticed the irregularity. So what's suspicious and peculiar? Well, first let's identify the band members. To the far right, Jacob. Second from the right is Ben. (I think we can all agree on those two.) Third from the right... Nick? I remain uncertain, but I say that's Nick. However, take a look at the one to the far left. Who is that? Blame it on disparities in the artist's visual representation, but that likeness to the far left sure doesn't look like Justin to me. (The other three seem to have been pretty accurately depicted.) To the converse, he very closely resembles the temporary drummer. That is the likeness of a bona fide enigma. He is nameless to most of us, known only as "the new drummer". The next time I see them (I think I'm banking on tomorrow at Southpaw), I shall incite him to speak; then he will be an enigma to me no more. (Perhaps he can even offer me some clarification on the situation.)

I'd established earlier that the band treated Justin's absence like a negligible temporary change in the band's line-up, too miniscule to mention. The other three have strategically avoided mentioning the "current" drummer's name, possibly to emphasize his status as, supposedly, temporary substitute. I really hadn't begun to see a reason to suspect anything until the guy subbing in had been drawn into the band art in place of Justin. (above) Last I asked, Ben had personally "confirmed" to me that Justin would indeed return, but I've grown suspicious of his word. This band, after all, is by nature reserved and secretive. I suppose it adds to the collective mystique they exude, as a band.
Damn mystique.