Chapter 3 – The Performance Of A Lifetime
Max went first, jumping into their seat and starting the main rhythm of the first song. Alyx joined them, giving a little wave as she picked up her bass and added her part. Matt was next, walking on playing the main riff of the song. I stayed behind for a bit so the audience could soak up the musical layers before adding the vocals. I looked at Charles and Maya. Charles gave two thumbs up whilst Maya just smiled kindly. I took another deep breath and stepped onto the stage.
"How we doing tonight Los Angeles?" I yelled into the mic. A lot of yells answered back. "Let's kick things off then, this is Holy Mother." I picked up the mic and began to sing.
I've been taking it night after night
Feeling some kind of way, wanting you to feel the same
You're like an alien, galaxies far away
You're like an alien, galaxies far away
Watching me from outer space
Wishing you could touch my face
Lost in zero gravity
Waiting to be next to me
Holy Mother, help me see
Every night he touches me
Crawling on my knees, I'm coming clean
Holy Mother, help me see
Late at night he touches me
I'm coming clean
I'm coming clean
It was surreal to look out to the crowd as I sang to see everyone jumping and nodding to our music. People actually liked our sound! Though I could see some bro types at the back with their arms crossed looking grumpy at us – I just waved to them cheekily. I just continued to have fun on stage with the rest of the song and the rest of our band's set. I jumped around, danced with the other bandmates, even sang in the audience at the end of the set. It was so amazing to see people, despite not knowing who we were or what music we did, really warm to us and attempt to sing along. I just found that really cute. We didn't have an encore planned, so we waved off our last song and headed off once we played the last note of it. I helped as much as I could with tidying most of our stuff, though I found it warming and interesting how some people in attendance tried to make a grab for our setlist. I handed it over to the first person I saw trying to get it, and then made my way to our merch stand. I ducked down to fetch our card machine, assuming we'd be lucky to sell a button, but when I came up, the table was swarmed with people! I got a little flustered with what people wanted from our small selection, but it was sweet and unexpected. They wanted photos with me and the rest of the members, which was so sweet. Soon, the last shirt was sold, and we were all packed up on our end. I was exhausted and I could tell Max, Matt, and Alyx were too.
"Hey, where are you going?" Charles asked after I had packed up the merch stuff.
"Heading off back home." I said once I popped up again. "I'd rather not watch the guys that were verbally abusive to us." He looked at me, concerned.
"It is courtesy to watch the other bands on the roster." Then he smiled. "But I wouldn't watch these guys either!" He laughed and I joined him. I saw Max give a thumbs up from the back and we all headed out of the venue.
The band, Charles, and I managed to sneak out of the venue and as I was about to jump into the car when all a sudden-
"Shouldn't you be watching the headliner?" I looked round to see Vic, smiling as he had crossed his arms.
"Have you met the band?" I joked.
"Only once." Vic remarked. "Barely. Their ex-guitarist seemed like the only decent person." I nodded, thinking about how the guitarist that was with Over It All looked very out of place.
"Just be thankful you've never had to perform with them or anything!"
"Well, you know that they practically begged to be added to the Hit Parader festival?" I just laughed out of disbelief, thinking they were on the same level as other bands like The Maverns. "It's true, Maya told me all about it!" I heard a cough and saw the others looking at me in the car. I turned back, looking a bit sheepish. "You wanna head off somewhere? Maybe chat more about weird bands we've crossed?" I looked back at the band. All seemed to want me to go with Vic.
"Erm, I think the general consensus says yes."
"We'll stay up for you so we can hear all the gossip!" Max shouted from the car. I rolled my eyes and walked off with Vic as I saw the others drive off.
I felt bad leaving the rest behind as I walked down the road with Vic, but he was great company to have as we walked down the streets of LA. We mostly chatted about the music we liked, the bands that inspired us to play music. We also spoke of small bands that we like and support, like MuddiBrooke, Dead Posey, Land Captains; bands that were part of the resurgence of classic rock. Suddenly, Vic turned into a building.
"Oh, we going in here?" I asked. We were outside a bar called Loaded.
"Yeah, um, meeting up with Leo and such. Thought you'd want to come with." I rolled my eyes.
"Would be nice to have been informed first, but ok." I smiled as I entered the building, Vic behind me. Inside, there were a lot of people, all looking like they had just finished at various gigs, either from attending or performing them. All smiles, drinks in hand. As my anxiety grew, I slowed my pace to stay close to Vic, who sensed my nerves and held my arm softly.
"It's ok." He whispered to me. "You're with me." Soon, we came upon Leo and Adam, his manager by the bar. They smiled at Vic as he entered the group with me.
"Ah, who is this friend of yours?" Leo smiled. I gave a little wave.
"I'm Carrie. Vic was at my gig and invited me along." Leo smiled, looking closer at me.
"Ah, you were Ricky's cousin."
"Yes I am. Was." I grimaced. "I remember he spoke of you guys often, was so excited to head to LA for the band." Leo sipped his bourbon.
"So, you said that you played a gig; you in a band yourself?"
"Yea, we're called Yin Yang."
"They kicked ass tonight!" Vic chimed in.
"Yes, I think I saw from your Instagram." Adam mentioned, glancing up from his phone. "Sorry, you said that you were related to Ricky?" I was a little taken aback at this.
"Erm, yes." I answered. "His cousin." I softly smiled. "I guess you could say that music is in our familial blood." Adam nodded, concerned, which confused me. But it left my mind as I continued chatting with Leo and Vic about music and music making. We discussed the current search they were undertaking to find a new bassist to replace Lily, as well as Dylan's health as he is recovering in hospital after breaking his neck whilst drunk. It was all going well…until someone entered our group. I say entered; Johnny Faust actually pushed his way through.
