AN: This is my personal favorite chapter. Not only because one of my favorite songs in the movie is performed in this chapter, but because there's now some major flirtation going on.
Oh, & this past weekend I got a collectors framed poster of The Blues Bros. It's pretty awesome.
Ok on to the story then…
Once all of the band members were recruited, Jake realized that he needed to book a gig now or else their hope for saving the orphanage will be gone. Some members were in the Blues-mobile while the other guys were in a separate car with their newly bought instruments. Elwood drove to a nearby restaurant so the guys & Maria could grab a bite even though he personally wasn't that hungry.
The guys got out of the car & Jake told them "You guys go inside & grab a bite. I need to make a phone call."
The guys began walking towards the Denny's & Jake asked Elwood "How much money you got?"
"A quarter" he responded simply.
"That's enough for a phone call, let me borrow it."
Elwood fished in his pockets for the quarter & Jake took off with it to the nearest phone booth. As Elwood rolled up the window, he noticed Maria was still in the car, practicing a guitar riff that sounded kind of hard. I guess she's not hungry either
"Wow, that sounds complex." He commented.
"Yeah it is. It's the riff to "Revolution" by The Beatles"
"Ah." Was all he could say. He had no clue what else to say after that. C'mon man, this is the first time you've been alone with her. Make a good impression!
"So uh…" he continued "You don't have to sit in the back anymore. You can ride shotgun if you want."
She smiled a bit at his generosity & she got out to come to the front with Elwood. Finally I can have a conversation with him alone! She thought to herself excitedly I think he's the first guy who's actually treated me with respect because that's who he is, not because he's hoping to get laid…
"So who's your guitar influence? George Harrison or John Lennon?" he asked her with a smug half smile. He wanted to prove that he knew about her kind of music, not just Blues.
"George most definitely." She responded with a smile "He was cool & relaxed while John was all over the place with his comment about 'The Beatles being better than Jesus'. Showmanship really got into his head when he said that."
"Well" replied Elwood thoughtfully "I think he meant that popularity triumphs over religion, which I think is sad, but true. Most teenagers today would turn to their pop & rock music instead of God for the hopes of resolving their problems."
"Huh." She replied in thought "You're right. I never thought of it that way."
Why the hell am I talking to him about me? I wanna get to know him, not talk about me…
But maybe he wanted to know about me…
Things were silent for a bit until she asked Elwood, "Since you know about my influences, who influenced you & Jake to pursue Blues music?"
He smiled a bit, in thought about who he loved to listen to growing up. "Oh we listened to a lot of people. James Brown, Elmore James, Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Cab Callaway…"
"I love The Temptations & Cab Calloway!" Maria interrupted excitedly & then blushed. She never really told anyone that she also knew about Blues music as much as she knew about Rock N Roll & she felt shy admitting that.
"Wow" replied Elwood with his eyebrows raised "You actually know who Cab Callaway is? Almost no one I know knows who he is."
"He sings Minnie The Moocher, a timeless classic!" She told him "How can anyone not know that song?"
"You have no idea how long I've thought the same exact thing you've just said." He replies with a grin on his face. Wow, I haven't smiled like that in forever
He has such a nice smile. Maria thought as she noticed Elwood'ssmile. She smiled back at him & told himas she batted her eyes "You should smile more often like that. I like it."
He says nothing; he only smiles humbly but in his mind he's thinking
She likes my smile? Does that mean she likes me?
"so uh…" he continued shyly "What about The Temptations; what's your favorite song from them?"
"Earth Angel most definitely."
"Mine too"
Most guys would've lied about something like that, but he was being straight up honest. He turned on the radio & lo & behold, the very song they were talking about was playing and the two musicians sang aloud…
Earth Angel Earth Angel Please be mine
My darling dear, love you for all time
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you…
"When's the concert?"
Elwood & Maria hastily turned the radio off as they saw Jake peering into the driver's window, ready to laugh at them. The two passengers in the car hastily adjusted in their seats, & cleared their throats uncomfortably.
