AN: Finally! The gig theyve been wanting! Let's see how everything turns out...
Elwood and Maria arrived at the outdoor pools towards their stage. They noticed that people were adding and drilling thick sheets of glass over the pools to have the illusion of people dancing on water. It looked very classy. Maria stepped onstage and got ready for soundcheck as Elwood went to find Jake. When Elwood finally found Jake, they continued warming up their voices and limbering up thier bodies.
"Hey boys!"
The Brothers turned their heads and noticed Maury Sline approaching them in a sharp tux. "Glad I caught ya on time, you guys need to make a quick last mintue line up change"
"Goddammit Maury!" Jake exclaimed irritated "Now you tell us?"
"It's only one song!" Maury argued "Are you familiar with 'Stand By Me' by Ben E. King?"
"Yeah."
"Good, because that's the song Christy and Dave requested as their first dance song so you guys need to perform it."
"Why do you tell us at the last minute?" Elwood asked
"Because I wanted to talk to you guys yesterday, but according to Matt. you guys and your other guitarist were completely wasted."
"Oops." Elwood said quietly as he turned pink
"Oh and you guys have your opening act right?" maury asked
"Yeah, 'Soul Man'." Jake replied
"No no not song...act. Doesn't someone always open for you guys?"
Jake and Elwood glanced at each other
"Shit."
The Blues Brothers usually had Curtis as their opening act, but of course he wasn't there with them.
"We need to find someone quick" Jake told Elwood
"You have to." Maury said as he walked off to welcome the guests.
Elwood turned his head slowly towards Maria who was tuning her guitar with Matt. Jake noticed the glance.
"Uh..are you sure?" Jake asked with uncertainty
Elwood shrugged "I dont see why not. She can put on a show as we've both seen."
Jake sighed, knowing he had a point, and called out "Six Strings?"
"yeah?" she called out as she replaced a string on her guitar.
"We uh...need an opening act to introduce us so...will you do it?" Elwood asked
"Of course. Anything for you guys and a chance to rock!" she replied with a smile. "What song should I open with?"
"I dont know...Do you know any blues songs that will be a good opener?" Jake asked her
"Yeah"
"Good. Tell the rest of the band the song and make sure they know how to play it"
"Ok"
"Good. Thanks."
Maria approached the band "Hey guys, we need an opening song and I think I have a good one..."
She told the band what the song was and they all murmured and nodded in agreement.
"Sounds good" Murph said
An hour passed by and the majority of the guests have already arrived.
"Shit!"
"What?" Maria asked, concerned by Elwoods cry.
"I forgot my briefcase!"
She rolled her eyes and sighed a bit in irritated releif.
"Well hurry and go get it; I'll keep the crowd distracted!" she told him
"Thanks!"
He hurried back to the hotel room as Maria peeked from backstage to the crowd.
"Oh fuck, its huge..."
"Well" she said to the band "Let's go kick some ass."
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
"Whoo!"
They cheered in whispers as they arrived onstage. Some people noticed and began cheering and applauding them, even before they even played. Maria strapped on her guitar and plugged in the amp, letting out a wincing high pitched squeal. She quickly turned down the volume until the squeal died down so she raised the volume back up again. She made a hand gesture and to the guys to get ready and she and Willie played the intro. Murph then joined in on Piano and then Don, Matt, Mr Fab and Lou as Maria sang
Well If the house is a rockin' don't bother knockin' Yeah If the house is a rockin' don't bother knockin'
Yeah If the house is a rockin' don't bother come on in
Kick off your shoes start losin' the blues. This old house ain't got nothin' to lose Seen it all for years start spreadin' the news. We got room on the floor. come on baby shake sumpin' loose
Maria noticed almost all of the guests were on the dance floor dancing along to the music and cheering, much to her releif.
Well If the house is a rockin' don't bother knockin'.Yeah If the house is a rockin' don't bother knockin'.Yeah If the house is a rockin' don't bother come on in
Jake was watching her performance from backstage and Elwood approached him, briefcase in hand.
"How's she doing?"
Jake nodded his head towards Maria as if saying 'See for yourself'. Elwood looked on as she began the intense guitar solo in the middle of the song and people cheered louder.
"She looks truly happy and amazing when she's onstage" Elwood told Jake
"Yeah" he agreed as he played with a chain that he kept "I wouldn't mind having her as my sister in law."
Elwood rolled his eyes at Jake's joke and continued watching his girl tear the place down.
Well If the house is a rockin' don't bother knockin'. Yeah If the house is a rockin' don't bother knockin'. Yeah If the house is a rockin' don't bother come on in
Walkin' up the street you can hear the sound of some bad honky tonkers really layin' it down.
