When Seppo has first laid eyes on this group back at home on the television, they seemed so young for this. According to the internet, Ruby was only 27 years old.
Her demeanor demanded that she be taken seriously.
Her physique was already developed into an eyeful of curves.
On one arm she had an entire tattooed sleeve of white Lilies and jasmine flowers.
Pictures on the internet showed she also had an abundance of blue roses, adorned with butterflies and hummingbirds, covering most of one side of her hip and draping down on to her thigh. The other big piece he'd seen was a giant pair of blue green cat eyes at the top of her back, the same set of eyes on their huge stage banner.
It was amazing how much the internet could show you about a person you didn't know.
The set lasted for an hour and a half.
Through that time, Seppo had become absolutely dazzled. Yes, the crew did a great job at directing the lighting and special effects. Yes, the assistants were amazing at coordinating outfits and choosing the makeup.
But the most amazing thing of all had to be the intoxicating energy the group put out.
When scouting for female-lead groups before, it was always that they 'sounded too much like Evanescence', 'sounded too much like Flyleaf', or 'sounded too much like Nightwish.'
The Arcane Few had a unique sound that was original and all their own. They were all three of those bands at once and nothing like any of them all at the same time.
To the untrained eye, one might think they had been working the music scene for at least a few years. It was no wonder they were able to get their first self titled album out so soon.
They weren't just like any normal metal band; the lyrics that flowed from Ruby's mouth spoke volumes about the old soul that was trapped in this young woman's body.
Love, heartache, hope.
At one point in the set, a chair was brought out for Ruby to sit on. The crowd screamed for her as she sat down at the front of the stage.
"So my friends, I know this song has become a tradition among us."
Cheers.
"But I have some bad news."
The cheering subsided.
"Unfortunately after our last set, Mr. Crow back there accidentally sat on my special guitar when he had a little too much to drink."
Half the crowd was sympathetic, the other half whooped and hollered.
"But I was wondering if you guys wanted me to sing this song anyway."
The cheering wound back up.
"Will you guys sing it with me?"
Tangerine skies, follow me home again
The color in your eyes, fades to black
These believable lies, open old scars still red
And the passion once roaring, has gone slack
Push me again, and we'll see what happens
Push again, and I'll come swinging back
Upon the hill of weeping shadows,
Past the rose thorns giving way,
A new protector waits there for me,
To share the new sunrise for that day
Tangerine skies, follow me home again
The color in your eyes, fades to black
These believable lies, open old scars still red
And the passion once roaring, has gone slack
Push me again, and we'll see what happens
Push again, and I'll come swinging back
A new dawn rises up to meet me
A Phoenix rises from my veins
I posses this heart, refusing to flee
You no longer bind me with these chains
Push me again, and we'll see what happens
Push again, and I'll come swinging back
Push me again, and we'll see what happens
Push again, and I'll come swinging back
By the end of Ruby's song, which was normally paired with an acoustic guitar, the audience had somber, heartbroken eyes, some of them even crying. Nothing spoke better to a crowd than music and lyrics that described something they've felt and experienced before.
—-
Back stage when the show was over, Ruby was still coming down from a natural high. Robert watched her as she shook her hips, doing little weird improv jigs around the green room.
He knew that they had done excellent.
There was a knock at the door, and Seppo was escorted in by a guard. Robert waved the guard off and the door was shut.
"I hope you were satisfied with what you saw tonight." Robert said, the other members waiting in curious silence.
"I haven't told them."
"Uh, hey," Jasper said from one corner of the room, "who might this gentleman be?"
"Amazing on stage, AND impeccable manners." Seppo smiled to himself.
"Hello members of The Arcane Few. My name is Seppo, and as of right now I am your best friend. You see, me and the boys of HIM are looking for something fresh to spice up our upcoming tour. It will begin on September 26th in New York, travel down the east coast and southern united states, and end on October 13th at the Aftershock festival in California."
Nobody really moved or made a sound.
"I have one question."
All eyes were on Ruby.
"Do we get to stop at Disney Land?"