"So what about the gig?" Elwood asked him in monotone.
"Good news & bad news on that." Jake replied as he got in the car & shut the door. "Good news is that we have a gig."
"Sweet, my first gig as a part of this band!" Maria said excitedly "What's the bad news though?"She asked uneasily.
"Bad news is…the place is really far." He adds hastily. It wasn't what he wanted to say obviously.
"Where is it at?" she asked
"Bob's Country Bunker." Jake replied with a hint of despair in his voice "and tonight we're not "The Blues Brothers" anymore. We're now called 'The Good Ole' Southerners'. It was gonna be 'The Good Ole' Boys' but obviously we have a woman now so we can't use that."
Elwood had a bad feeling about what Jake had done & Maria grumbled, still upset about Jake's interruption.
"I hate country."
When the band was done eating, everyone began heading down to Southern Illinois, away from Chicago & away from the dudes' comfort zone soon enough.
"We've been driving for three hours!" complained Mr. Fabulous "Where the hell is this place?"
"I told you, it'll take us a little while to get there." Jake explained calmly.
Elwood then notices the sign "Bob's Country Bunker" and drives into the parking lot.
"There's no way in hell this is the place." Mr. Fabulous complained again
"Well too bad for you because it is." Replied Maria fed up with his complaining.
The band parked the cars as Elwood, Jake & Maria went inside to talk to the owner. As soon as the trio walked into the bar, they felt instantly out of place. Dust was sprawled all over the cement floor as the employees were busy setting up their tables & promotional beer signs all over the place. The trio sat on some bar stools as a friendly looking bar tender approached them.
"Howdy, welcome to Bob's country Bunker. What would you like? A beer? Ya' hungry?" she asked them eagerly
"No thanks ma'am, but we would like a few beers later on. We'll be here all night since we're the band!" replied Jake.
"Oh that's nice!" she replied happily
Wow, she's super friendly thought Maria If she gets anymore sweeter, I'll get cavities.
"What kind of music is usually played here?" she asks the bartender.
"Oh we've got both kinds; we've got Country and Western!"
AN: I Love that line! I had to use it from the movie!
The trio then felt doomed
"Joy" replied Maria sarcastically in monotone. "Well, CBGB's was supposed to play Country, Bluegrass & Blues, hence the name CBGB's, but they play Punk music now so maybe we can turn this place around."
"I doubt it" replied Jake disappointedly "This isn't New York City."
She shrugged, knowing he had a point & helped the guys set up & tune up. Jake gave her a set of original songs they were gonna play, & their guitar tabs.
"This is gonna be a disaster" complained Murph. "No offense Maria, but Steve knew his stuff & you're new so it's gonna take a while for you to learn our stuff & frankly we can't afford that right now."
"Calm down, I can do this. I've done last minute stuff like this before." She replied confidently.
A few hours later, the doors open & a whole bunch of people come in & sit down sipping their beers & waiting for their nightly entertainment. Elwood showed Jake a list of requests Bob wanted & they began to feel uneasy
"Jake, we don't know any of these songs."
"No problem" the shorter Blues Brother replied confidently "They're just requests, they're not important. What's the first tune?"
"Gimme some Lovin' replied Murph.
"1.2. "
Maria, Don, Willie & Matt began playing their instruments as the Brothers were dancing along to the rhythm of the music. The horns began playing & Elwood introduces the band
"Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen, it's a pleasure to be here at Bob's Country Bunker tonight. We're the Good ole' Blues Brothers…southerners…people…from Chicago. I hope you enjoy yourselves I'm Elwood; this is my brother Jake on lead vocals. Take it away Jake!"
Well my temperature's rising and my feet on the floor. Twenty people rockin' and there wanna go more. Let me in baby, I don't know what you've got but you'd better take it easy, this place is hot…
Whoah, this dude can sing. Maria thought as she heard Jake's voice. Being in this band won't be so bad after all.