They've seen it all for years and got nothin' to lose so get down on the floor shimmy 'til you shake sumpin' loose
Well If the house is a rockin' don't bother knockin'. Yeah If the house is a rockin' don't bother knockin'. Yeah If the house is a rockin' don't bother come on in I said the house is a rockin' don't bother come on in
After one final strum, the crowd cheered and applauded loudly as Maria and the band bowed in courtesy.
This is awesome. Thanks Jake and Elwood for letting me shine.
The cheers and applause soon died down and Maria glances backstage at The Blues Brothers. They give her a thumbs up and a nod, motioning for her to introduce them. She returned the thumbs up and faced the band giving them the same signal
"1. 2. 1234" she called out as she tapped her high heeled shoe with each count.
She, Willie and Don began the intro to "Can't Turn you loose" The Brothers' main theme song. The brass instruments came in playing the main instrumental melody. Maria tapped her foot along with the ryhthm of the song and began introducing the Brothers.
"Good evening Ladies and gentleman and welcome to the celebration of the union of Christina Sline and David Millano. We in the Blues Brothers Rhythm and Blues Revue wish you many happy years together and hope that you will enjoy the music these we will perform. So now, let me introduce to you The sharp dressed men themselves. The team of Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues. The Blues Brothers..."
Jake and Elwood arrived onstage as the music played and Maria stepped back into her place next to Don. Elwood sneered and nodded his head to the rythm of the music as he lifted his wrist up and Jake unlocked the handcuffs while also swinging a chain in his other hand. Once the cuffs were removed, Elwood took out his harmonica and put away the suitcase next to Maria's speaker. He walked upstage and jake did his imfamous cartwheel as thier theme song condluded. The audience clapped a bit and went back to talking with their colleagues.
They're not paying attention to them. Maria noticed angrily as she played the song's intro.
After she played the songs guitar intro, The Brothers began their crazy, hard to duplicate dancing which caught the attention of the audience as well as Jake's vocals.
Comin' to ya on a dusty road. Good lovin' I got a truck load And when you get it you got something.
So don't worry cause I'm coming
I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man
Maria happily watched Jake sing his voice out while being also playing the riff and getting amused by Elwood's crazy dancing.
Got what I got the hard way And I'll make it better each and every day.
So honey don't you fret' Cause you ain't seen nothing yet
I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man. Play it Six Strings! I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man
Listen I was brought up on a side street.I learned how to love before I could eat I was educated at goodstock. When I start lovin' I just can't stop
I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man
Well grab the rope and I'll pull you in Give you hope and be your only boyfriend!
Yeah! yeah. yeah! yeah
Maria stepped forward a bit and began the intro again since it repeated as a guitar solo. After that, Maria glanced at her side with a small smile as Elwood stood next to her and began with his harmonica solo. He performed his heart out on that small blues harp, and it was very noticeable by the way he played it. Maria was about to retreat to her spot but Jake urged for her to stay. The brothers and maria then began hopping on one foot, dancing as she played and the brothers had a hand in the air.
I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man. I'm a soul man.
After the final note, the audience cheered and applauded. Jake and Elwood looked out into their audience with new confedence and began the next song.
I went balling the other night; started drinking and got real tight I blew each and all my friends. I felt so good I had to blow it again
I said "Hey bartender; Hey man, looka here! A draw one, draw two, draw three, four glasses of beer."
Well I saw a chick sitting on the end. I said "Baby can't we be friends? You're looking sweet as you can be. Well come on down and drink with me!
I said "Hey bartender; Hey man looka here! Draw one, draw two, draw three, four glasses of beer."
Elwood!
Elwood began his exquisite harmonica solo as Maria watched proudly and afterwards watched Jake parade and dance around.
Well we was having so much fun ,I didn't know it was half past one I turned around to have on more. I looked at the clock and it was half past four.
I said "Hey bartender Hey man look a here! draw one, draw two, draw three, four glasses of beer"
Well jukebox girl is everything; all the cats began to sing. I heard somebody called and said "Last round for alcohol!"
I said "Hey bartender Hey bartender Hey bartender Hey bartender Draw one, two, three, four glasses of beerrrrr!
The crowd again cheered and the Blues Brothers felt quite proud of themselves. They looked at their audience remembering that the gig wasn't an official concert, but the audience was reacting wonderfully as if they actually were at one.
"I don't this night can get any better" Jake murmured to Elwood
"Oh yeah." agreed Elwood "What can be better than this?"
AN: Ohh but little does he know that things are gonna get better... (wiggles eyebrows)
haha. Well things are off to a good start so far at the gig at least...
but what will happen next?
Find out on the next enstalment of "Everybody Needs Somebody!"
*cue song*
Oh and I dont own "The House is a Rockin" "Soul Man" or "Hey Bartender"