"Adam, I need my money, urgently!" Adam was taken aback by this.
"Err, can't we discuss this later? We're in the middle of something here." I just stood there. Johnny didn't acknowledge anyone around him, just argued back and forth with Adam.
"He's been doing this a lot recently." Vic whispered to me.
"He claims it's something to do with Gretchen and their wedding, prick." Leo added, quietly. "Oi mate," he said loudly. Johnny turned around. "The least you could do is say hi! Or are we just so far below you?"
"Not now…" Johnny said, dismissively.
"Oh, so it has to be when you decree it, gotcha!" Leo turned to me. "Sorry Carrie, you don't need to see this."
"Who?" Johnny asked, turning around confused. Leo's eyes widened.
"Living in your own fucking world, Jesus…" Johnny finally glanced at me. I gave a little wave.
"What, you want a selfie or something?" I was really taken aback by that.
"Dude, this is Carrie, the vocalist of the band I mentioned." Vic snapped. "I told you to come along."
"Vic, I said I had a lot to deal with; I can't go to every fucking band that you mention with every woman you want to fuck." What?! Everyone in the group was stunned at how calm Johnny had said that, especially with how he assumed I was a groupie of some sort. I had looked up to Johnny as a musician and a fan of The Relentless. I knew this wasn't my scene to see, so I turned on my heels, and walked out.
Standing outside of the bar, I flicked through my phone and ordered an Uber home. My mind was spinning, and I was trying to hold back tears. My first experience with someone I had looked up to, and he was so rude! I knew he had to be taken down a peg or two, but I didn't know how bad he really was. I heard footsteps coming towards me and turned to see Vic come towards me.
"Carrie, I am so sorry about that. I didn't know he would arrive in that kind of mood." He looked at me, concerned. "You alright?" I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I lied. "I'm going home; I've ordered an Uber." Vic grimaced.
"Look, I'm sorry this happened. Let me make it up to you." Vic got his phone out and typed something into it. My phone beeped and saw he messaged me his number. "Text me and we'll go on an adventure together." I smiled at that. My phone beeped again – my Uber was arriving. I saw the car purr down the road, and I waved at Vic as I entered the car. I said thanks to the driver, at which she started the car and drove on. She looked familiar to me…
"Not to intrude," she began, "but was that Vic Lakota you were with? As in, Relentless Vic Lakota?"
"Erm, yeah. Yeah, it was." I smiled. "He came to my gig tonight."
"Ah, you're a musician too? Gotta love that musical energy! You know, I love that band, I've been a fan of them since the beginning. How about you?"
A little stunned, I just said "Err, yeah, jumped on after their first album was released. Adored it."
"Same…of course, I helped inspire it." Huh?
"…I'm sorry, what?"
"Well, kinda, sorta. Just a little spice to the group, ya know?" She grinned into her rear-view mirror at me, which really unnerved me.
"…Sorry, can you just drop me off here?"
"Oh hun, you sure? We're nowhere near your destination. Surely you'll want to know what happened to your cousin?" I froze.
"How did you-"
"I know everything sweetheart." She knocked on the dashboard three times. The woman turned the car into an alley and parked. She turned to face me and smiled. "You want answers, don't ya?" I nodded, scared. "I know about how you wanna bring new music into this city, how you want to be a challenge to The Relentless and Johnny Faust. But what if I told you that Johnny Faust is the reason why Ricky is dead. Why he decided to make him the fall guy for whatever Johnny did." I was shaking my head, stunned.
"I don't believe you! You're talking crazy." The woman turned around.
"You can believe what you want, darling." I looked up into her rear-view and saw the eyes of an old man looking back. Freaked, I tried the car door, but it wouldn't open.
"Please, let me go!" The woman laughed.
"You can leave, but I'll still be here. I will still be in this city." I stopped struggling and looked at her.
"Wha-what do you want from me?" she smiled.
"Nothing. I just want to make you an offer." She turned to face me. "I wanna help you. I wanna help your band set off into the great wide open."
"Under them skies of blue?" I said nervously. She chuckled.
"See, I knew you were a special one, young Vicious." She sighed. "I want to help you set that rebel without a clue straight. Put a few dents in his armour, so to speak." She turned back around and started the car, driving back on the route. "Listen to me, I wanna help you take revenge on Johnny for leading Ricky to his death, and what he continues to today. Like in that bar?" I looked down at my phone, seeing all the notifications from tonight, as well as Vic's message of his number. I thought about everything that happened tonight, especially the interaction with Johnny…
"…I'm listening."
The car pulled up to the flat and I got out. "Tonight's on me, hun. Do think about what I said." Capricorn winked at me and drove off. I looked off in fury and walked back into the apartment. The other three were waiting for me as I walked in.
"OMG how was it?" Alyx asked.
"Yeah, do tell!" Max squealed.
"Hanging out with a member of The Relentless; did you get any tips and hints from him?" Matt inquired.
"It…it was amazing. Weird, and intense, but amazing." I smiled. "I'll tell you about it in the morning, I'm just going to bed." I smiled and waved them off. As soon as I got into my room, I opened my notebook and made an itinerary of things to do.
Finish writing songs to make debut album
Talk to Charles and book studio time to start recording.
Arrange outing with Vic, ask him about Ricky's ashes
Refine social media and reorder merchandise for new website.
DESTROY JOHNNY FAUST