Unfortunately, the guests weren't all too pleased with their playing & they began throwing bottles at them.
Thank god for the chicken wire. She thought.
The lights were suddenly off & the whole band stopped playing.
"Oh damn."
"Hey, why did they turn off the lights?" asked Murph
"Maybe they blew a fuse." Willie Hall commented
"Nuh uh man. I've seen this before. These lights are off on purpose." Maria said to them uneasily.
The band got together in a huddle as the crowd still got restless.
"We need something fast." Commented Murph "Hey I got it. Remember the theme from 'Rawhide'?"
"Gil Favor, Rowdy Yates." Replied Elwood indicating he knew the show.
"My dad watched it all the time; I learned how to play that song in dedication to him." Maria told the guys with a hint of sadness.
"What key?" asked Murph
"A minor in the beginning but then there's a key change to B sharp after the first chorus." Maria told the guys.
"Alright; Rawhide at A minor!" Elwood called out to the rest of the guys as Jake stood, cross armed & looking at the audience. Maria began playing the A minor chord & the small riff in the beginning as Elwood began to sing for the first time in front of her.
Rollin Rollin' Rollin'
Though the streams are swollen; Keep them doggies rollin' Rawhide!
Rain & Wind & weather; Hell-bent for leather; Wishing my gal was by my side….
As he continued singing, Maria couldn't keep her eyes off of him, amazed that a deep voice was coming from a quiet guy like him. Damn, what a voice! Where did that come from?
A strong attraction overcomes her and she smiles towards him dreamily…
Jake however wasn't so happy about the Country song, but he still performed a duet with his brother.
Move 'em on Hit 'em up!
Hit'em up Move 'em on!
Move 'em on Hit 'em up!
Rawhide!
Cut em out Ride em in
Ride em in, Cut em out
Cut em out
Ride 'em in Rawhide!
The key changed to B Sharp, but Elwood stood there frozen, unsure of what to say next
Shit, I don't remember the rest of the song! Damn it Elwood don't screw up on the first gig reunited with the band!
The tension was felt onstage but the crowd was still roaring & throwing their bottles at them & the band wanted to keep them cheering until something could be done.
Damn I hate it when this crap happens; it's irritating! Maria thought but Elwood's a nice guy & he seems so professional most of the time. Maybe tonight isn't his best night…
Thank god I know the rest of the song….
Before she could even stop & think, Maria brought her microphone closer to her & she began filling in what Elwood forgot.
Keep movin' movin' movin'. Though their disapproving, Keep them doggies movin, Rawhide
The band still continued playing, hiding their surprise over the sudden emergence of their new member.
Don't try to understand 'em; just rope throw and brand'em; soon we'll be living high and wide
As much as she didn't want to show it, a blush formed on her cheeks as she sang the next lyrics.
my hearts calculating, my true love will be waiting, be waiting at the end of my ride…
She nudged Jake on the shoulder a bit, asking him to do backing vocals again.
Move 'em on head' em up
Head 'em up move' em on
Move 'em on head' em up
Rawhide
Count 'em out ride 'em in
Ride 'em in count 'em out
Count 'em out
Ride 'em in Rawhide
Yah!
Maria played the solo as she stepped back away from the microphone & next to Elwood. He was dancing a bit to the rhythm of the song as he smiled at her, thankful that she saved him from humiliation & thankful that he found a reliable musician who can play as good as he hoped. After the solo, Elwood & Jake began the chorus & finished the song.
Move 'em on head' em up
Head 'em up move' em on
Move 'em on head' em up
Rawhide
Count 'em out ride 'em in
Ride 'em in count 'em out
Count 'em out
Ride 'em in Rawhide
RAWHIDE!
AN: I'm so mean to Elwood & Maria…
I made Jake ruin their moment…
Hahahaha!
Oh & I'm actually learning "Rawhide" on my guitar so that's how I know about the chords & key changes…
Please R&R