The Philadelphia shoegaze band have cancelled their upcoming North American run, with December shows tentatively retained and a fundraiser launched.
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water (TAGABOW) have cancelled their upcoming North American tour after founder and frontman Doug Dulgarian disclosed that he has been diagnosed with cancer.
In an Instagram statement posted on 20 October, Dulgarian said he received the diagnosis on Friday, 16 October, and would begin treatment in a couple of weeks.
“We obviously can’t do the tour, as I need to get this figured out,” he wrote.
The Philadelphia shoegaze band are keeping their December shows in New York City and Philadelphia on the schedule for now, with Dulgarian stressing that his ability to perform remains uncertain. Pitchfork reports that those dates are 9 and 10 December in Brooklyn and 18 December in Philadelphia.
Dulgarian said he wanted to inform listeners rather than invite pity. His statement expressed both hope about the treatment ahead and uncertainty about how the coming weeks would unfold.
Alongside the announcement, Andrew Baker has organised a GoFundMe campaign to support Dulgarian and TAGABOW. The fundraiser says Dulgarian has already paid thousands of dollars in medical bills while seeking his diagnosis, with unrecoverable tour expenses adding to the financial pressure.
According to the campaign, the cancelled run was also expected to provide the band’s income for the rest of the year. Donations are being sought to help cover medical bills and living expenses during treatment and recovery.
The diagnosis arrived on the same day the band released KOOL FAITH / LOOSIES II. Dulgarian reflected on that timing in his statement, describing the compilation as a project that brought together as many friends as he could involve.
He also spoke about the purpose music and community have given him, and how difficult it was to cancel a tour built around making music and seeing those friends.
Supporters can find the fundraiser here. The December dates remain tentative, with further updates to come from the band.
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