Veteran north Queensland outfit Ghosts Over Japan are playing their final 18+ show in Townsville tonight but, before they wrap things up, they've bolstered their karmic stock by announcing that all profits from their merch sales at the gig will be donated to a local shop owner whose business is facing closure following a series of break-ins.
Jason Lynch, the proprietor of Wzrd Collectables & Retro Arcade, announced earlier this week that he would be forced to close the Aitkenvale business at the end of the month after a year of operation as a result of a combination of a recent period of slow trade exacerbated by the fact that he "keep[s] getting robbed".
"With news of our good friends' business … now closing due to constant break-ins and a plethora of shit that just isn't fair on anyone with a crazy work ethic, all GOJ merch sales from this week's show will be going toward the WZRD himself, Jason," the band wrote on Facebook.
"You've helped us immensely by selling our shirts … without asking for anything back. It's the least we could do brother."
"The band will be selling their remaining merch stock at discounted price at the gig as well as online for $15 a pop, "which is a decent saving", they said.
"If you can help us help out a pal for one last time, we couldn't end things on a higher note."
However, given that Ghosts Over Japan are soon hanging up the mic, stock is pretty limited — not that people are even necessarily all that concerned about getting merch in exchange for their cash.
As drummer Justin Fimmel told The Music: "The support locally has been crazy good already and we haven't had the gig yet; people [have been] giving me extra money to go towards Jason just because they wanted to help."
"We do have a store online, but after tonight, I'm not too sure on what will be left to fulfill those orders," he laughed.
Wzrd Collectables & Retro Arcade, which hosts regular pinball competitions and provides locals with a place to engage in a spot of vintage console gaming, was most recently broken into on 3 May, its second in the past month.
Lynch — who also operates the Natures Wisdom store in nearby Stockland shopping centre — says that "assorted stock" such as "keyrings, necklaces, figurines" and more had been taken in the theft.
"Times are tough for small business and this certainly doesn't help," he wrote at the time.
Wzrd will stay open until 31 May.
Ghosts Over Japan, who formed in 2007 and have garnered a dedicated following of local fans in their decade of service, play their final 18+ show at The Office, Townsville, tonight.
The band is planning to announce a final all-ages gig in the near future.
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