Canadian wunderkinder Our Lady Peace were recently the victims of a different kind of air travel disaster as a Customs snafu cost them a show at L.A.'s House of Blues.|

As the band returned from a successful three-week run in Europe on June 12, LAX Customs officials put the kibosh on their equipment, which resulted in the cancellation of a Columbia Records-sponsored event for the Radio&Records Convention at HOB--a show also featuring labelmates Wyclef Jean and Stabbing Westward. According to publicist Maggie Wang, the trouble was "a standard hold associated with international shipping. It happens frequently, but not usually to this extent."

As their 9:00 p.m. time slot rolled around, the band was still without their weapons, and it was announced to the capacity crowd that Our Lady Peace would not be performing due to hold-ups at LAX. Then, in a move that will go down in Customs history, a senior Customs officials who happened to be in attendance stepped to the soundboard to offer his services. The official and the band sped back to LAX and were able to clear their gear in time to load it back on to 6:00 a.m. flight headed for Ohio, where they were scheduled to play a festival for Q102 in Cincinnatti along with Sister Hazel, Fastball, Alana Davis and Everclear.

After a short rest, OLP will hit the road for another American tour with Third Eye Blind beginning in Michigan on July 2. Hopefully equipment transfer will be less worrisome without air travel involved. (Brandon Barber)